Mole (skin marking)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| ICD-10 | D22.- |
|---|---|
| ICD-9 | 216 |
| ICD-O: | 8720/0 |
| DiseasesDB | 8333 |
| eMedicine | derm/289 |
A mole or melanocytic naevus is a small, dark spot on the skin. It can be either subdermal (composed of melanin), or a pigmented growth on the skin, formed mostly of melanocytes. The high concentration of melanin is responsible for their dark color. They are a member of the family of skin lesions known as naevi.
Moles may either be present at birth or develop later in life. Acquired moles are a form of benign neoplasm, while congenital moles are considered a minor malformation, or hamartoma. Moles are most often of no medical consequence, but since they are permanent, removal may be performed for cosmetic or other reasons. Moles are usually circular or oval and not very large. Most children are born with moles, and almost everyone has at least one or two moles on their bodies. Large amounts can be concentrated on the back, chest, and arms.
Some scientists suspect that overexposure to ultraviolet light (including excessive sunlight) may play a role in the formation of acquired moles, but more research is needed in this area.
Dysplastic nevi or atypical mole syndrome is a hereditary condition which causes the person to have a large quantity of moles (often 100 or more) with some of them larger than normal and/or atypical. This leads to a higher risk of melanoma, a serious skin cancer. A slight majority of melanomas do not form in an existing mole, but rather create a new growth on the skin. Nevertheless, those with dysplastic nevi are at a higher risk of even this type of melanoma occurrence. Such persons need to be checked regularly for any changes in their moles (and to note any new ones).
New moles, or changes to existing moles, may indicate developing melanomas. People are advised to contact their doctor if they notice moles that have changed in size, shape, or colour; if a mole develops an irregular border; or if a mole begins to crust over, bleed, itch, or becomes inflamed.
Famous people known for their moles include actor Richard Thomas of The Waltons, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Ewan McGregor, Cindy Crawford, Ralph Cirella, Steven Berkoff, Marilyn Monroe, Lemmy and Robert De Niro.
