Moles are common skin growths that tend to pop up throughout our lives, the Health website reports today ( Nov. 27, 2024).
For the most part, moles are common and harmless. But sometimes, they can become cancerous due to excessive ultraviolet (UV) exposure from sunlight or tanning beds. Melanoma can develop when a mole's appearance -- including the shape, color, and size -- changes drastically or a new mole appears.
Melanoma occurs in the cells that typically produce your skin pigmentation, called melanocytes. It is uncommon compared to other skin cancers -- like basal and squamous cell -- only accounting for about 1% of all cases. However, melanoma is the deadliest type of skin cancer,
according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).
Common moles are usually small, have a round and smooth surface, and are dome--shaped , according to the NCI. They are also typically pink or brown, the color generally coordinating with a person's complexion tone.
" There are congenital moles -- like birthmarks -- moles that are completely benign, and then there are dysplastic moles with some atypic , meaning under the microscope we see atypical or odd--looking cells," Mary Seevenson, M.D., a dermatologic surgeon in New York City, told Health.
A cancerous mole can pop up on areas of the skin previously free of moles. They can also appear in the eye, digestive system, or in other areas of the body. Melanoma isa the deadliest type of skin cancer because it can invade nearby and distant tissue inside the body -- like the lungs, liver , bone, or brain. This is also known as metastasizing.
"UV light exposure is tha single biggest risk factor for the development of cancerous spots," Joshua Zeichner , M.D. at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City told Health.
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