What are moles?

Moles are normal overgrowths of skin cells that make pigment, called melanocytes. They can be flat or raised (bumpy). Their colour can be skin colour, pink, brown or black.

You usually aren't born with moles, but by age 15 you may have around 50 moles. Moles can appear anywhere on your body, including your palms, soles, nails, genitals, scalp and eyes.

Moles are different to freckles. Freckles are flat and only appear on the face of fair-skinned children or the shoulders after sunburn. The colour comes from the pigment cells becoming darker when they are exposed to the sun.

Your doctor may use the word 'naevus' (or 'nevus'), which means mole.

What are the different types of moles?

You may see different words that describe moles:

• Benign naevus/mole is a normal mole. It is harmless.
• Congenital naevus/mole is a mole that you are born with, or that develops shortly after birth.
• Blue naevus/mole is a mole that looks blue or dark blue. The blue colour is caused by the pigment being deep in the skin. They are usually harmless.
• Dysplastic naevus/mole or an atypical naevus/mole, is usually larger than other moles (larger than 5 mm).

A dysplastic naevus/mole often has a blurry edge, uneven colour, an odd shape and some pink areas. Some signs of dysplastic moles look similar to signs of melanomas. Your doctor will check these carefully with a dermatoscope (a magnifying glass for looking at the skin). Your doctor or dermatologist might take a skin biopsy to help with a diagnosis. Most dysplastic naevi won't need to be removed. They need to be monitored for changes because they can sometimes lead to melanoma.

Can my mole become a skin cancer?

Most moles are harmless, but there is a very small chance (around 1 in 10,000) a mole will change and become a melanoma.

If you have a large number of moles (more than 100) or if you had a lot of sun exposure in childhood, you have an increased chance of developing melanoma. Dysplastic moles can also increase your chance of having a melanoma.

The chance of melanoma increases as the number of moles and dysplastic moles you have increases.

When should I see my doctor?

You should self-examine your skin at least every 3 to 4 months and see your doctor if you notice any moles that are new, growing or changing. Look out for moles that:

• increase in size
• change shape
• change colour — look out for moles that have several colours or shades
• bleed or itch
• are new and look different or unusual

You should also see you doctor for regular skin checks if you have:

• a large number of moles or a few dysplastic moles
• a family history of skin cancer
• fair skin with light or red hair, light coloured eyes (blue or green)
• a high lifetime sun exposure or use of solariums
• a weakened immune system
• had melanoma or skin cancer before

All of your skin needs to be checked, not just your moles, as melanomas can start as new spots.

How are moles diagnosed?

Your doctor will most likely use a dermatoscope (a hand-held tool with a light and a magnifier) to check if a mole has features that are suspicious for cancer. They may also use photographs to compare your moles over time, from one skin check to the next. You may be referred to dermatologist (a doctor who specialises in skin health).

CHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS — Use the Symptom Checker and find out if you need to seek medical help.

How are moles treated?

Treatment will depend on your specific mole. Most skin spots that look like moles do not need treatment.

If you have a mole, avoid scratching or picking it — keeping children's fingernails short and trimmed may help stop them scratching their moles.

If your mole is in a place where it could be knocked or scratched, you should try to protect it.

Mole removal

Your doctor may recommend you have a mole removed if it has grown quickly or if it looks suspicious for cancer.

If you need to have a mole removed, your doctor will give you a local anaesthetic to numb the area. They will then cut or shave the mole off with a surgical blade or use a hollow tube with a sharp end (punch device) to remove the mole.

You may have stitches to the area and a dressing to cover the wound and keep it clean until your skin heals.

After a mole is removed, you should take care to keep the wound area clean and use pain relief medicine if needed. Tell your doctor if the wound develops redness, swelling, worsening pain or discharge.

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What are the complications of moles?

Moles have a very small chance of turning into melanoma. People with more moles have a higher chance of getting melanoma.

Can moles be prevented?

The number of moles you have mostly comes from the genes you inherit. Being in the sun, especially when you're a child or a teenager, can also affect whether new moles appear on your skin.

You should avoid too much sun exposure and protect your skin by wearing tightly woven long sleeved clothing, broad brimmed hats and sunglasses. You should also apply sunscreen regularly. Find out more about sunburn and sun protection.

When the 'UV index' is 3 or higher, the sun's rays can damage your skin, so you should wear sun protection.

You can check the UV levels (known as the UV Index) where you live through:

• the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency website
• the Bureau of Meteorology website
• the SunSmart UV widget, developed by Cancer Council Australia

You can download the SunSmart app from the App Store for iPhone users and from Google Play for Android users.

Check the UV rating for any of Australia's capital cities at the Bureau of Meteorology website, or download the bureau's app.

FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.

Resources and support

Read more on moles on the Australian College of Dermatologists website.

The Cancer Council has information on skin protection and how to check for signs of skin cancer.

Look at healthdirect's guide for sun protection to help avoid too much sun exposure.

You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.