Moles & Melanoma
Created: 09.01.2025
Updated 09.01.2025
Approved by: Consultant Dermatologist, Dr James Denny
What is a mole?
A mole, scientifically termed a naevus (or naevi in the plural), represents focally increased skin pigmentation. This augmented pigmentation can arise from an increase in melanin production, a proliferation of pigment-producing cells, or a blend of both. The vast majority of moles are benign and they might be present at birth or develop during early life, escalating in number until around age 25. The chance of developing moles is higher in fair-skinned individuals and is influenced by sun exposure, genetics, and even hormonal shifts during pregnancy. The complexity of moles varies based on their location in the skin structure and appearance.
Moles also change throughout life. They are usually flat and blend with the surrounding skin in the beginning, but over time they may slightly raise or grow out from the skin. Around the age of 45-50, individuals typically stop developing new moles. Sometimes moles can also disappear. This often happens during adolescence when the immune system attacks the cells in the mole and it disappears. A white ring often forms around the mole initially then it slows fades away.
What is a Melanoma?
Melanoma is a very nasty for of skin cancer. It originates in the cells responsible for melanin production which is what colours our skin and moles. While melanomas often originate from existing moles, melanoma can manifest anywhere, including under nails or within the eyes. This cancer is often triggered by sun-induced DNA damage or specific genetic vulnerabilities. Timely detection and surgical removal, especially before it spreads into the skin and around the body, are crucial.
Checking your moles
Many people have a mole or growth somewhere on their skin and wonder about having it removed. If you are concerned about a mole, particularly if it looks unusual or has changed, it is important that you seek prompt medical attention.
An 'at home' check you can do is the ABCDE check which stands for:
(A)symmetry: One half of the mole or lesion doesn't match the other half
(B)order: The edges are irregular, ragged, notched, or blurred
(C)olour: The colour is uneven, with shades of tan, brown, and black, and possibly also red, white, or blue
(D)iameter: The lesion is larger than 6 millimeters in diameter
(E)volving: The lesion has changed in size, shape, colour, or elevation
If you notice a lesion that has any of these characteristics, you should see a doctor as soon as possible. The more you have, the more suspicious the lesion may be.
You should check your skin regularly, about once a month, to look for any changes. You can also ask a friend or family member to check areas you can't see yourself, like your scalp and back.
A full skin check by a Dermatologist is advised at least every year but for some every 3-6 months.
Mole removal
Before removing moles, one of our Dermatologists will assess your skin’s overall health and examine the mole in question. A general assessment of the number of moles, size, configuration, and degree of sun damage to the skin can also be undertaken. This can only be performed in person so avoid booking an online appointment if you need a skin check.
For moles that appear abnormal or potentially harmful, such as showing signs of skin cancer like malignant melanoma or squamous cell carcinoma, our Dermatologists will usually recommend its surgical removal under local anaesthesia. The removed skin tissue is then sent to a laboratory for analysis, examining cells from the skin tissue/mole to look for any suspicious changes. You will receive the results of this examination, indicating whether the mole is benign or malignant, within 1-2 weeks.
Surgical removal of moles is the most common way to remove moles. This is an effective method of removing moles with a deep base and involves removing a piece of skin tissue. For people with early-stage skin cancer, this will be the only treatment needed. Surgical removal of moles is performed with a scalpel, and stitches (sutures) will be sewn after the operation with care taken to achieve the best possible cosmetic result.
You will normally be able to do normal activities shortly after the treatment, but a surgical intervention will require some care from you afterwards, for example keeping the wound clean and the bandage regularly changed. Additionally, once the wound starts to heal, you will usually require the removal of stitches unless dissolvable ones are used.
