How do moles form?

Moles can form at any time even at birth. This type of mole is known as congenital. However, most moles form in the young child. They can form where the dermis and epidermis meet or just within the dermis itself. The appearance of moles will depend upon where they were formed. They can come in a variety of colors and some are raised, some are flat. The pigmentation of the mole will determine how it looks. The person with a great deal of sun exposure will most likely have more moles on his body. The sun will also make the moles darker in color, as will pregnancy.

The mole, otherwise known as the nevus, is formed when a lone cell is transferred among other cells, which are called melanocytes. These types of cells are called nevus cells and are oval or round in appearance. They do not spread in an even manner and group together when this happens. The single cell normally would mingle with the keratinocyte cell. The nevus cell grows and places itself near the border of the dermal/epidermal junction.

This deviation from normal is due to many factors such as the age of the person, their genes, and hereditary reasons. If your parents have moles then most likely their children will as well. Fortunately, most of the time moles are benign, which means that they will not be cancerous. However, they do raise the risk of melanoma or cancer.

Age, which is also a contributing factor, also play a part in mole growth. The person in the teen years may start to notice some mole formation. This is not uncommon. Once you reach the 40-year mark if you are still noticing moles then this would need careful monitoring of the moles for changes in their appearance, size, shape, and texture.

When a woman is pregnant, hormonal changes are taking place throughout her body. This can also cause moles to form. This is because due to the hormone changes the melanocytes will have a negative reaction to the UV radiation. Avoiding sun is advisable.

Although we cannot prevent mole formation there are some things that you can do to help keep them from exacerbating. By avoiding the sun, eating healthy and making sure that you are not deficient in vitamins and keeping your body well moisturized you will be doing all that you can to help protect yourself.

As always, whenever a mole is suspicious in appearance or goes through at change that you did not have previously, seek the guidance of a health professional and have them examine your skin. They will be able to detect if any treatment is necessary.

RESOURCES

DermaNetwork: Moles

Skin Cancer Foundation: Skin Cancer Facts

Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions: Genetic Mutation May be Key to Onset of Deadly Skin Cancer

NHS Choices: Moles