Other Skin Conditions: Moles, Birthmarks, Dryness, Etc. / Question
Published: February 23, 2004
Dear TeenHealthFX,
I am a 14-year-old girl and brown moles appear on my body. My mom saw them and asked when they appeared. I thought they were always there but she said that I didn't have that many when I was born. I went to the dermatologist and he said that it is hereditary. What can I do to make them stop appearing and the ones I have less noticeable?
Signed: A Moley Girlie
Dear A Moley Girlie,
Your dermatologist is correct, moles are often hereditary, and it is great that you felt comfortable enough to talk with your mom about this. It is important to have the dermatologist check your moles to ensure that there are no changes or abnormalities. Moles are found on most people, on various parts of the body and face and can become more prominent with age and sun exposure.
The changes that the doctor and you can look for include an increase in size of moles, change in color, and shape. You can remember what to look for by thinking of the American Cancer Society's ABCD acronym.
A is for ASYMMETRY: One-half of a mole or birthmark does not match the other.
B is for BORDER: The edges are irregular, ragged, notched, or blurred.
C is for COLOR The color is not the same all over, but may have differing shades of brown or black, sometimes with patches of red, white, or blue.
D is for DIAMETER: The area is larger than 6 millimeters (the size of a pencil eraser) or is growing larger.
Sometimes moles that look abnormal are removed so that they can be examined for Skin Cancer. Sometimes, they are removed at the patient's request for cosmetic reasons. This may leave scars that are more bothersome than the actual mole. Makeup to cover-up marks on the skin may also be used to conceal moles, and it may have the added bonus of having sunscreen as well.
Exposure to the sun may affect the color of moles as well as making you more susceptible to Skin Cancer, so using a sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15 or higher that protects against UVA and UVB rays is a good idea. Sunscreen is often not enough for prolonged exposure to the sun, so wear long sleeves/pants, a hat, and socks and shoes to cover those sensitive feet. Stay in the shade if possible, and avoid the outdoors during peak sun hours, during late morning, and early afternoon.
For more information, read the response to Worried about Skin-Abnormal Mole for more information about Skin Cancer. Also, you may want to check out the American Cancer Society for more information about Skin Cancer and prevention tips.
Signed: TeenHealthFX
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