Mole, Atypical
Mole, Atypical Causes
Heredity, as well as exposure of skin to sunlight have the tendency to develop atypical moles.
Mole, Atypical Definition
Atypical moles (atypical nevi) or otherwise known as dysplastic moles (dysplastic nevi) are cause by collections of the color-producing (pigment-producing) cells of the skin (melanocytes) in which the cells grow in abnormal way. They may occur as new lesions or as a change in an existing mole and may be single or multiple. With the risk increasing with the number of atypical moles present, people with atypical moles may be at increased risk for developing skin cancer (melanoma).
Mole, Atypical Symptoms and Signs
The signs and symptoms of atypical moles provide that they may appear anywhere on the skin and the lesions can vary in size and/or color; they can be larger than a pencil eraser (6 mm) and may have variations in color within the lesion ranging from pink to reddish-brown to dark brown; atypical moles may be darker brown in the center or in the edges (periphery); and people with atypical-nevus syndrome may have hundreds of moles of varying colors and sizes.
Mole, Atypical Treatment
The treatment for atypical moles include biopsy or surgical removal (excision), and may be done so the mole may be examined by a specialist (pathologist) to determine the actual diagnosis; and, people with multiple moles and atypical moles should be followed regularly by a dermatologist.