It is important to know what your moles look like.  Most moles are harmless but skin cancer can develop in or near a mole.  It can help to find and detect skin cancer earlier if you know what your moles look like.

Moles can be:

• One color – usually brown but can be tan, black, pink, blue, skin toned or colorless.
• Round or oval in shape
• Flat or slightly raised
• Look the same from month to month

Moles can differ in size, shape or color.  Moles can have hair.  Some moles can change slowly over time, possibly even disappearing.

Nevus is the medical term for a mole.  Nevi is the medical term for two or more moles.

Types of Moles

• Common or typical mole (nevus)
• Atypical mole (Dysplastic nevus) – This type can look like melanoma.  It is not melanoma but you have a higher risk for melanoma if you have 4 or more dysplastic nevi.
• Congenital mole – This is when a person is born with a mole.  About 1 out of every 100 people have congenital nevi.  Having giant congenital nevi increases risks for melanoma.
• Spitz nevus – This often looks like melanoma.  It can so closely resemble melanoma it can be difficult to determine whether or not it is a melanoma under the microscope.
• Acquired mole – When a mole appears after a person is born; greater than 50 increases risk for melanoma

Familial Atypical Multiple Mole-Melanoma Syndrome (FAMMM)

This is a genetic condition in which people have many moles (more than 50).  Some are atypical.  There is also a blood relative with melanoma.  This increases your risk of developing melanoma