Moles appear anywhere on the skin, and are usually brown or black in color. Moles appear commonly on the cheeks, nose, forehead or neck and can be unsightly based upon their size and location. Moles occur when cells called melanocytes in the skin propagate into a cluster instead of being spread throughout the skin. Moles have different growth patterns presenting various sizes and shapes. They can be round, oval or irregular in shape. They may be flat or raised, large or small, mottled or evenly colored. Mole removal is a very common procedure chosen by thousands of men and women every year. For some people, a mole can be an identifying feature that’s seen as a positive. But for others, a mole can be an unsightly nuisance that negatively impacts self-esteem. And while some moles are completely harmless in nature, others can be indicative of a more serious health issue that needs to be address. If you’re interested in mole removal for health or cosmetic reasons, come to Dr. Michael Spindel and his staff to see how we can help.

• Congenital nevi are moles that appear at birth. They may be more likely to develop into melanoma than those that appear later.
• Atypical moles, otherwise known as dysplastic nevi tend to be hereditary and appear irregular in shape and larger in size than average. They usually have an uneven color with dark brown centers and lighter, uneven edges. These moles pose a greater than average chance of developing into malignant melanomas and should be brought to the attention of a dermatologist.
• Flat moles are very common on many individuals, usually appearing on the soles of the feet, palms of the hands and the genitals. These moles are rarely cancerous.