How and why do moles appear
Miscellaneous / / April 22, 2022
Genes and the sun are to blame for everything.
What are moles and what are they
Moles are brown or black educationMoles/Cleveland Clinic, which can occur on any part of the skin and even on mucous membranes, such as in the mouth.
Most moles appear in the first 20 years of life. By adulthood, a person can have from 10 to 40 pieces.
DistinguishMoles/Cleveland Clinic several types of moles:
- Ordinary. Small formations of pink or brown color with clear edges. As a rule, they do not pose a danger.
- Congenital. Such formations are often called birthmarks. They are present at birth, occur in about 1 in 100 people, and increase the risk of developing melanoma, a skin cancer.
- Dysplastic. Such moles are larger than 4 mm in diameter and have an irregular shape. As a rule, they have an uneven color with a dark brown center and lighter edges. Dysplastic moles are most often inherited and also increaseb. Y. Yan, S. Garcet, N. Gulati. Novel immune signatures associated with dysplastic nevi and primary cutaneous melanoma in human skin / Experimental dermatology risk of developing melanoma.
Why do moles appear
Most moles are made up of melanocytes. These cells developM. Cichorek, M. Wachulska, A. Stasiewicz. Skin melanocytes: biology and development / Advances in Dermatology and Allergology melanin is the pigment that provides color of the skin and protects it from UV radiation.
Moles appear when the BRAF gene, which codes for a melanocyte protein, going onA. S. McNeal. BRAFV600E induces reversible mitotic arrest in human melanocytes via microRNA‑mediated suppression of AURKB / Elife mutation. As a result, the cells begin to divide uncontrollably, forming a colored formation on the skin.
There are two main causes of mutation:
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Exposure to UV radiation. Scientists have noticed that the number of moles depends1. R. C. Wachsmuth, R. M. Gaut, J. H. Barrett. Heritability and gene‑environment interactions for melanocytic nevus density examined in a U.K. adolescent twin study / The Journal of investigative dermatology
2. L. Fritschi, P. McHenry A. green. Naevi in schoolchildren in Scotland and Australia / British Journal of Dermatology on how often the skin is under the sun. Perhaps this is due to the ability of UV radiation increaseU. Stierner. Melanocytes, moles and melanoma—a study on UV effects / Acta dermato‑venereologica the number of melanocytes. -
genetic features. Twin studies showed1. R. C. Wachsmuth, R. M. Gaut, J. H. Barrett. Heritability and gene‑environment interactions for melanocytic nevus density examined in a U.K. adolescent twin study / The Journal of investigative dermatology
2. A. Visconti, S. Ribero, M. Sanna. Body site-specific genetic effects influence naevus count distribution in women / Pigment Cell & Melanoma Researchthat the heritability of moles is 60 to 70%.
Thus, if your parents have a lot of brown spots on their skin, most likely you will have them too. And the more you are in the sun, the more likely it is.
Can moles change over time
Moles mayMoles/Cleveland Clinic darken from exposure to sunlight or hormonal fluctuations, such as during puberty or during pregnancy.
In addition, over time, they may disappear altogether. The life cycle of a mole is about 50 years, so familiar dark spots can fade and disappear altogether, although this does not always happen.
Some moles stay the same throughout life.
Should You Worry About Moles?
Most often, these formations do not pose any health hazard. At the same time, 33% of all cases of melanoma - a malignant tumor of the skin - developW. E. Damsky, M. Bosenberg. Melanocytic nevi and melanoma: unraveling a complex relationship / Oncogene from moles.
There are several signs that should be consulted with a dermatologist. You should be wary if the mole:
- asymmetric;
- has torn, blurry or uneven borders;
- uneven color, with shadows or different shades of beige, brown, black, blue, white or red;
- has a diameter greater than 4 mm;
- convex - rises above the level of the skin;
- increased in size, changed color or shape in a short period of time;
- bleeds itches, wet, flaky, inflamed or sore.
Men should pay special attention if such a mole appears on the back, women - on the legs.
Age may be an additional risk factor. Melanoma is the most common cancer in women aged 25-29.
What to do to reduce the risk of developing melanoma
Risk factors for melanoma includeMoles/Cleveland Clinic fair skin, a large number of moles, as well as cases of skin cancer in close relatives.
If any of these apply to you, take these precautions:
- limit exposure to open sunlight;
- use every day sunscreen;
- once a month, check the skin for new moles or changes in old ones;
- if the mole bothers or looks strange, contact a dermatologist.
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