It’s always disconcerting when our skin changes suddenly, or even slowly, without our understanding why or how. New moles, freckles, and skin tags can cause alarm for the healthy and hypochondriac alike, and with good reason. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, and each year millions of people are diagnosed with a variety of types.
That said, there is a silver lining. Most moles, freckles, and skin tags are benign and form for a variety of reasons totally unrelated to skin cancers.
Mole Facts
Moles may form over a life time, but usually appear by the age of 30. A mole is a cluster of skin cells growing together, rather than spreading over the surface of the skin. These cells make melanin–the pigment that gives skin its color, and in concentration appear darker than the rest of the skin. Moles may darken after exposure to the sun, during the teen years, and during pregnancy. Most moles are begign and should not cause concern, but if a mole changes color, height, size, or shape it could be an indication of something more serious. A professional dermatologist will likely be able to tell with a quick glance if a mole should be of any concern and can offer both peace of mind and treatment options, including removal for cosmetic reasons.
Freckle Basics
Many people are born with freckles that get darker or increase in number with exposure to the sun and are most common on people with light skin and hair. Freckles are rarely a cause for concern, but if you’ve noticed a freckle grow, change shape, or take on a new hue, you might want to get a doctor’s opinion. Additionally, though benign, a dermatologist may be able to help lighten unwanted freckles and other skin discoloration.
What Are Skin Tags?
Skin tags can appear anywhere on the body (on skin), but are most likely to occur in areas where skin rubs other skin, such as the neck, armpits, groin, and even eyelids. These flesh-colored tags of skin are cancerless tumors which cause no symptoms, other than possible irritation from rubbing or if scratched. Skin tags contain nerve cells, fat cells, and are covered by the epidermis, or top layer of skin. There are a number of ways to remove skin tags, including
- Excision (removed with scalpel)
- Ligation (the blood supply to the skin tag is interrupted)
- Cryosurgery (the tag is frozen)
- Cauterized (burned off)
Even if a mole, freckle, or skin tag is benign, some people would prefer to have them removed for cosmetic reasons and there are a number of established techniques for removal, including lasers, peels, and non-invasive surgery.
Are you concerned about a mole or freckle, or thinking about having a skin tag removed? Call the friendly professionals at
