Moles and freckles
Tuesday 28 April 2009
Moles and freckles can be found anywhere on the body – but why do they appear and is there something to be worried about?
What are they?
Moles and freckles are small dark marks found on the skin. They are a collection of skin cells known as melanocytes which gives skin its colour and protects it from the sun as well.
However, they aren't exactly the same thing. Freckles are small, flat pigments on the skin that can appear in a range of different colours - from brown, tan or even red!
Meanwhile, the appearance of moles differ from person to person – some moles are flat or raised, smooth or rough, whilst some can even have hair growing on them.
When do they appear?
Moles can appear at any age, but will usually pop up during teen years. They can also change shape or become darker during periods of hormonal change when melanin goes into overdrive. This usually occurs throughout puberty or pregnancy.
Exposure to the sun can also make moles and freckles appear, and they will emerge on parts of the body that have been exposed to the most light – usually the face.
Is there anyway to get rid of them?
Most disappear with time, and usually do so without the person even noticing.
There are some lotions and creams that claim to get rid of them, but most don’t work. Even if they did, both moles and freckles would only reappear when exposed to sunlight – and the sun is pretty much unavoidable. Therefore, protecting skin from the sun (so that more moles and freckles don’t appear) is much better than trying to get rid of them.
Sunscreen is the best way to protect from the sun. Find out more.
Skin damage
Freckles shouldn’t be a cause of worry, but they are a sign that the skin has been damaged by the sun.
Some moles on the other hand, can develop into a type of skin cancer know as malignant melanoma. This cancer causes a tumour to develop in the skin, which can also spread to other parts of the body. This is very rare though, and occurs to less than 50 people aged under 20 years old every year in the UK.
If discovered at an early stage, the likelihood of a cure is quite high. Therefore it’s important to regularly check moles for changes in shape, size, colour. Also if they become painful, itchy or have started to bleed, it is worth getting a GP to have a look.
The NHS provides a self-assessment tool for anyone who is curious about a mole on their body – take the test.
