There are different types of moles. Moles basically have three main categories. Knowing the features of each of these categories will help in determining whether to remove them or not.

Is mole removal mandatory?

This question may come across as ridiculous for some science students. Laymen, however, would tend to be nervous and upset, once they read articles supporting the theory that moles are cancerous. It used to be that mole removal is complicated; that is no longer the case.

Earlier people were trying out a lot of home remedies or other natural techniques. But today, laser surgery or excision surgery is carried out in many hospitals and they are exclusively performed by skin surgeons who specialize in mole removal. Before going right ahead with any surgery or treatment, you should first determine if your mole has a possibility of becoming cancerous or not.

Of course when you know the differences among the moles, you will also know if the services of a surgeon are necessary. The common moles are called as nevus and they do not cause any type of skin cancer. They may be similar to common moles but dysplastic nevus can sometimes be cancerous. Melanoma, on the other hand, is sure to cause cancer.

They all differ in their shape and size. You can also find variation in the color of the moles, symmetry, border line as well as differences in the surface texture. There are lesser chances for common moles to reappear, once they have been successfully removed. The same is true for dysplastic nevus; they don’t reappear after being removed. But in the case of melanoma, there is no guarantee that it will not reappear. There are some cases where melanoma has reappeared a few years after a successful excision surgery. When you compare three different forms, melanoma is the most harmful one. Its effects can reach the other regions of the body and not just the area where it first appears. However, just because a mole forms in one area does not mean other areas of the body will follow suit. Normal moles have flat surfaces. They are smooth spots on your skin. They can also have raised areas or bumps in some cases.

Dysplastic nevus, despite having smooth surfaces, can look unsightly. They lack proper symmetry or shape, unlike common moles. In fact they have a pebbly appearance. Melanoma, on the other hand, has a scraped appearance. It is a little hard and also lumpy. You can also find blood oozing from them. 

When it comes to the shape, nevus has a round one, and sometimes it can also be oval. There is no proper shape for dysplastic nevus. Similarly, melanoma also has no regular shape or symmetry. One of the easiest ways to identify, whether a mole can turn cancerous is to observe its shape.

If the border and shape of moles are not well defined, you need to take serious step of removing them. Nevus has a distinct contour and is well separated from the skin. Meanwhile, melanoma’s edges are blurred. You will have trouble telling the mole from the skin because the notched contours blend very well with the skin tone. The contour or dysplastic nevus is the same.

Last but not the least; not all moles are dangerous. Further, if they are located in certain spots, they are treated as beauty spots, in some cultures.

I sincerely hope that this article has done a good contribution in making you aware about different types of moles and their features.