Dr. Juliana Cinque, Pleasanton Dermatologist, Outlines Mole Types

Almost everyone has at least one mole, somewhere on his or her body. These tiny droplets of pigment are usually present when you're born and there's not much your parents can do to keep those moles from forming. They're just a part of your genetic programming. In most cases, moles are harmless and don't cause any problems whatsoever. But, some moles can become cancerous, says Juliana Cinque, MD, and it pays to know if your moles put you at risk for skin cancer.

In her practice, Juliana Cinque, MD, sees many people with moles each and every day. She performs detailed examinations to look for specific types of moles that could develop changes that could become cancer. Moles that are changing shape or color are obvious suspects that must be examined closely, but Juliana Cinque, MD, also looks for moles that are larger than a pencil eraser. These large moles may be present at birth, but they tend to have irregular edges and they also tend to have an irregular color. They may look like a fried egg on the skin. While these moles may not contain cancer cells now, they could become cancer in the future, and it's important for dermatologists like Dr. Cinque to evaluate these moles on a regular basis so cancerous changes can be spotted and stopped early.

Some people are also at an increased risk for skin cancer. People who have more than 20 moles on their bodies, says Juliana Cinque, MD, are at increased risk for cancer. People who have light skin, hair and eyes are also more sensitive to the effects of the sun, and they may tend to sunburn with ease. If these people have serious sunburns at early ages, the moles contained in those sunburned areas could also undergo changes, and should be monitored by a dermatologist like Juliana Cinque, MD.