Changes in the appearance of a mole - Causes and Symptoms

Definition

A mole (or nevus) is a circumscribed lesion, flat or raised, more or less pigmented and of variable size, caused by an abnormal development of some skin cells.

In common language, it is customary to speak of moles with reference to the melanocytic ones, generally dark in color, ranging from light brown to black. In most cases, these nevi are harmless and behave like stable benign lesions, caused by an excessive production of melanin by anomalous melanocytes (called snow cells).

However, when a mole or another pigmented area of the skin, which already exists or has recently appeared, changes its appearance, an evolution in the malignant sense is possible.

To monitor any changes in the appearance of a pre-existing mole, and to recognize the characteristics of melanomas, the ABCDE rule is useful:

Asymmetry in the form;
Irregular and indistinct edges;
Variable color,
Increasing size
Progressive evolution of the neo.

In fact, a suspicious lesion, to be submitted to the doctor's judgment, typically has an irregular, non-symmetrical shape, jagged edges or with incisure (a benign neo is instead generally roundish) and inhomogeneous color that turns towards a dark color (very intense black) or it appears with red-brown, white, black or blue shades.

Also a growth of the nevus in width (especially if the dimensions are greater than 6 mm in diameter) and in thickness (for example, if a flat lesion becomes raised on the cutaneous plane) can indicate an evolution in a malign sense, especially if this change it occurs suddenly and in a rather short time.

Another alarm bell to identify suspicious lesions is the appearance of signs of inflammation in the surrounding skin, with itching, excessive sensitivity, pain, bleeding, loss of serum, desquamation and ulceration.

Snows that change their consistency (soften or harden) are also suspect and are surrounded by a nodule or a red area.