Can irregular shaped moles be normal?

Atypical moles, also known as dysplastic nevi, are unusual-looking moles that have irregular features under the microscope. Though benign, they are worth more of your attention because individuals with atypical moles are at increased risk for melanoma, a dangerous skin cancer.

Can irregular shaped moles be non cancerous?

Also called dysplastic moles, atypical moles may be genetic or caused by damage from sun exposure. About 1 in 10 people develop atypical moles during their lifetime. These moles are not cancerous, and need not be removed if they are not changing.

Can moles with irregular borders be benign?

Benign moles typically have a regular, round border. Cancerous moles tend to have irregular borders. If the border isn’t smooth, you should get your mole checked out. Benign moles are usually one uniform color throughout.

Can normal moles not be round?

A – Asymmetrical: A mole is asymmetrical when its shape is not fairly round. While it’s not always worrying to see a mole that isn’t perfectly round, a mole’s general shape can tell whether melanoma may be hiding within. Does your mole look more like a rectangle or oval than a circle?

What percent of irregular moles are cancerous?

The risk of an atypical mole becoming cancerous is about 1%, compared to . 03% for an ordinary mole. In addition to atypical moles, risk factors for developing melanoma include: Red or blond hair.

How can you tell the difference between atypical moles and melanoma?

Atypical moles are often larger than other nevi (> 6 mm diameter) and primarily round (unlike many melanomas) but with indistinct borders and mild asymmetry. In contrast, melanomas have greater irregularity of color and may have areas that are red, blue, whitish, or depigmented with a scarred appearance.

Can you have a cancerous mole for years?

They can change or even disappear over the years, and very rarely can become skin cancers. Some research suggests that having more than 50 common moles may increase one’s risk of melanoma. More worrisome are so-called atypical moles. They often appear during puberty but can pop up throughout life.

What does it mean when a mole biopsy comes back abnormal?

An abnormal mole could be a melanoma symptom, or it could be benign, meaning it’s not cancerous. To determine what type of cells make up the mole, the dermatologist will remove the mole for a biopsy. “A skin biopsy is usually a straight-forward procedure,” says Saira George, M.D., MD Anderson dermatologist.

What looks like melanoma but isn t?

Seborrheic keratosis is a common, benign skin condition. These growths are often referred to as moles. Although seborrheic keratosis typically isn’t cause for concern, its look-alike — melanoma — is.

Can moles have different shapes?

they can be round, oval or irregular. they can have several shades of brown in the same mole.

Are moles supposed to be perfectly round?

“Moles should appear symmetrical and round, with clearly-defined borders. They may be flat or raised, but should be smaller than a pencil eraser (6 millimeters). Moles should also be the same color throughout,” Mandernach says. Certain mole colors raise more concern than others.

Can a dermatologist tell if a mole is cancerous just by looking at it?

A visual check of your skin only finds moles that may be cancer. It can’t tell you for sure that you have it. The only way to diagnose the condition is with a test called a biopsy. If your doctor thinks a mole is a problem, they will give you a shot of numbing medicine, then scrape off as much of the mole as possible.