What is a mole?

A mole or nevus is a dark spot on our skin comprised of skin cells that have grown in a group rather than individually. These cells are called melanocytes and are responsible for producing melanin, the pigment (colour) in our skin. Moles appear on our skin from sun exposure (ultraviolet radiation), or we are born with them. Although the number of moles varies from person to person, fair-skinned people generally have more moles due to lower amounts of melanin in their skin. The average number of moles for adults is between 10 and 40. Moles can even come and go with hormonal changes such as pregnancy or puberty. Most people develop more moles on their skin naturally with age and sun exposure, and most of the time, these are harmless. However, we need to conduct skin checks regularly (recommended monthly, especially if there is a family history of skin cancer, or at least every three months) to check whether they have changed.
About the author
Micaela Otal
Dermatologist Specialist in Rosario, Argentina

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SkinVision is a regulated medical service that takes control over your skin health to a new level. It expands your ability to self-examine your skin and elevates your knowledge when to act, how and why. It is designed to provide accurate and timely skin cancer detection, along with the most reliable personalised skin health advice and health path recommendation. At the centre of the service is the SkinVision app, which is a regulated medical device that merges AI technology with the expertise of skin health professionals and dermatologists. SkinVision is a service of choice whether you want to address your most immediate concerns, learn what steps you should take next, understand your skin risk profile and introduce the most intelligent skin health regime to your seasonal rhythm.

SkinVision is a premium, paid-for medical service. The SkinVision app is empowered by a highly accurate AI algorithm and is supported by an advanced quality system involving the best dermatologists worldwide, which has only one goal: making sure you visit the right doctor at the first sign of risk for skin cancer. We are also continuously expanding our services portfolio, as well as investing in research and collecting clinical evidence, striving to provide you with the most reliable, accurate and personalised experience. Details regarding SkinVision pricing and plans are available here. The great news is that you might be eligible to use SkinVision for free or with a discount, with the access being covered by one of our Partners. Check the list of our local Partners. You can also find and link them to your account directly in the SkinVision app.

With the SkinVision app, you can immediately detect signs of the most common types of skin cancer, but it is not a diagnosis. Early detection is critical in skin cancer treatment and is one of the greatest challenges of modern dermatology, posing significant risk to your health and life. The sooner you detect a potential risk and get in touch with your doctor, the higher the chance you will avoid the worst outcome. If you detect a sign of skin cancer using the SkinVision service, we advise you to visit a doctor, who can make a definite diagnosis if you need to be treated for skin cancer.

Most cancers have some pretty obvious signs, including lumps and bumps, tenderness, pain or sickness. But when it comes to skin cancer symptoms, they aren’t always as plain to see. Skin cancer is slow-growing and often free of glaring warning signs. This can make early detection tricky.

While for many of us moles are just brown spots on our body we may not pay much attention to, they come in various shapes, sizes, and forms that can tell us important things about our skin health. Understanding all types of skin moles helps us identify any suspicious spots for skin cancer and keep our skin healthy.

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