Dysplastic nevi, known as atypical moles, are growths on the skin. Atypical moles are skin cells (melanocytes) that grow in a cluster instead of being spread throughout the skin. Moles, including atypical moles, appear in childhood either alone or in groups. Atypical moles look different than normal moles. While most atypical moles don’t become cancerous, it’s important to know the difference between an atypical mole and skin cancer (melanoma).
Atypical moles may look different from regular moles in these ways:
Having atypical moles can be genetically passed down from parent to child or caused by sun exposure.
Moles are usually diagnosed by your doctor or a dermatologist (skin specialist) with the naked eye or a dermatoscopy (microscopic lens to see the skin closely).
To spot the differences between a normal atypical mole and skin cancer use the ABCDE method. The mole might be cancerous if it’s:
If you find a new atypical mole or see a change in an existing atypical mole, tell your doctor or dermatologist.
Atypical moles that are non-cancerous may simply be watched for changes. If your doctor or dermatologist suspects it could be cancerous, they may take a biopsy (removing a tiny piece of tissue for examination). If it’s cancerous, it’ll be surgically removed. Further treatment would depend on a variety of factors.
Most skin cancers are caused by sun expsoure and can be prevented with limited exposure. If you would like to schedule a screening for skin cancer, reach out to your primary care physician.
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