Most of us are familiar with the term beauty marks.
As often, the black or brown marks on the body known as moles or freckles are associated with signs of beauty.
These are benign skin lesions and are generally not a cause for concern. As a person grows, their skin changes in reaction to exposure to sunlight, and they can develop benign skin lesions like freckles, skin tags, benign lentigines, and seborrheic keratosis. These may slowly change or darken over time.
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Types Of Skin Lesions
There are two main types of skin lesions: primary and secondary. Primary types of skin lesions develop on previously healthy skin due to different causes. Examples of primary skin lesions include moles, freckles, skin tags, and blisters.
Secondary types of skin lesions develop as a progression of primary skin lesions through trauma, irritation, or perhaps some treatment process. Examples of secondary skin lesions include ulcers and scars.
Moles
It is fairly common to get new moles as you age. However, certain moles have higher chances for growing into cancerous lesions. If the newer moles are different from the existing moles, or if a mole looks rather peculiar, bleeds, oozes, itches, or becomes scaly, you should have your dermatologist examine the area. While moles are benign, melanoma is quite dangerous.
Causes of Moles
Moles are usually caused due to the accumulation of skin cells that became clumped instead of spreading throughout the skin. They usually darken due to exposure to sun.
Treatment for Moles
Moles are usually not harmful. In fact, they are also considered to be symbolic of beauty. However, if a mole is suspected to be a possible cancer, a dermatologist would perform a biopsy to confirm that it is indeed cancerous.
A cancerous lesion would need to be excised entirely with the surrounding skin by your physician. A cancerous condition that can be confused with a mole is melanoma.
Melanoma - How To Tell The Difference From A Mole
Melanoma is the opposite of a mole.
It is a skin cancer that is not very common but can be fatal if it spreads. It is commonly seen in people aged 25 – 29.
The common sites for melanoma in men are the back and the chest, while in women, it is usually found on the legs.
ABCDE Method of Self-assessment
Use the following ABCDE chart to assess your moles. If you identify abnormalities, it is best to have your dermatologist take a look.
Asymmetry – If the mole was cut in half, the halves would not be identical.
Border – The mole has irregular, blurred, or ragged borders.
Color – The shades of the moles vary throughout, and the color is irregular.
Diameter – The diameter is larger than the eraser of a pencil.
Evolution/Elevation – There are obvious changes in the mole over time, or it has become rather elevated from the skin.
Skin Tags
Skin tags are common, benign, non-cancerous tumors of the skin. It is a small, soft piece of extra skin attached to the underlying skin through a stalk. These are not particularly harmful, but they can be easily irritated due to friction with clothes, skin, or jewelry.
Causes of Skin Tags
The causes of skin tags are still somewhat vague. People with diabetes, hypertension, and obesity have a higher likelihood of developing these lesions.
Treatment for Skin Tags
Skin tags are easily treated by a dermatologist using various techniques including electro-surgery (burning with current), removing with a scalpel, and cryotherapy (freezing the area).
Freckles
Freckles are small grouped spots that appear on your skin, often due to sun exposure. Freckles are generally harmless.
Causes of Freckles
It is believed that freckles result due to some combination of genetics and sun exposure. Their development is accelerated when the skin is exposed to UV radiation.
Treatment for Freckles
Freckles, like moles, do not require any treatment; however, if you wish to avoid them, the best prevention method is sunscreen or avoiding the sun altogether. Yet, if you desire treatment, laser treatments, cryotherapy, and chemical peels are methods utilized for freckles.
Lentigines
Lentigines, also known as liver spots, are benign lesions on the body resulting from sun exposure. They are usually flat and have a tan, brown, or black color.
Causes of Lentigines
Lentigines often appear at birth and fade over time, but they can also be caused due to exposure to sunlight, indoor tanning beds, or some cancer treatments.
Treatment for Lentigines
Lentigines usually do not require any treatment, but they should be evaluated by a dermatologist to make sure they are benign. The dermatologist would perform a biopsy on the affected part of the skin to make this determination. Again, if removal is desired, treatments include fading creams, cryotherapy, laser treatment, or chemical peeling.
Seborrheic Keratosis
Seborrheic Keratosis is a harmless raised spot that may appear on the body as a result of aging. These are often brown and patchy and may be confused with scabs.
Causes of Seborrheic Keratosis
The exact causes of seborrheic keratosis are still somewhat vague. There is a genetic predisposition for their appearance along with aging.
Treatment for Seborrheic Keratosis
Seborrheic keratoses do not generally require treatment since they are benign. The treatments for seborrheic keratosis include cryosurgery, excision with a scalpel, electro-surgery, and laser treatment.
Final Thoughts
An interesting point about moles is that they have a long history attached with beauty. In 17th century France, women used to glue a fake mole to their faces (it was then known as a mouche). Wealthy British women used to wear dozens of moles on their skin to hide acne or pimples!
Many skin lesions are not worrisome; however, it is very important to make note of any changes that occur to these lesions over time.
Most notably, it is extremely important to protect skin from overexposure to harmful UV rays of the sun. This is one of the main risk factors for development of skin cancer such as melanoma.
See your dermatologist for any suspicious areas on your skin.
Debby Lee is the main author and founder of Mylighterskin.com
She is a full-time freelance writer and website manager, with ten years of experience. She is an expert writer in the areas of health and beauty, with a special interest in skincare.
