When Should I See a Dermatologist About a Mole?

Almost everybody has at least one mole. Most people have about 10-40 throughout their lifetime. The vast majority of moles are harmless, even if you don’t like their appearance. However, there are certain times when you should have a concerning mole checked by a dermatologist.

With locations in Las Vegas and Henderson, Nevada, and St. George, Utah, our board-certified dermatologists at Vivida Dermatology can help you figure out when to be concerned about changes in your moles and provide the expert evaluation you need for peace of mind.

Why some people have many moles and others have few

Several factors determine how many moles you develop throughout your lifetime. Understanding these influences can help explain why you might have more or fewer moles than someone else. People with many moles typically have the following characteristics:

• Fair skin with less protective melanin (pigment in your skin)
• Family history of multiple moles
• Hormonal changes during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause
• Childhood sun exposure and ultraviolet (UV) damage
• Intense UV exposure, even for brief periods

Sun exposure during childhood is one of the main reasons you get moles later in life. Even brief periods of intense UV exposure can trigger cellular changes that manifest as visible moles years or decades later.

Is any changing mole dangerous?

Not every changing mole signals skin cancer, but changes definitely warrant professional evaluation. Normal moles can gradually lighten, darken, or even disappear over time as part of natural aging processes.

However, rapid changes or specific types of alterations should raise red flags. Moles that develop irregular features, change color dramatically, or begin to bleed or itch require immediate attention.

Use ABCDE as your guide for moles

The ABCDE system gives you a simple framework for evaluating whether a mole needs professional attention.

Asymmetry

Normal moles appear round or oval with matching halves. If you draw an imaginary line through the center of a healthy mole, both sides should look roughly the same. Asymmetrical moles where one half doesn’t match the other can indicate abnormal cell growth.

Border

Healthy moles usually have smooth, well-defined edges that create a clear boundary between the mole and surrounding skin. Irregular, jagged, or blurred borders suggest uncontrolled cell growth that could signal malignancy.

Color

Most benign moles maintain consistent coloring throughout — typically brown, black, or flesh-toned. Multiple colors within a single mole, especially red, white, or blue areas mixed with brown or black, warrant immediate evaluation.

Diameter

While size alone doesn’t determine whether a mole is dangerous, larger moles tend to have a higher cancer risk. Any mole larger than a pencil eraser (about 6 millimeters) should receive close monitoring and evaluation by a dermatologist.

Evolving

Changes in any characteristic represent the most important warning sign. Keep track of how your moles look over time, and report any changes to your dermatologist promptly. 

When to consider removing a benign mole

Even harmless moles sometimes need removal for cosmetic or comfort reasons. Moles in areas prone to irritation from clothing, jewelry, or shaving can become chronically inflamed and bothersome.

Frequent irritation

Moles that rub against clothing, bra straps, or jewelry can become painful and inflamed. 

Shaving interference

Moles in areas you regularly shave can get nicked or cut, leading to bleeding and potential infection. 

Cosmetic concerns

If you’re uncomfortable with having a large mole in a visible area, like your face or neck, you can have it removed.

Monitoring difficulties

Moles in hard-to-see locations like your back make self-examination challenging. Removing these moles can simplify your skin monitoring routine.

The mole removal process is typically quick and straightforward. Depending on the mole's characteristics, your dermatologist might use shave excision, punch biopsy, or surgical excision. We perform most procedures in our office using local anesthesia, so you can return home right away.

Even when removing benign moles, we send the tissue for pathological examination to confirm the diagnosis and ensure no abnormal cells are present. If your mole does contain cancerous tissue, we may recommend a more involved removal procedure — like Mohs surgery — to ensure there’s no trace of cancer cells.

Get your mole checked out by a dermatologist

You don’t need to wait for obvious changes to schedule a skin check. Annual full-body skin examinations help establish baseline documentation of your moles and catch subtle changes you might miss during self-examinations.

Our dermatologists at Vivida Dermatology use advanced dermoscopy techniques to examine moles at magnification levels impossible with the naked eye. 

Call us in Las Vegas or Henderson, Nevada, or St. George, Utah, to schedule your skin examination or book an appointment online.