A person will be born with some moles and will acquire others mainly in the first 20 years of their life. If a person develops moles after the age of 50, a doctor should be seen. People usually have at least ten moles. Itchy moles are not common but they can happen. If a mole itches, it could presage a more serious condition...or not.
An itchy mole could simply have been irritated by friction from jewelry or clothing such as a bra or a clothes label. Or it could be the result of sunlight, which can cause the growth of the skin pigmentations we call moles. The sun can burn skin at the brightest times of the day (11AM-4PM), but may have an effect even on cool or cloudy days.
Shaving can cause itching. Products applied are another possible cause, e.g. facial moisturizer. Basically, anything that comes in contact with a mole could cause itching. Dry skin is another cause.
Skin cancer is the most oft-diagnosed cancer in the world. The most serious form of skin cancer is malignant melanoma, which causes the largest number of deaths. Malignant melanoma is aggressive and deadly and is growing faster than any other kind of cancer. A mole is a melanoma if it itches and has another symptom: pain, swelling, emission of fluid or change in appearance or texture. Changes in appearance include size, with a mole being problematic if it is larger than 0.2 inches. If this comes to pass, a biopsy by a pathologist is recommended.
It is estimated that 1 in 50 Americans will develop melanoma in their lives. Over 100,000 new cases of melanoma will be diagnosed this year. Unlike the other kinds of skin cancer, melanoma can affect younger people, and 1 in 4 new cases occurs in people below the age of 40. Malignant melanoma is more likely to develop in people with fair skin, blond or red hair, a history of severe childhood sunburn and a family history of melanoma. 90 percent of all cases of skin cancer result from the sun's radiation.
People who undergo exposure to certain carcinogens found in occupational settings are also more likely to develop melanoma. These carcinogens includes pesticides, tar, coal, pitch, arsenic, mineral oils and PCBs. If it is possible, the risk of melanoma can be reduced by ensuring that homes and workplaces are free of these materials.
The best way to prevent a mole from itching is to regularly wear a liberal quantity of broad spectrum sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 15, applied 15-30 minutes before going out. Fair skinned people or those who spend much time outdoors should use SPF 30 and reapply it often. Moles can also be covered by clothing. These measures are crucial to people whose jobs dictate that they spend prolonged periods in the sun. Such people should wear long-sleeved tops, long rather than short trousers, wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses. Some people go so far as to wear clear bandages to protect their moles.
As can be seen, it is possible for itchy moles to be dangerous, but the risk of this occurrence can be minimized.
An itchy mole could simply have been irritated by friction from jewelry or clothing such as a bra or a clothes label. Or it could be the result of sunlight, which can cause the growth of the skin pigmentations we call moles. The sun can burn skin at the brightest times of the day (11AM-4PM), but may have an effect even on cool or cloudy days.
Shaving can cause itching. Products applied are another possible cause, e.g. facial moisturizer. Basically, anything that comes in contact with a mole could cause itching. Dry skin is another cause.
Skin cancer is the most oft-diagnosed cancer in the world. The most serious form of skin cancer is malignant melanoma, which causes the largest number of deaths. Malignant melanoma is aggressive and deadly and is growing faster than any other kind of cancer. A mole is a melanoma if it itches and has another symptom: pain, swelling, emission of fluid or change in appearance or texture. Changes in appearance include size, with a mole being problematic if it is larger than 0.2 inches. If this comes to pass, a biopsy by a pathologist is recommended.
It is estimated that 1 in 50 Americans will develop melanoma in their lives. Over 100,000 new cases of melanoma will be diagnosed this year. Unlike the other kinds of skin cancer, melanoma can affect younger people, and 1 in 4 new cases occurs in people below the age of 40. Malignant melanoma is more likely to develop in people with fair skin, blond or red hair, a history of severe childhood sunburn and a family history of melanoma. 90 percent of all cases of skin cancer result from the sun's radiation.
People who undergo exposure to certain carcinogens found in occupational settings are also more likely to develop melanoma. These carcinogens includes pesticides, tar, coal, pitch, arsenic, mineral oils and PCBs. If it is possible, the risk of melanoma can be reduced by ensuring that homes and workplaces are free of these materials.
The best way to prevent a mole from itching is to regularly wear a liberal quantity of broad spectrum sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 15, applied 15-30 minutes before going out. Fair skinned people or those who spend much time outdoors should use SPF 30 and reapply it often. Moles can also be covered by clothing. These measures are crucial to people whose jobs dictate that they spend prolonged periods in the sun. Such people should wear long-sleeved tops, long rather than short trousers, wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses. Some people go so far as to wear clear bandages to protect their moles.
As can be seen, it is possible for itchy moles to be dangerous, but the risk of this occurrence can be minimized.