Moles
Introduction
Mole (or naevus) is an area of skin that has a large number of colour producing skin cells called melanocytes. Moles are very common and not usually dangerous, but some can develop into a type of skin cancer known as melanoma. Some children can have lots of moles and others may have just a few. There are many different types of moles, and you should discuss what type of mole/s your child has with your general practitioner or dermatologist.
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Mole or naevus on the toe of a child
Who gets it?
Any healthy child can have a mole. Moles are not usually present on your child's skin at birth, but tend to develop after the age of one. Children develop more moles as they get older. Moles are more common on fair skinned children. They are more likely in children with family members who have many moles.
Sometimes children may be born with moles. These are a special type of mole known as congenital melanocytic naevus (see fact sheet on congenital melanocytic naevus).
What causes it?
The number of moles your child has is determined by their genetics and the amount of sunlight your child's skin is exposed to. Moles are not the same as freckles.
Most moles are harmless and are not cancerous. Rarely, a mole may change into cancer. If your child has more than 100 moles, they have a slightly higher chance of developing a melanoma, which is a type of skin cancer (see fact sheet on melanoma).
What does it look and feel like?
Moles can be a variety of shapes, sizes and colours. They can develop anywhere on your child's body.
Looks like…
Moles are usually a light, medium or dark brown colour
Moles can also be pink, blue or black in colour
Moles can have hair growing out of them
A single mole should be a single colour throughout
A single mole should have a regular shape, with smooth border
A mole should be symmetrical (this means if you fold it in half lengthwise and crosswise it is identical in both halves)
Once a mole appears it should remain the same size (growing proportionally as your child grows)
Feels like…
Flat or raised
Painless
Soft to touch
What tests might be needed?
A dermatologist or GP will look at your child's moles with a special magnifying glass, called a dermatoscope. This device gives more information about the moles and their features.
If your doctor is concerned about a mole on your child's skin, they will take a sample of it (known as a biopsy) or remove it completely. It can then be looked at under a microscope to check if it cancerous or not.
What treatments are available?
Many moles will not need any treatment.
What can I do?
Sun protection and avoidance can reduce the number of moles your child will develop and also prevent any of their moles becoming cancerous. (see sun protection and sun screen fact sheets)
Limit the amount of time your child spends in the sun.
Apply daily SPF 50+ sunscreen on areas of their skin that are exposed to sunlight.
Cover your child's skin with sun protective clothing, such as hats, sunglasses, long sleeved tops and long legged pants.
Check all of your child's skin every 3 months and take note of any new moles you see. You should show these to your child's doctor on your next visit.
Medical therapies
Moles may need to be removed if they are at risk of developing into cancer, irritating your child in their daily activities, or are located somewhere on your child's body where they would prefer not to have a mole.
When normal moles are removed for non medical reasons it does not reduce your child's risk of developing melanoma. It is not recommended that you have normal moles removed for the prevention of melanoma.
Surgical removal - If there is no medical reason to remove the mole then the decision to remove the mole is left to the child. As a parent, it is important that you do not influence this decision. Surgery, if necessary, is best undertaken when your child is of an age to make the decision for themselves with thorough understanding of the procedure and its complications. They will also need to be able to tolerate the discomfort of the surgery.
Laser treatment is not recommended for most moles. This technique only removes part of the mole and if the remaining mole were ever to undergo a cancerous change then this is not going to present in a strightforward way, therefore delays can occur in discovering this change.
What happens after treatment?
If your child's mole was removed surgically, it will be sent to a laboratory to be looked at under a microscope. If there are any issues, your doctor will contact you. Your child will have a scar from where the mole was removed.
What support is available?
• You can be supported by your general practitioner or dermatologist
Authors/Reviewers:
Author: Dr Claudia Hadlow
Paediatric Reviewer: Dr Mayuri Sivagnanam
Editor in Chief: Dr Tevi Wain
