Birthmarks & Moles

What is a non-cancerous skin growth?

Ok so to make things a little easier, let's review some very basic medical terminology for skin growths:

• Hyperpigmented: Appears darker than surrounding skin secondary to increased melanin (skin pigment cells).
• Hyperkeratotic: Thickened, scaly appearing skin secondary to an accumulation of keratin (a protective and tough protein).
• Macule: A flat hyperpigmented area less than 10mm in diameter.
• Papule: A raised hyperpigmented area greater than 10mm in diameter.

Those are the simplest ways to define the benign (meaning non-cancerous) skin lesions we will discuss on this page. Below is a brief overview of common non-cancerous skin lesions:

• Birthmarks: Birthmarks as the name implies are present at birth. This distinction is important when considering the difference between a mole and a birthmark. Birthmarks are also flat.
• Moles: Put simply, moles develop as we age, but this is due to a genetic predisposition-not environmental exposures. Moles are raised clusters of hyperpigmented cells. Hair may grow from them.
• Skin Tags: Aka acrochordons, they typically develop over time in areas that may experience more friction (underarms, skin folds, etc). They are benign and can be flat and raised, or sometimes appear to hang away from the body on a stalk.
• Seborrheic Keratoses: A benign hyperpigmented, hyperkeratotic lesion that develops with age. They typically have a “stuck on” appearance.
• Lentigines: These are hyperpigmented spots that can develop over time like moles, however, they are flat. They are most commonly seen in Caucasian people and increase with age especially in sun exposed areas. Lived spots fall under this umbrella term.

What causes people to develop non-cancerous skin growths?

As briefly discussed above, most of these non-cancerous lesions have a genetic correlation. Birthmarks and moles especially are mostly correlated to your genetic makeup. Skin tags may have a genetic component, but they are commonly associated with obesity and type two diabetes mellitus. They can also appear in any individual in high friction areas of the body.

Some individuals may be more predisposed to seborrheic keratoses, however, anyone can develop them and they increase naturally with age. Lentigines are more often seen on the sun exposed face, neck, and shoulders of Caucasians.

In general, a good way to estimate how your skin will look as you age is to take a look at your parents. While environmental exposures will figure strongly in the appearance of aging skin, your genetic predispositions will as well.

What are birthmarks?

Present at birth, these skin lesions can result from abnormal vasculature or skin pigmentation. They typically do not present any significant medical concern, however, depending on severity, they can be very aesthetically problematic. There are different types of birthmarks depending on the underlying cause.

• Vascular Birthmarks: These are caused by malformed blood vessels, therefore, they are typically red in color. Examples of vascular birthmarks are strawberry hemangiomas, salmon patches (stork bites), and port wine stains.
• Pigmented Birthmarks: As the name implies, pigmented birthmarks result from a grouping of pigmented cells. They typically appear blue-grey, black, or brown. Examples include Mongolian spots and cafe-au-lait spots.

What are moles?

The moles being discussed in this section are all benign meaning they are not malignant in and of themselves. From a health perspective, however, it is important to remember that the presence of certain moles can be correlated to an increased risk for skin malignancies. The best way to be diligent about skin health is to know and keep track of your unique skin lesions.

• Congenital Moles: Present at birth these moles have a light brown to tan appearance. These are genetically determined.
• Acquired Moles: These moles develop during childhood into early adulthood and are usually brown. Risk factors for the formation of acquired moles include fair skin, red hair, blue eyes, and difficulty tanning.
• Atypical Moles: Aka dysplastic nevi, are moles that can occur anywhere on the body and have unusual morphology. The presence of these benign moles is correlated to a greater risk for melanoma. This risk is greater when there is a family history of melanoma, a person has multiple moles, fair skin, light hair and eyes, freckles, and sun sensitive skin.

What are skin tags?

Skin tags most commonly appear to protrude away from the body connected by a thin stalk. They commonly appear on the eyelids, neck, upper chest, and under the arms. It is not entirely sure what causes skin tags, however, they typically appear in areas of high skin friction-underarms, skin folds, lower back. There is evidence to suggest that blood vessels and soft tissue may get “trapped” within thickened skin causing the skin tags to form. They are also associated with obesity and type two diabetes mellitus. (side note: we do not recommend cutting them off yourself no matter how industrious you are feeling)

What is seborrheic keratoses?

These are the waxy, stuck on hyperpigmented lesions that seem to multiply as we age. Where there is one there is always more. They are the one of the most common skin lesions to occur in the aging population. There is no consensus on what exactly causes them, although it is believed there may be a correlation to sun exposure and genetics.

What are lentigines?

Lentigines is an umbrella term encompassing a myriad of lesions. In general, they are flat, hyperpigmented lesions that increase with age. They occur in the areas of your body that have accumulated the most sunshine over your life. They are, therefore, most commonly seen on the face, back of the neck, upper chest, and the backs of the hands.

Who may wish to seek treatment to remove non-cancerous skin growths?

In the case of non cancerous skin growths, the decision to pursue cosmetic treatment is entirely personal depending on the aesthetic you are seeking. For skin lesions that are in undesirable locations or cause significant aesthetic impacts, treatments to alleviate these concerns can benefit both appearance and confidence.

How can someone treat or remove a birthmark?

Birthmark Removal is a personal decision based on your desired aesthetic. For birthmarks causing significant aesthetic impact there are numerous ablative measures.

• Vascular Birthmarks: Birthmark removal by laser resurfacing, Birthmark Removal by Light Therapy, Punch Excision of a Mole , Shave Excision of a Mole, Surgical Excision of a Mole, excel® V, and Pulsed Dye Laser can smooth and refine skin appearance.
• Pigmented Birthmarks: Are treated similarly and can be removed via, Birthmark removal by laser resurfacing, Birthmark Removal by Light Therapy, Punch Excision of a Mole , Shave Excision of a Mole, and Surgical Excision of a Mole.

How can someone treat or remove a mole?

Moles that are overly pronounced or in awkward locations can benefit from a removal procedure. Moles are handled similarly to birthmarks.

• Congenital Moles: Birthmark removal by laser resurfacing, Birthmark Removal by Light Therapy, Punch Excision of a Mole , Shave Excision of a Mole, and Surgical Excision of a Mole are available options.
• Acquired Moles: Can be handled similarly with Birthmark removal by laser resurfacing, Birthmark Removal by Light Therapy, Punch Excision of a Mole , Shave Excision of a Mole, and Surgical Excision of a Mole
• Atypical Moles: May be addressed slightly differently due to possible need for further evaluation. Punch Excision of a Mole , Shave Excision of a Mole, and Surgical Excision of a Mole are appropriate options for these lesions.

How can someone treat or remove a skin tag?

Skin tags can be cosmetically and functionally frustrating-especially when they get caught on clothes. Simple procedures like cryotherapy, Ablative CO2 Laser, and Ablative Erbium Laser can effectively remove these lesions.

How can someone treat or remove a seborrheic keratoses?

Let’s be honest seborrheic keratoses can really be unsightly. Fortunately a Shave Excision of a Mole, cryotherapy, Ablative CO2 Laser, and Ablative Erbium Laser are relatively simple and effective ways to remove these lesions.

How can someone treat or remove lentigines?

Given lentigines have a proclivity for the most exposed areas of our bodies, their appearance can be very noticeable. Shave Excision of a Mole, cryotherapy, Ablative CO2 Laser, and Ablative Erbium Laser can remove these lesions and restore previous skin appearance.

For a comprehensive look at treatment options, you can check out our complete guide to birthmark, mole, and skin growth removal solutions.