Is a freckle a mole?

A mole is like a freckle, but it is typically much darker colored and doesn't fade or become darker based on the skin's sun exposure. Moles often change over time, becoming raised, changing color or even sprouting hairs.
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Can freckles be cancerous or just moles?

There are several skin lesions that are very common and benign (non-cancerous). These conditions include moles, freckles, skin tags, benign lentigines, and seborrheic keratoses.
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Is a beauty mark a mole or freckle?

Beauty marks (moles) and freckles may look similar, but they are quite different. Common causes of beauty marks and freckles include genetics and sun exposure. Ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun trigger the production of melanin in the skin by melanocytes.
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Can a mole have a freckle in it?

During the teen years and pregnancy, moles also get darker and larger and new ones may appear. Each mole has its own growth pattern. The typical life cycle of the common mole takes about 50 years. At first, moles are flat and tan like a freckle, or they can be pink, brown, or black in color.
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Can a freckle turn into cancer?

Things to know about freckles

Common freckles themselves are quite harmless and rarely develop into skin cancer. Most freckles are produced by exposure to ultraviolet light and typically fade in the winter. Unusual-appearing freckles may become malignant skin cancer.
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What is the difference between a freckle and a mole?



Can you pick off a freckle?

Never try to remove a mole yourself. It can cause a scar or infection. If you notice any changes to a mole, or if it gets itchy or starts to bleed, get it checked by a dermatologist. These can be early signs of skin cancer.
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Are black freckles cancer?

Freckles 101

Freckles are actually evidence of a genetic mutation in your “freckle gene.” No, you're not an alien, but when this gene (called the melanocortin one receptor gene) is mutated, you are at greater risk for predisposed skin cancer — both melanoma and non-melanoma types.
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What's the difference between moles and freckles?

Freckles and moles are different in several ways: Moles may be flat or raised, while freckles are flat. Freckles are usually brown in colour, moles can be brown, black, pink, the same colour as the surrounding skin, and even blue or grey. Moles are genetically determined, and they can grow on any part of the body.
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What happens if you pick a mole off?

Scratching off a mole will probably cause some bleeding, but should not require medical treatment. However, if a mole continues to bleed, it should be examined by a dermatologist. Note however, that a growth on the skin that continually bleeds may be a warning sign of skin cancer.
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What are 4 types of moles?

There are 4 common types of moles: congenital moles, dysplastic nevi, acquired nevi, and spitz nevi. Below are the differences between each.
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Are freckles rare?

Although freckles aren't limited exclusively to fair-skinned redheads, it is fair to say that our red-headed friends get the lion's share of freckles – and they only make up 4-5 percent of the total world population. So if you not only have freckles but you're also a natural redhead, then you're pretty special, indeed.
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How rare is a beauty mark?

While only one percent of babies are born with beauty marks, you can develop them in childhood, adolescence, and for some, adulthood.
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Do freckles count as birthmarks?

Freckles are specific skin cells that contain extra pigmentation, and they are often a sign of sun exposure. Some patients who have freckles may notice that they are much darker during the summer months when spending time outdoors. Birthmarks. A birthmark is a mark that is present when an individual is born.
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How do I know if a freckle is cancerous?

The edges are irregular, ragged, notched, or blurred. The color is not the same all over and may include shades of brown or black, sometimes with patches of pink, red, white, or blue. The spot is larger than ¼ inch across – about the size of a pencil eraser – although melanomas can sometimes be smaller than this.
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Why do freckles get bigger?

Sun exposure

A person's skin cells produce extra melanin to protect the skin from sun damage. This is why freckles tend to appear after sun exposure. Freckles can appear over a large area of skin and can reappear or become darker in the summer months.
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What is a cancerous mole look like?

If you're seeing a variety of colors in the same mole, it could be cancerous. A melanoma mole will often have different shades of the same color, such as brown or black, or splotches of different colors (e.g., white, red, gray, black, or blue). This can vary on different skin tones.
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How can I remove a mole myself?

Skin mole removal treatments

You should never remove a mole at home on your own. A doctor might remove a skin mole by either shaving or surgical cutting. A dermatologist may shave off smaller moles but recommend cutting for larger or cancerous ones. Depending on the size of the removal area, you may need stitches.
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Do moles bleed?

Just like the rest of the skin on your body, a mole can become injured and bleed as a result. A mole might bleed because it's been scratched, pulled on, or bumped up against an object. Sometimes moles become itchy. The process of itching them can tear at your skin and cause bleeding.
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Why is my mole raised?

There are many reasons why raised moles occur, the main one being a healthy benign intradermal mole, which can be genetic, long standing, soft and sometimes wobbly to touch. They may lose colour or get darker with age. These types of moles should be monitored for drastic change, but generally aren't cause for concern.
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Do freckles go away?

Some people have freckles that fade away almost completely in the winter and return in the summer. Other people's freckles don't change much with or without the sun and can be seen year-round. Freckles also tend to fade as people get older.
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Why do I have freckles?

Freckles are small brown spots on your skin, often in areas that get sun exposure. In most cases, freckles are harmless. They form as a result of overproduction of melanin, which is responsible for skin and hair color (pigmentation). Overall, freckles come from ultraviolet (UV) radiation stimulation.
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Can freckles get bigger?

"I like to call them the ugly duckling spots. They just don't look like your other spots." Your skin can develop new spots after sun exposure. Or an old freckle or mole that's looked the same for years can suddenly change in size, shape or color.
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What color are cancerous moles?

While benign moles are usually a single shade of brown, a melanoma may have different shades of brown, tan or black. As it grows, the colors red, white or blue may also appear.
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Does skin cancer look like a freckle?

They look like a freckle, but they're usually larger, darker and stand out more than a normal freckle. They can gradually get bigger and may change shape. At a later stage, they may grow downwards into the deeper layers of skin and can form lumps (nodules).
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Are freckles permanent?

With repeated sun exposure over years, the skin cells start to produce melanin, forming the sun spots. Additionally, the lifespan of freckles and sun spots is different. Freckles typically fade away with age and even seasons whereas sun spots tend to stick around longer.
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