Moles, Freckles, & Birthmarks And other fun things you should know about them! By: Nnenne Asi

Moles ;.] Moles are medically known as nevi,(clusters of pigmented cells that often appear as small, dark spots). As the years pass, moles usually change slowly, becoming raised and/or changing color. Often, hairs develop on the mole. Some moles may not change at all, while others may slowly disappear over time.

The Cause of Moles Moles occur when cells in the skin grow in a cluster instead of being spread throughout the skin. These cells are called melanocytes, and they make the pigment that gives skin its natural color. Moles may darken after exposure to the sun, during the teen years, and during pregnancy.

Signs and prevention Most moles are harmless, but in rare cases, moles may become cancerous. Monitoring moles and other pigmented patches is an important step in detecting skin cancer, especially malignant melanoma. Not all melanomas develop from pre- existing moles, however. Some moles may begin as a new growth on the skin. Make sure to tell your doctor about changes in mole height, color, and size.

Treatments, cures, preventions etc. There is actually no way to prevent a mole from growing because some people are just born with it. There are ways to remove moles if you tell your Dermatologist about it.

Pictures…YAY!!

Freckles

What are freckles??? Freckles are flat, tanned circular spots that typically are the size of the head of a common nail. The spots are multiple and may develop randomly on the skin, especially after repeated exposure to sunlight. These are particularly common in people of fair complexion on upper-body skin areas like the cheeks, nose, arms, and upper shoulders. They may appear on people as young as age 1 or 2.

What cause’s freckles? Freckles are little spots on our skin caused by the sun. We all have pigment-producing cells in our skin called melanocytes. These melanocytes produce melanin pigment and feed it to keratinocytes, the “normal” skin cells that form the outer barrier of our skin.

Can it be treated??? Yes they can!!! By a Dermatologist, through Laser Removal.

Prevention! Try not to tan to much, especially if you already have freckles. Wear sunscreen everyday– you can still get sunburn in the winter

Birthmarks! (: A birthmark is a skin marking that is present at birth. Each Birthmark has its own appearance

What causes Birthmarks? Some birthmarks are from extra color (pigment) in the skin. Other birthmarks are blood vessels that are bunched together or do not grow normally.

Treatments. Birthmarks do not need to be treated because they are harmless and eventually fade over time.

Types of Birthmarks Congenital moles (nevi). Congenital moles can grow anywhere on the body. They vary in size and shape. Most are brown. Café-au-lait spots. Most café-au-lait spots are smooth, oval birthmarks. They range in color from light brown to chocolate brown and usually are found on the torso, buttocks, and legs. Mongolian spots. Mongolian spots are smooth, blue or blue-gray birthmarks. They are often uneven in shape and are on the lower back and buttocks. Hemangiomas. Hemangiomas are raised birthmarks. They are blue, red, or purple. They are clumps of blood vessels that did not grow normally. Hemangiomas grow in many shapes and sizes and can grow on the skin or deeper in the body. Port-wine stains. Port-wine stains are birthmarks that are pink-red at birth and then become a darker red-purple. Port-wine stains are blood vessels that did not grow normally. They can be small, or they can cover a large area of the body.

Birthmarks rock!!

Sited Work (: Bernstein, Dr. Eric F. "Freckles." Web. 11 Feb "Birthmarks." Web. 11 Feb "Freckles." MayoClinic.com. Ed. MayoClinic. Web. 6 Feb MedicineNet. "What Causes Freckles?" Medicinenet.com Web. 11 Feb Ncbi. "Birthmarks." Web. 11 Feb Norman Levine. "Freckles." Wemd.com. Norman Levine, 3 Mar Web. 6 Feb