Moles Come in a Wide Variety of Sizes, Shapes, and Colors

Moles appear in various sizes, shapes, and colors:

• Flesh-colored, reddish-brown, medium to dark brown, or blue
• From oval to round, and as small as a pinhead or large enough to cover an entire limb

Note: moles that are larger than 8 inches in diameter and present at birth are a special problem. They may need to be removed to avoid the risk of malignant melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer.

• Smooth or wrinkled, flat or raised
• Most develop by age 20, but they can continue to appear until midlife

At certain times, moles tend to change; for example, they're likely to become darker, larger and more numerous because of hormonal changes during adolescence and pregnancy and with the use of birth control pills.