What
is a mole?
Moles are small growths on the
skin which develop from melanocytes, the pigment-producing cells
in the skin. Moles can appear anywhere on the skin and are the most
common skin growth. Moles uaully appear as dark brown spots on the
skin which are either flat or raised. They may vary in size, shape,
number, color, and type. Moles may develop at any age.
 Moles
are also known as Nevus; nevi are the plural form of the word, they
are a cluster of melanocytes that appear as brown spots on the skin.
Nevus (or naevus) is a general term that refers to a number of different,
usually benign, pigmented lesions of the skin. Most birthmarks and
moles fall into the category of nevi. The nevus cells make the nevus.
The great majority of moles are harmless, but in rare cases, moles
may become cancerous.
Types
of moles:
Moles are divided into-
1. Common
acquired nevi.
2. Congenital
nevi
Common acquired
nevi are
the most common type, as the name itself suggest. The numbers of
these nevi increase as a person ages and they remain throughout
the life.
Common acquired
nevi
Common acquired nevi are further
divided into:
- Junctional
nevi - are found
at the skin’s dermal-epidermal junction. They are flat since they
have few cells in their structure. They are darkest shades of
brown and some of them may become malignant melanoma.
- Compound
nevi - the cells
are found in both layers dermis and epidermis of the skin. Compound
Nevi are lighter shades of brown and tend to be a bit raised up
off the skin. These nevi might also have both a raised and flat
component to them.
- Intradermal
nevi - the cells
are found in the dermis only. They are elevated and look like
a dome shape and may even be the same color as the skin and difficult
to distinguish from surrounding areas.
 Congenital
nevi [birthmark]
It may occur in one out of every
100 people, sometimes more than that. These moles will last a lifelong.
It may be large or small in size. Their color ranges from tan to
a brown color or even black. Most often, there is also a hair raised
out of the middle of the mole. These moles can also become melanoma
just like common acquired moles. Giant congenital nevi (picture)
which cover a large area of the skin; very rare occur in approximately
one out of every 10,000 births.
What
causes moles?
Following factors are supposed
to be responsible:
- Some people are born with moles. Other moles
appear over time.
- Sun exposure seems to play a role in the development
of moles.
- Heredity - many families have a type of mole
known as dysplastic (atypical), which can be associated with a
higher frequency of melanoma or skin cancer.
- Moles may be due to potassium deficiency.
- Melanin is a natural pigment that gives your
skin its color. It's produced in cells called melanocytes, either
in the layer of the skin epidermis and dermis; it is distributed
evenly, to the surface cells of skin, but sometimes melanocytes
grow together in a cluster, giving rise to moles.
- Benign moles
develop from an excess accumulation of melanocytes. In rare cases,
a benign mole, especially one that is large and varied, may turn
into an atypical mole.
What are the signs and symptoms of
moles?
- The typical mole is a plain, brown spot, with
colors difference, different shapes and sizes; it can be flesh-colored,
reddish-brown, medium to dark brown, or blue; vary in shape from
oval to round, from pinhead or large enough to cover any body
part.
- The surface can be smooth or wrinkled, flat or
raised.
- Although most moles develop by age 20, they can
continue to appear until midlife. Hormonal changes during adolescence
and pregnancy and with the use of birth control pills, moles likely
to change larger, darker and become more numerous
- Most people
have some benign moles that appear at birth, or during childhood
or adolescence.
- Number of
moles can also found on the skin [multiple moles/multiple naevi]
Multiple
moles
- Benign moles are dark brown or yellow-brown
with flesh tone. It may be round or oval with distinct edges.
Flat and smooth, but may occasionally become raised, rough, grow
hair, or change color over time.
- Common acquired moles change in size,
color, shape, texture, or sensation. Mostly large sized. Mixture
of colors, often including black; with irregular edges. Surface
may be Scaling, flaking, oozing liquid, hard and raised lump,
itchy, tender, or painful, abnormally colored skin around it.
Which
points need to be considered in the diagnosis of mole?
- Skin examination.
- Taking symptoms and medical history
of the patient
- Biopsy may do if cancer is suspected
–removal of all or part of the mole to be tested for cancer cells.
- Recognizing the early warning signs
of malignant melanoma is important. These include:
- Remember this point when examining
moles.
- One half of the mole not resemble
with other half.
- Border or edges of the mole are
ragged blurred or irregular.
- Color of the mole is not throughout
the same or it has shades of tan, brown, black, red, white or
blue.
- Diameter of amole is larger than
6mm.
Conventional
Treatment of moles:
Mole
Removal
Benign moles do not, need
to be treated. They can be removed for cosmetic purpose. If malignancy
is detected then surgery may be perform along with chemotherapy
and radiotherapy according to the case.
Moles, or nevi can be removed by two surgical methods:
* Excision (cutting) with stitches.
* Excision with cauterization (a tool is used to burn away the
mole).
Although laser has been tried for moles, it is not usually the
method of choice for most deep moles because the laser light doesn’t
penetrate deeply enough.
Typically, the doctor or dermatologist may choose excision with
or without stitches depending on the depth of the mole and the type
of cosmetic outcome desired.
Homeopathic
Treatment of Moles/Naevi:
Homeopathy treats the person as a whole. It means that homeopathic treatment focuses on the patient as a person, as well as his pathological condition. The homeopathic medicines are selected after a full individualizing examination and case-analysis, which includes the medical history of the patient, physical and mental constitution etc. A miasmatic tendency (predisposition/susceptibility) is also often taken into account for the treatment of chronic conditions. The medicines given below indicate the therapeutic affinity but this is not a complete and definite guide to the treatment of this condition. The symptoms listed against each medicine may not be directly related to this disease because in homeopathy general symptoms and constitutional indications are also taken into account for selecting a remedy. To study any of the following remedies in more detail, please visit our Materia Medica section. None of these medicines should be taken without professional advice.
Reportorial rubrics
[Kent]
Skin, Moles;
Skin, Discoloration;
Skin, Excrescences.
[Murphy]
Skin, Moles;
Skin, Discoloration;
Skin, Excrescences.
[Boericke] Skin,
Nevus
[Boenninghausen’s] Skin,
Naevus
Homeopathy
Remedies :
Pulsatilla,
Aceticum acidum, Floricum acidum, Phosphorus,
Thuja occidentalis, Calcarea carbonica,
Sulphur,
Carbo vegetabilis, Graphites, Lycopodium,
Petroleum, Sepia, Radium bromatum, Carcinosin, Medorrhinum,
Cundurago, Platina.
Materia
medica
Pulsatilla:
Lady with weeping tendency, having
changeable mood. Little flat, brownish patches about the size of
the thumb nail, which itch tremendously. Itching and pricking sensation
in the skin as from a number of fleas. Burning and itching before
midnight
when she becomes warm in bed. Pale color mole.
Aceticum acidum:
Patient is anemic with grate
debility. Birthmarks [nevi]. Skin dry and hot; red spot on left
cheek and drenching night sweats. Skin is pale, waxy œdematous.
Burning, dry, hot skin, or bathed in profuse sweat. Diminished sensibility
of the surface of body. Pale colour spot.
Floricum acidum:
Nævi; burning and itching, worse
from warmth. Profuse, sour, offensive perspiration. Mentally elated
and gay.
Phosphorus:
Tall, slender weak people, narrow
chest, with thin transparent skin; with great nervous debility and
emaciation. Great susceptibility to external impression. Yellow
or brownish spot especially on chest and lower abdomen. Burning
all over. Bluish discoloration of the skin. Bluish red spot.
Thuja occidentalis:
Itching and stinging moles. Skin
looks dirty. Nevus brown or brownish-white spots here and there;
eruptions only on covered parts, burn after scratching. Great brown
spots, like liver spots, form upon the abdomen. Hydrogenoid constitution.
Rapid exhaustion and emaciation. Emotional sensitiveness. Mole grow
as red, smooth, spongy
Calcarea carbonica:
Moles as if red, glistening,
lenticular spot; may become bluish. Skin looks dry and pale. Sensibility
of skin in general. Scrofulous constitution. Great sensitiveness
to cold.
Sulphur:
Smooth, moist nevi. Birthmarks.
Brown colored mole. Itching spot after scratching is very painful.
Burning all over the body. Liver spot on the back and chest. Itching
and burning of the part aggravated by washing and scratching. Dirty,
filthy people. Aversion to being wash. standing is the worse position
for him which is always uncomfortable
Carbo vegetabilis:
Birthmarks.
Moist skin; hot perspiration. Spidery nevi. General
itching on becoming warm in bed in evening. Rose colored, burning
spots; smooth to touch. Patient is sluggish, fat, lazy, and has
a tendency to chronicity in his complaint. Must have open air.
Graphites:
Moles. Skin rough, hard, persistent
dryness. Denuded, raw spot in children. Patient is timid, unable
to decide. Takes cold easily.
Lycopodium:
Violent itching. Skin becomes
thick and indurate. Nævi, erectile tumors. Brown spots. Death spots
in old people. Offensive secretions. intolerant to cold drinks craves
every thing warm. Intellectually keen people; having weak muscular
power, thin, earthy complexion.
Petroleum:
Moles moist; itching at night.
Skin dry, constricted, very sensitive, rough and cracked,
leathery. Marked aggravation from mental emotions.
Sepia:
Naevi; smooth, mottled or spidery.
Offensive odor of skin. Very sad. Weeps when telling symptoms. Brownish
red spot.
Radium bromatum:
Nevi as small spot on the skin.
Severe aching pain, with restlessness, better on moving. Great weakness.
Itching all over the body, burning of skin. Moles are hard to touch
with outward growth.
Carcinosin:
It is claimed the Carcinosin
acts favorably and modifies all cases in which either a history
of carcinoma can be elicited, or symptoms of the disease itself
exist. Moles are painful, with offensive discharge and tend to bleed.
Medorrhinum:
Red mole. Red spiderlets on face.
Copper colored spot. Intense and incessant itching; worse at night
and thinking of it.
Cundurago:
Birthmarks. nevi smooth to touch
Smooth. Melanoma.
Platina:
Spidery nevi, birthmarks. Itching
skin; not relieved by scratching. Offensive odor of skin. Localized
numbness and coldness. Pains increases and decrease gradually.
Prevention
- Avoid
exposure to the sun; apply sunscreen lotion on uncovered body
part. Cover up with hats, long sleeves, and clothing
to protect from UV rays.
-
 Check your moles, if changes occur
consult your doctor.
- Moles may occour due to potassium
deficiency. The real cure (or prevention) is to eat foods that
contain potassium like apple, cider, vinegar. A balanced diet
high in vitamins A, vitamin E and
vitamin C can improve the
immune system.
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