Atypical Moles Don’t Necessarily Mean You Have Melanoma

If you have abnormal moles, it may not necessarily mean you’re at risk for skin cancer.

“There are some patients who fall into the category of atypical mole syndrome,” says Dr. Cecilia Larocca, a dermatologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. That’s usually someone who has more than 50 moles, with at least five being clinically atypical–meaning they either are larger, irregular or have multiple colors. These people are at a slightly increased risk of melanoma, says Dr. Larocca.

An atypical mole may be one of three types: mild, moderate, or severely atypical. If it’s moderately to severely atypical, it could suggest that the mole may one day become a melanoma.

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