Atypical moles are a skin disease typical to youth, but  may occur to the people at any age. While atypical moles are considered to be pre-cancerous (more likely to turn into melanoma than regular moles), not everyone who has atypical moles gets melanoma. In fact, most moles -- both ordinary and atypical ones -- never become cancerous. Thus the removal of all atypical nevi is usually unnecessary. In fact, most of the melanomas found on people with atypical moles arise from normal skin and not from an atypical mole.

 Individuals with atypical moles are at increased risk of developing melanoma. People with atypical moles should have annual eye exams, as ocular melanoma is also a big risk in these cases. One should be followed closely with a very low threshold to biopsy any lesion which is suspicious to the physician or dermatologist.  Detailed body photographs are an excellent way to follow moles to see if any are changing. 

 Other types of moles include:

• Junctional moles, which are usually brown and may be flat or slightly raised.
• Compound moles, which are slightly raised, range in color from tan to dark brown, and involve pigment-producing cells (melanocytes) in both the upper and lower layers of the skin (epidermis and dermis).
• Dermal moles, which range from flesh-color to brown, are elevated, most common on the upper body, and may contain hairs.
• Sebaceous moles, which are produced by over-active oil glands and are yellow and rough-textured.
• Blue moles, which are slightly raised, colored by pigment deep within the skin, and most common on the head, neck, and arms of women.

Causes of Atypical Moles

The cause of the Atypical Moles is unknown. Exposing the skin to sunlight is thought to lead to the development of atypical moles. The cause of moles is unknown, although atypical moles seem to run in families and result from exposure to sunlight.

Diagnosis of Atypical Moles

A mole that has the following symptoms should be evaluated by a dermatologist (a physician specializing in skin diseases).
• Appears after the age of 20
• Bleeds
• Itches
• Looks unusual or changes in any way.

Treatment of Atypical Moles

• the only safe way to remove an atypical mole is to have it removed by an experienced dermatologist. The specimen is then sent to the pathologist to be analyzed under the microscope. Removing an atypical mole leaves a permanent scar.
• The excision of  parts of the mole above and beneath the surface of the skin can leave a scar more noticeable than the mole.
• Patients should realize that the surgical excision of a section of a malignant mole will not cause the cancer to spread.
• If you have a family member who has had a melanoma and you have atypical moles, you should have a complete skin exam each year.