Moles, for the most part, are harmless or 'benign', which means they are not cancerous or malignant.
The reason we have moles is not 100% known, but it is believed to be due to a combination of genetics and the result of personal circumstances and lifestyle.
The appearance of new moles is often found in adolescents and women during pregnancy. Moles are also known to develop as a reaction to sun exposure.
Common and irregular moles are flat on the skin or raised. Raised moles are more prone to catching on clothing or coming into contact with objects during everyday activities, which may cause damage or bleeding. In most cases, this is just an unfortunate incident and should not be considered anything more sinister as the skin heals.
It is important to note that moles can mutate or develop to become malignant or cancerous over time. Bleeding, or the secretion of fluid could be a sign of a mutation which should be taken seriously. This is not normal and should be checked by a GP or dermatologist immediately.
If you have concerns about a mole that changes over time or behaves differently to other moles on your body, you should seek immediate medical attention. When skin cancer or melanoma is caught at an early stage, it is highly treatable with very low mortality rates. If skin cancer is ignored or allowed to become more advanced, the required treatment is more extensive and mortality rates increase substantially.
In 90 per cent of cases, skin cancer is caused by sun overexposure. The best way to prevent skin cancer and melanoma is to protect your skin from the sun. UPF 50+ sun protective clothing and the use of a broad brim sun hat is the most effective way to protect yourself.
Solbari is a sun protection specialist based in Melbourne, Australia. Solbari has an online range of UPF 50+ sun protective clothing and broad-brim sun hats which dermatologists consider to be the most effective way to protect yourself from the sun. For more information, visit www.solbari.com.au
You can find out more about Solbari's certified UPF50+ sun protective range by clicking the blue links below:
Women UPF 50+
Men UPF 50+
Sun Hats UPF 50+
Accessories UPF50+
SPF 50+ Sunscreen
Skin Check App
