Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Are Moles?What Are Freckles?DifferencesCan Freckles Become Moles?Cancer RiskTreatmentSeeking Medical Care
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Are Moles?
What Are Freckles?
Differences
Can Freckles Become Moles?
Cancer Risk
Treatment
Seeking Medical Care
Moles andfrecklesare both very common spots that appear on the skin. Sometimes the terms “moles” and “freckles” are used interchangeably, but they are not the same. Each has distinguishing features that can be detected at home. There are different types of moles and freckles.
Whereas freckles are always harmless, and most moles are harmless, some moles can become cancerous. Routinely examine your skin to detect changes in moles early.
Amole(nevus) is a skin growth that occurs when pigmented skin cells, called melanocytes, grow in a cluster, making the mole darker than the skin around it. Moles can be expected to lighten or darken over time. For children and teenagers, moles grow as the person grows.
Moles can look different from person to person and may differ in size, shape, and color on the same person. People with darker skin tones and darker hair tend to have darker moles than those with lighter skin tones and lighter hair.
Types of Moles
The varioustypes of molesdiffer based on appearance, when they tend to show up, and whether they should be monitored for cancer risk. Moles can be categorized into the following:
Most adults have common moles, which are harmless, painless, and benign (noncancerous).Common moles are usually:
Common molesare also called acquired moles, meaning they show up over time after birth. Most adults have 10 to 40 common moles and may continue developing moles until age 40.
Congenital molesare moles you are born with; about 10% of people are born with a mole.Congenital moles can range from small to very large. Having a congenital mole is a risk factor for developingmelanoma(the most serious type ofskin cancer).If a congenital mole grows big, a dermatologist may recommend removing it.
Atypical moles(also calleddysplastic nevi) are moles that should be watched for changes. While they are not cancerous themselves, melanoma can grow in atypical moles. Atypical moles are usually:
Spitz nevusis a type of acquired mole commonly mistaken for melanoma due to similarities in appearance, but they are noncancerous. Spitz nevi grow rapidly, often reaching 1 centimeter (cm) in size in six months before they stop growing.Spitz nevi are usually:
Spitz nevi are more common in children and young people, with 70% of cases diagnosed in people under 20 years of age. Spitz nevi may bleed or ooze.
Freckles are harmless skin spots of increased skin pigment (melanin). Freckles are usually:
Freckles may look bigger than others when freckles overlap.Freckles are a result of sun exposure, often among people with lighter skin tones.When exposed to the sun, some melanocytes produce more melanin (skin pigment) to protect the skin against the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. This then shows up as freckles.
You can think of freckles as your skin’s way of protecting you from sun damage. However, they do not replace sunscreen or other sun protection.
Types of Freckles
Ephelides freckles usually:
Solar lentigines (also called age spots orliver spots) are:
What’s the Difference Between a Freckle and a Mole?
The main way to tell the difference between a freckle and a mole is to note their appearance. Moles are usually raised and dome-shaped,whereas freckles are usually flat.
Freckles are smaller than moles and tend to show up closely clustered together, such as over the nose and cheeks. Freckles appear in fewer colors (light brown or tan)/
Moles tend to be fewer in number, spaced out, and can be a variety of shades, including brown, tan, black, red, pink, blue, or even colorless.
Freckles are completely harmless, whereas some moles can be at risk of skin cancer growth.
Sometimes, people use the term “beauty marks” for skin features like freckles and moles. A beauty mark is more of a cultural term. It refers to a dark spot on the face considered to be attractive. However, beauty marks are usually just a mole or a freckle.
Can Freckles Turn Into Moles?
Freckles are distinct from moles and cannot turn into moles. Freckles happen when melanocytes produce more melanin, whereas moles happen when several melanocytes grow in a cluster.Therefore, a cluster of freckles is not the same as a mole.
Can Moles and Freckles Become Cancerous?
While freckles are a sign of sun exposure, they are harmless. However, certainmoles can become cancerousand turn intomelanoma.
The exact reason why some moles turn cancerous while most don’t remains unclear, but scientists believe genetics play a role. For example, researchers have found gene changes in mole cells that could turn them into melanoma cells.Certain types of gene changes cause cells to grow out of control.
Most often, gene changes related to melanoma are acquired during a person’s lifetime and may happen randomly or as a result of external factors, such as UV ray exposure.
Less often, gene changes that raise the risk of melanoma are inherited. This is why a dermatologist or other healthcare provider may ask about a family history of skin cancer during a skin checkup or annual physical.
How Moles and Freckles are Treated
Freckles don’t require treatment as they are harmless. Similarly, benign (noncancerous) moles don’t need treatment. However, moles at risk of developing into cancer need to be monitored for certain changes, and if those changes occur, treatment may be necessary to prevent cancer growth.
Treatment of cancerous moles usually requires the expertise of a dermatologist or skin surgeon. A dermatologist may take a biopsy (sample) of a suspicious-looking mole (oftenremoving the entire moleas the sample) and send it to a pathologist in the lab to check for signs of cancer.
If cancer is detected, they will ensure they have removed the entire mole and determine whether further treatment is needed. Never attempt to remove a mole yourself. Always reach out to a healthcare provider, such as a primary care provider or dermatologist, if you’re concerned about a mole.
Signs You Need to Get Your Skin Checked
While it can sometimes be difficult to tell the difference between a common mole and a cancerous mole, you can look for key changes at home. It’s important to monitor your skin for these changes as early detection is key to successful treatment.
Be sure to tell a healthcare provider or dermatologist if you notice one or more of the following changes to a mole. You can think of these signs as the ABCDEs of spotting skin cancer:
If you have a family history of skin cancer or have had skin cancer yourself, a healthcare provider or dermatologist may recommend yearly or more frequent skin checks.
Summary
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Moles: overview.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Moles: who gets and types.National Cancer Institute.Common moles, dysplastic nevi, and risk of melanoma.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Moles: signs and symptoms.American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Sptiz nevus.Nemours KidsHealth.What are freckles?Praetorius C, Sturm RA, Steingrimsson E.Sun‐induced freckling: ephelides and solar lentigines.Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research. 2014;27(3):339-350. doi:10.1111/pcmr.12232American Cancer Society.What causes melanoma skin cancer?
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Moles: overview.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Moles: who gets and types.National Cancer Institute.Common moles, dysplastic nevi, and risk of melanoma.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Moles: signs and symptoms.American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Sptiz nevus.Nemours KidsHealth.What are freckles?Praetorius C, Sturm RA, Steingrimsson E.Sun‐induced freckling: ephelides and solar lentigines.Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research. 2014;27(3):339-350. doi:10.1111/pcmr.12232American Cancer Society.What causes melanoma skin cancer?
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Moles: overview.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Moles: who gets and types.National Cancer Institute.Common moles, dysplastic nevi, and risk of melanoma.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Moles: signs and symptoms.American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Sptiz nevus.Nemours KidsHealth.What are freckles?Praetorius C, Sturm RA, Steingrimsson E.Sun‐induced freckling: ephelides and solar lentigines.Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research. 2014;27(3):339-350. doi:10.1111/pcmr.12232American Cancer Society.What causes melanoma skin cancer?
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Moles: overview.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Moles: who gets and types.
National Cancer Institute.Common moles, dysplastic nevi, and risk of melanoma.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Moles: signs and symptoms.
American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Sptiz nevus.
Nemours KidsHealth.What are freckles?
Praetorius C, Sturm RA, Steingrimsson E.Sun‐induced freckling: ephelides and solar lentigines.Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research. 2014;27(3):339-350. doi:10.1111/pcmr.12232
American Cancer Society.What causes melanoma skin cancer?
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