# Why do hairs grow out of moles darker and longer? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 5, 2011, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hairs-grow-out-of-moles-darker-and-longer/587904 "2011-07-05T15:27:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swords_to_Plowshares)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2011, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hairs-grow-out-of-moles-darker-and-longer/587904/1 "2011-07-05T15:27:45Z")
I have a couple of decent-sized moles on my upper arm. Each one has about five hairs growing out of it, and they’re darker and longer than the rest of my arm hairs. What’s the straight dope on why this happens? ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2011, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hairs-grow-out-of-moles-darker-and-longer/587904/2 "2011-07-05T15:40:02Z")
so they look uglier. extra blood vessels in the mole provide for more hair growth. ---
**Author:** ![rhubarbarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb9ed0/32.png) [@rhubarbarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhubarbarin)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2011, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hairs-grow-out-of-moles-darker-and-longer/587904/3 "2011-07-05T15:55:22Z")
I’d like to know why some moles grow hair, and some don’t. I’m fairly mole-y, but not a one has hair growing out of it. Not even the one that’s inside my hairline on my neck. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2011, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hairs-grow-out-of-moles-darker-and-longer/587904/4 "2011-07-05T15:55:36Z")
Individual hairs can grow thicker (which makes them look darker) and longer even if they are not growing out of a mole. I have an example near my left elbow. Is it possible that the hairs growing out of moles are erect and therefor more easily noted and more disturbing looking? My elbow hair lays flat and it’s probably a coincidence that I ever noticed it. ---
**Author:** ![Surreal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@Surreal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surreal)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2011, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hairs-grow-out-of-moles-darker-and-longer/587904/5 "2011-07-05T18:41:32Z")
[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=132699&highlight=moles](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=132699&highlight=moles) ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2011, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hairs-grow-out-of-moles-darker-and-longer/587904/6 "2011-07-05T20:24:56Z")
> [@Surreal](#): > > [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=132699&highlight=moles](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=132699&highlight=moles) Forgive my oversight if I’m wrong, but I don’t see the answer in that thread. Besides, if the answer was there, why not share it with us instead of merely linking to it? ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2011, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hairs-grow-out-of-moles-darker-and-longer/587904/7 "2011-07-05T20:30:51Z")
I always thought it was because there was more pigment in that area, so skin and hair are both darker. No? ---
**Author:** ![Surreal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@Surreal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surreal)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2011, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hairs-grow-out-of-moles-darker-and-longer/587904/8 "2011-07-05T20:47:59Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Forgive my oversight if I’m wrong, but I don’t see the answer in that thread. Besides, if the answer was there, why not share it with us instead of merely linking to it? [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=2400406&postcount=5](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=2400406&postcount=5) > [@](#): > > As we age, previously fine, non-pigmented “vellus” hairs becomes thicker and pigmented, known as “terminal” hairs, for unknown reasons. This is common on the ears of men, and upper lip and chin of women. A similar process can occur within moles, that is, formerly inconspicuous vellus hairs become more noticeable