I understand that moles are merely concetrations of melanin or however it’s spelled, but why do I get more as I get older? If one grows really far out of the surrounding tissue (like my girl’s) can iodine and a razor be used rather than getting it frozen professionslly? My father had this done (at a doctor’s) and he had to wear a patch for a few days; apparently they bleed alot. So why get them in increasing amounts…some are even pink (less melanin probably)… but what’s the straight dope on moles?
Well, as a guy with a whole slew of moles, here’s what I’ve learned:
For one thing, you really shouldn’t get a mole frozen off. Warts are ok to freeze, moles shouldn’t be.
As far as getting more as you get older, you actually should stop getting them when you hit about 25 or so (at least that’s what my doctor told me). Anything after that (generally) is a freckle, or might be worth seeing a doctor about.
The mole that your daughter has is one that I probably wouldn’t try to take off yourself. Yes, they will bleed quite a bit because it’s living skin tissue (whereas a wart is basically dead skin). I’ve had 6 or 7 taken off in the past few years, most of them for skin cancer precautions, two of them just for looks. Each time it was done I got a few stitches, and I was good to go. They also sent them off to a lab to get some work done.
Also, I want to point out that everything on your body that sticks up or is a weird color isn’t a mole. Skin is a very interesting thing, and you’ve got common freckles, moles, odd (but normal) flesh colored growths that aren’t moles, you can have a clump of blood vessels that turn red, and if you cut it or poke it, it will bleed like crazy.
Anyways, I can’t give you all the information you need, but hope this helps a little. Since I’m on the subject, you should see a doctor if: a mole is bigger than the end of a pencil eraser, has different colors, has a weird shape, or is very sensitive to touch or bleeds for no good reason.
I would think really hard before removing one by yourself.
Aww, gees people…
where are you in my time of mole farming? I know the majority on this site must be guys and guys gro-w things I know th-at much LOL. So where are all the advice session about moles and mole pointers… moley.moley,moley,moley… =P Scared of some little brown things fellas? So anyway, concentrations of melanin fine, but why? Why on my jaw and not my bicep? Or my knee instead of my hip? Btw, I don’t get freckles, I either “get my mole on” or I get sprinkled with 11 of the colonel’s secret herbs and spices, yep that’s right Kentucky fried… sniff… anyway, hopefully someone will find me in here… here… here… sighhh
BTW-that’s for everything Buddylee