Red Moles on Skin

Have you started to notice something out of the blue on your body recently? Are you noticing small red moles on skin? These red moles on skin will create panic in the minds of some people who fear that it may be a sign of skin cancer. Before we think about something so drastic, it is important to note that not all skin moles lead to a terrifying skin condition. You can check for a few pointers yourself before you rush over to the doctor's clinic. These pointers will help determine if they are harmless red moles on skin or a sign of a skin disorder.

What are Red Moles on Body?

Red moles on skin are also known as cherry hemangiomas, that are abnormal growth of blood vessels. They are also known as cherry angiomas, senile angiomas as well Campbell de Morgan spots after the British surgeon who first described them. They look like bright red or purple round spots. The red moles are about 1 to 4 mm in size. One can develop red moles on body in areas like the armpits, heels, genital areas, chest, back, legs, arms, etc.

Another type of moles seen are interdermal melanocytic nevi or in simpler words true moles. These moles are raised and have very little pigmentation. There red moles on face are commonly seen in people who have fair skin, light hair and blue eyes. These red moles on skin can be slightly pink in color, symmetric in shape and look the same for years on end.

Pyogenic granulomas are other harmless moles that are always thought of as suspicious cancer moles. These moles are very soft than other moles. They are prone to bleeding and therefore need to be removed by electrocautery, laser surgery and other types of surgery.

One of the dangerous red moles on skin that are often overlooked by patients is the one formed due to melanoma. This is a very deadly form of skin cancer that needs immediate medical evaluation. But how can one differentiate between cherry angiomas, true moles and melanoma? One needs to observe these red moles on body carefully and if they look suspicious, speak to your healthcare provider.

Causes of Red Moles on Body

Red moles on skin are caused by various reasons. Red moles on face, hands, and other exposed parts of the body may occur due to overexposure to sunrays. Serious sunburns may also lead to development of red moles. Most of the time pyogenic granulomas are caused due to sun burns.

Red moles on skin may also develop due to heredity traits. Most of the time, it is seen red moles on skin occur in individuals who have a family history of malignant melanoma. Thus, these people need to monitor the red moles on their body carefully. A pregnant woman may also develop red moles. This is due to the various hormonal changes occurring in her body. These changes lead to development of red moles on skin. Another cause of red moles on skin is aging, that makes one prone to red moles. Older people should be extra precautions about developing red moles on their skin.

How to Diagnose Red Moles on Body

Red moles on body can come up anywhere on any part of the body. Most often when one observes red moles on face, one realizes these eruptions are present on other body parts as well. But, how can one be sure that these red moles on skin are the harmless types? You need to have a close look and diagnose whether these moles are worrisome or not.

• You need to check whether these red moles on skin are asymmetrical or symmetrical in shape. This is the most important aspect of diagnosing skin cancer. An asymmetric mole indicates a problem. If the mole is symmetrical, it may be a harmless benign red mole.
• Check the border of the red moles. If the borders are irregular and jagged, it means they are a type of malignant moles.
• Color of the red mole too plays an important role in diagnoses. If the mole color is too dark or darkens with time, there are high chances of it begin cancerous moles.
• The size of the mole also indicates if you need to call your doctor. A benign mole is no larger than the size of a pencil eraser. If the size of mole is larger than normal or changes in mole size requires doctors attention.
• Red moles on skin tend to be slightly elevated. However, if the elevation is raised more than normal or in conjunction with other characteristics mentioned above, you need to speak to a medical expert.

Red moles on face and other parts of the body do not require any treatment most of the time. Only if the red mole is at the risk of developing into a melanoma, no treatment is advised. In some cases, cryosurgery or electrosurgery is used to remove the red moles. This was all about red moles on skin. If you have any doubts regarding these red moles, speak to your doctor. Most of the time, they turn out to be benign moles or true moles. Hope the above paragraphs have helped solved your queries regarding red moles on body.