Moles Health Dictionary

  1. Health Encyclopedia
  2. Moles

Moles: From 1 Different Sources

Flat or raised, a mole is a coloured spot on the skin. It contains a dark pigment, melanin, and may be covered with hair. While easy to remove by plastic surgery, advice should be sought before excision. Under the influence of friction a mole may become malignant. Studies show that moles carry an elevated risk of malignant melanoma. When a mole changes in character, a qualified practitioner should be consulted. By herbal means they are never completely eradicated.

Traditional. Rub with raw Garlic bulb. Apply juice of Dandelion, Milkweed, Greater Celandine, or Jojoba oil over a long period.

Linda Clark. Moles have been known to disappear on wiping with Castor oil.

Internally: Liquid Extract, Thuja. 3-5 drops in water, once daily, for 1 month, repeated again after 3 months.

Vitamin E.

Minerals. Silicon, Sulphur. 

Health Source: Bartrams Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine
Author: Health Encyclopedia

Birth Marks

Birth marks are of various kinds; the most common are port-wine marks (see NAEVUS). Pigment spots are found, very often raised above the skin surface and more or less hairy, being then called moles (see MOLE).... birth marks

Mole

(1) A term used to describe the common pigmented spots which occur on human SKIN. It arises from a collection of abnormal melanocytes (see MELANOCYTE) in the dermis adjacent to the epidermodermal junction. Moles are usually not present at birth, and appear in childhood or adolescence. Most moles are less than 5 mm in diameter and are macular at ?rst, becoming raised later. Rarely, moles are present at birth and may occasionally be massive. There is a substantial risk of future malignancy (see MALIGNANT) in massive congenital moles and prophylactic surgical removal is advised if feasible. All humans have moles, but their number varies from ten or fewer to 100 or more. The members of some families are genetically predisposed to large numbers of moles, some of which may be large and irregular in shape and colour. This ‘atypical mole syndrome’ is associated with an increased risk of future malignant MELANOMA.

(2) An internationally agreed unit (see SI UNITS) for measuring the quantity of a substance at molecular level.... mole

Birthmark

An area of discoloured skin present from birth, or very soon afterwards, such as moles, freckles, and other types of melanocytic naevus (various flat, brown to blue-grey skin patches), strawberry marks, and port-wine stains.

The last 2 are types of haemangioma (malformation of blood vessels).

Strawberry marks often increase in size in the first year, but most disappear after the age of 9 years.

Port-wine stains seldom fade, but laser treatment performed in adulthood can make some of them fade.... birthmark

Naevus

A type of skin blemish of which there are 2 main groups: pigmented naevi are caused by abnormality or overactivity of melanocytes (skin cells that produce the pigment melanin); vascular naevi are caused by an abnormal collection of blood vessels.

The most common types of pigmented naevi are freckles, lentigos, and café au lait spots: flat brown areas that may occur where the skin is exposed to the sun. Another common type is a mole, sometimes called a melanocytic naevus. In rare cases, moles become cancerous (see melanoma, malignant). Juvenile melanomas (see melanoma, juvenile) are red-brown naevi that occur in childhood. Blue naevi are common in young girls. Most black and Asian infants are born with blue-black spots on their lower backs (see Mongolian blue spot).

Port-wine stains and strawberry marks (see haemangioma and spider naevi) are examples of vascular naevi.

Most naevi are harmless. However, if a naevus suddenly appears, grows, bleeds, or changes colour, medical advice should be sought immediately to exclude the possibility of skin cancer.... naevus

Pigmentation

Coloration of the skin, hair, and iris of the eyes by melanin. The more melanin present, the darker the coloration. Blood pigments can also colour skin (such as in a bruise).

There are many abnormalities of pigmentation.

Patches of pale skin occur in psoriasis, pityriasis alba, pityriasis versicolor, and vitiligo.

Albinism is caused by generalized melanin deficiency.

Phenylketonuria results in a reduced melanin level, making sufferers pale-skinned and fair-haired.

Areas of dark skin may be caused by disorders such as eczema or psoriasis, pityriasis versicolor, chloasma, or by some perfumes and cosmetics containing chemicals that cause photosensitivity.

Permanent areas of deep pigmentation, such as freckles and moles (see naevus), are usually due to an abnormality of melanocytes.

Acanthosis nigricans is characterized by dark patches of velvet-like, thickened skin.

Blood pigments may lead to abnormal colouring.

Excess of the bile pigment bilirubin in jaundice turns the skin yellow, and haemochromatosis turns the skin bronze.... pigmentation

Atypical Mole Syndrome

(dysplastic naevus syndrome) a condition in which patients have numerous moles, some of which are relatively large and irregular in shape or pigmentation. There may be a family history of this syndrome or of malignant *melanoma.... atypical mole syndrome

Molarity

n. the strength of a solution, expressed as the weight of dissolved substance in grams per litre divided by its molecular weight, i.e. the number of moles per litre. Molarity is indicated as 0.1 M, 1 M, 2 M, etc.... molarity

Gestational Trophoblastic Neoplasia

(GTN) a group of disorders characterized by persistence of *gestational trophoblastic disease, with abnormal placental development and very high levels of *human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG). The chorionic villi are fluid-filled with vacuolation of the placenta and destruction of the normal stroma. GTN is rare in the UK, with a calculated incidence of 1/714 live births. It may develop after a molar pregnancy (see hydatidiform mole), a nonmolar pregnancy, or a live birth. The incidence after a live birth is estimated at 1/50,000. A malignant condition may develop (see choriocarcinoma) if the abnormal tissue is not completely removed and the risk of this is monitored by the fall in hCG levels. Choriocarcinoma complicates approximately 3% of complete moles, although in 50% of cases of choriocarcinoma there is no history of immediately preceding trophoblastic disease. It may also occur following a normal pregnancy. In the UK, there is an effective registration and treatment programme. The programme has achieved impressive results, with high cure (98–100%) and low chemotherapy (5–8%) rates.... gestational trophoblastic neoplasia

Hydatidiform Mole

a collection of fluid-filled sacs that develop when the membrane (chorion) surrounding the embryo degenerates in early pregnancy with proliferation of the *trophoblast. These sacs give the placenta the appearance of a bunch of grapes and a characteristic snowstorm appearance on ultrasound. The levels of hCG are abnormally high. Hydatidiform mole can be subdivided into complete and partial mole based on genetic and histological features. Complete moles show no evidence of fetal tissue; there is usually evidence of a fetus or fetal red blood cells with a partial mole. The widespread use of ultrasound has led to earlier diagnosis and has changed the pattern of molar pregnancy. The majority of women present with symptoms of early pregnancy failure. See gestational trophoblastic disease.... hydatidiform mole

Molar Solution

a solution in which the number of grams of dissolved substance per litre equals its molecular weight, i.e. a solution of molarity 1 M.

mole1 n. the *SI unit of amount of substance, equal to the amount of substance that contains as many elementary units as there are atoms in 0.012 kilograms of carbon-12. The elementary units, which must be specified, may be atoms, molecules, ions, electrons, etc., or a specified group of such entities. One mole of a compound has a mass equal to its molecular weight expressed in grams. Symbol: mol.

mole2 n. a nonmalignant collection of pigmented cells in the skin. Moles are rare in infancy, increase in numbers during childhood and especially in adolescence, but decline in numbers in old age. They vary widely in appearance, being flat or raised, smooth or hairy. Changes in the shape, colour, etc., of moles in adult life should be investigated as this may be an early sign of malignant *melanoma. Medical name: pigmented naevus. See also atypical mole syndrome.... molar solution

Ultrasonography

(sonography) n. the use of *ultrasound to produce images of structures in the human body. The ultrasound probe sends out a short pulse of high-frequency sound and detects the reflected waves (echoes) occurring at interfaces within the organs. The direction of the pulse can then be moved across the area of interest with each pulse to build up a complete image. Scans may produce a single stationary image similar to a photograph (static) or multiple sequential images similar to a video (*real-time imaging). The ultrasound waves are transmitted from – and echoes detected by – piezoelectric crystals contained within the scanning probe (see transducer). As far as is known, there are no significant adverse effects from the use of ultrasound at diagnostic energies. Ultrasound waves are blocked by gas, as in the lungs and bowel, which can obscure underlying structures. The detail seen increases with the frequency of the ultrasound but the depth of penetration decreases. Ultrasonography is extensively used in obstetrics, including the diagnosis of pregnancy, assessment of gestational age, diagnosis of *malpresentations, ectopic pregnancies, and *hydatidiform moles, and detection of structural fetal abnormalities (see also transvaginal ultrasonography). It is also used to examine the abdominal organs, urinary tract, blood vessels, muscles, and tendons. More specialized techniques include *echocardiography, *transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS), intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS), and endoscopic ultrasound examinations. See also Doppler ultrasound.... ultrasonography

Health encyclopedia icon Health Encyclopedia

Recent Searches