Hairy Moles Meaning, Causes, Myths and Removal

What is a mole?

Moles are dark spots on the skin that can develop anywhere on your body. From your scalp at the top of your head to your genitals and anal region to the soles of your feet. The chin, chest, legs and other parts may have them too. They also interestingly range in color from brown to red, to purple and most commonly black.

Melanocytes are the cells that produce melanin and melanin give skin color. They are found in the two upper layers of the skin. Moles happen when the melanocytes grow in a cluster instead of spreading out. It is why moles are often darker in color.

Most of them are non-cancerous and only removed for aesthetic purposes.

Hairy moles
Why are they hairy

 

Fun facts about moles

  • Some people are born with them while others develop them over time, usually within 30 years.
  • Genetic disposition plays a part in why someone would have a mole. Studies show that if they are common in your family, then you are more likely to develop them.
  • Fairer skin is likelier to have more them than darker skin.
  • Environment and sun exposure are likely a cause for mole development. This is especially true where sun exposure occurs during childhood.
  • They do change in quantity and appearance over time

Hormonal changes may affect mole growth. For example, pregnant women may have somewhat darker moles, they are most likely to increase in number during teenage years and from 40-50 they may begin to disappear.

Causes or why are mine hairy?

Hairy moles have hair follicles growing through them. The hairs can get rather long, and unfortunately for some people, it is unsightly.

The skin surrounding them may be different, but it has the same properties and features as the skin in the rest of the body. This means that hair follicles can still grow. They as such, tend to grow in areas of the body where hair would usually grow.

Though you may hate it, they may turn out to be a wonderful indicator that your mole is non-cancerous, although not full proof.

That’s because a cancerous growth would destroy the hair follicles so that the hair would not be able to grow. Therefore, hair growing out of it may be a good sign.

Nonetheless, it’s important to note that a melanoma (skin cancer) can develop from an already existing mole. But again, most are not cancerous.

Myths about hairy moles and cancer

  • They do not carry a greater risk of developing into a melanoma
  • Shaving hair from it does not create a higher risk of making them cancerous.
  • Laser hair removal may not work as well as it searches for dark hair in contrast to light skin. Because your mole is dark, the laser may not be able to differentiate between the hair and the skin.

Common types

There are three basic groups of moles. Regular, irregular and cancerous. These are the factors used to determine their types:

The ABCDE rule

  • Asymmetry. Whether one half matches the other. If they do not, they are asymmetrical
  • Border irregularity: a regular border is smooth. An irregular border is ragged. Any protrusion from it should cause concern.
  • Color: multiple colors on it means it’s irregular and perhaps worrisome.
  • Diameter. They are generally less than 6 millimeters in size (pencil eraser). Should the size change and become bigger, there may be cause for concern. It’s important to keep in mind though that some melanomas can be tiny.
  • Evolving. Where the mole changes over time to have more dire features. This may signal a cancerous evolution.

 

REGULAR MOLES IRREGULAR MOLES CANCEROUS MOLES
ASYMMETRY Symmetrical Asymmetrical

 

Highly irregular- asymmetrical
BORDER IRREGULARITY Regular borders Irregular borders

 

Irregular borders

 

COLOR Uniform colors Multiple colors

 

Multiple colors

 

DIAMETER Size of/smaller than a pencil eraser Bigger than a pencil eraser Most are about 6 inches wide
ELEVATED OR ENLARGED Flat or raised surface

 

Flat/Nearly flat surface            –
 

CANCER POTENTIAL

Typically, harmlessly benign 20-25 irregular ones increase person’s risk of developing a melanoma Malignant

 

Sun exposure and risk of melanoma

Most irregular ones are found to be in areas of the skin frequently exposed to sunlight. Consistent sun exposure heightens the risk of a melanoma developing.

The ears, usually unprotected by sunscreen are a common location for atypical/ irregular ones.

Women also face a greater risk of atypical moles, especially on the calf and lower leg.

Hairy mole removal

Most people remove their hairy moles for aesthetic purposes. Enrique Iglesias did so in 2003. Little did he know that it would be in so much demand.

According to beauty Zion, a nurse in the surgery took Enrique Iglesias’ mole home and sold it on eBay.

Pop dirt also claims a New York radio DJ stunned Enrique by offering to buy it for $1.1 million.

Yours may not go for $1.1 million, but the procedure is simple enough to be administered under local anesthesia. The procedure is known as a surgical excision where the doctor literally cuts it off the and the stitches the wound right up.

The cost? $100- $500 on average according to mole removal cost guide.

Hidden meanings

According to Chinese culture,  they are not just melanocyte clusters that people hate. They each have different meanings and the meanings determine whether they should be removed or kept. They can be used to tell your fortune and determine your personality.

For example:

A red mole on the chest suggests passion, generosity, and a good relationship with children, while one the butt signifies enthusiasm and luck.

Forehead moles question authority while ear moles signify intelligence, long life or good reputation depending on where they are found.

A navel mole is a sign of wisdom while a lower leg mole implies hard work. A back mole indicates an outgoing personality a shoulder mole a need for more arguments with people.

Hand moles are sacred and not to be touched!

Here are the mole locations on your face, and what each stands for;

Facial mole location and meaning
Facial mole location and meaning
  1. Cannot get along with parents, boss, or the elderly. Try to keep a respectful distance with them.
  2. Same to 1. No respect for parents, boss, or the elderly. Try to keep a respectful distance with them.
  3. Same to 1. Try to keep a respectful distance with them.
  4. Lack of planning and have an unstable life.
  5. (above the eyebrow) – May encounter misfortune brought on by family or friends or may have bad luck with money.
  6. (in the eyebrow) – Very smart, creative or artistic. Will have wealth and fame and have good luck with money.
  7. (on the eyelid) – Tend to have conflicts with family, and have a problem keeping the money.
  8. Have financial hardship. Need to prevent unwanted sexual advances.
  9. Need to prevent unwanted sexual advances and prevent accidents.
  10. Unlikely to have or to be with children or grandchildren.
  11. Tend to be troubled by long-term or severe illness.
  12. Tend to have problems related to diet or food.
  13. Always worry and work hard for children but may not be able to enjoy a good relationship with them.
  14. Have a high risk of food poisoning or allergy.
  15. Do not reside in one place for long, move around a lot or have an unstable environment.
  16. Need to prevent unwanted sexual advances, and prevent food poisoning or diet problems.
  17. Be cautious with your actions to prevent losing good reputation.
  18. Be mindful of your wellbeing when traveling abroad.
  19. Need to prevent unwanted sexual advances.
  20. Life may be short, so live it to the fullest. Avoid any criminal acts.
  21. Tend to have foot problems. Need to prevent water-related accidents.
  22. Need to prevent accidents while traveling.
  23. Prominent and rich.

The above text was borrowed from Chinese Facial Mole Reading.

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