Should I Be Worried About All These Moles and Spots on My Skin?
By : Dr. Caroline Vaughn
At Village Dermatology in Katy, Texas and Houston, Texas, many patients schedule routine skin exams because they notice new spots, moles, or skin changes. A 50-year-old female recently came to our office for a full-body skin check and evaluation of multiple skin lesions.
Her main concern during the visit was a question we hear often:
“Should I be worried about all these moles and spots on my skin?”
This is an important question because distinguishing between harmless skin growths and potential skin cancer requires expert evaluation.
Why Routine Skin Exams Are Important
The patient scheduled her visit for:
Evaluation of skin lesions throughout the body
Screening for suspicious growths
Education about sun exposure
Preventative skin cancer monitoring
She also reported a family history of non-melanoma skin cancer, which increases the importance of regular dermatology visits.
During the appointment, a comprehensive full-body skin exam was performed, including the scalp, face, neck, chest, back, arms, legs, hands, feet, and nails.
A dermatoscope was used to carefully evaluate moles and pigmented lesions.
Findings from the Skin Examination
Fortunately, the exam showed no signs of skin cancer. However, several common benign skin findings were identified.
These are extremely common in adults and increase with age and sun exposure.
Benign Nevi (Common Moles)
The patient had multiple benign nevi, which are normal moles.
These appeared as:
Regular, symmetrical spots
Evenly colored macules and papules
Stable pigmented lesions
Benign moles are clusters of pigment-producing cells within the skin and usually do not require treatment.
However, patients should monitor for any changes in:
Size
Shape
Color
Symptoms such as itching or bleeding
Monthly self-skin exams are recommended.
Lentigines (Sun Spots)
The patient also had lentigines, commonly called sun spots or age spots.
These appear as:
Light tan to brown macules
Reticulated pigmentation
Areas on sun-exposed skin
Lentigines develop from years of sun exposure and are very common in adults.
Although they are benign, they can be improved cosmetically with:
Sunscreen use
Retinoids
Chemical peels
Laser treatments
Preventing further sun damage is key.
Seborrheic Keratoses
Another finding was seborrheic keratoses, which are very common benign growths.
They typically look like:
Waxy or "stuck-on" growths
Brown, black, or tan lesions
Slightly raised textured plaques
These growths are harmless and do not require treatment, though they can be removed for cosmetic reasons.
During this visit, the patient elected to defer treatment of one lesion on the cheek.
Cherry Angiomas
The exam also revealed cherry angiomas, which are small benign blood vessel growths.
They appear as:
Bright red spots
Dome-shaped papules
Smooth vascular lesions
Cherry angiomas are extremely common and increase with age.
Treatment is not necessary, but they can be removed with:
Laser therapy
Electrodessication
Skin Cancer Risk and Family History
Because the patient has a family history of non-melanoma skin cancer, we discussed several important preventative steps.
These include:
Using sun protective clothing
Avoiding excessive sun exposure
Performing monthly self-skin examinations
Family history can increase the risk of developing skin cancer, which makes regular dermatology screenings essential.
How to Perform a Self-Skin Exam
Patients should examine their skin monthly and watch for:
New spots that appear suddenly
Moles that change shape or color
Lesions that bleed or do not heal
Rapidly growing bumps
Any suspicious changes should be evaluated by a dermatologist promptly.
How Often Should You Have a Full Body Skin Exam?
For most adults, dermatologists recommend annual full-body skin exams.
However, people with risk factors such as:
Family history of skin cancer
Numerous moles
Significant sun exposure
Fair skin
may benefit from more frequent screenings.
Expert Skin Cancer Screening in Katy and Houston, Texas
At Village Dermatology, our dermatology team specializes in:
Skin cancer screenings
Mole evaluation
Dermoscopy examinations
Preventative dermatology
Treatment of benign skin growths
If you have moles, spots, or new skin lesions, a professional skin exam can provide peace of mind.
Schedule your annual skin check at Village Dermatology in Katy or Houston, Texas today.
Early detection saves lives.
