There are several skin lesions that are very common and generally non-cancerous. These include moles, freckles, skin tags, benign lentigines, and seborrheic keratoses.

Moles: are black or brown growths and can appear anywhere on the skin.They are formed by melanocytes, which produce the skins pigment.

Types of Moles:

* Congenital nevi: moles that appear at birth.

* Dysplastic nevi: moles that are larger than normal, irregular in shape, dark brown centers and lighter, uneven edges.

Should I Worry About Moles?

*If you notice changes such as bleeding, itching, oozing, or pain, have it examined.

How Do I Know if a Mole Is Cancer?

The ABCDEs should be considered when examining your moles. If a mole displays any of the signs listed below, have it checked immediately for cancer.

* Asymmetry: Two halves of mole do not match.
* Border: The edges are ragged, blurred, or irregular.
* Color: The mole contains shades of tan, brown, black, blue, white, or red.
* Diameter: The diameter is large.
* Elevation: A part of the mole is raised from the skin.

*Melanoma is a dangerous form of skin cancer that should be taken lightly, especially if you live in an area that has predominant sunlight during the year, such as the desert.

How Are Moles Treated?

A suspect mole will be removed and screened for cancer.

A skin tag is a flap of tissue connected by a stalk.

*Generally found on the neck, chest, back, armpits, under the breasts, or in the groin area.

*Skin tags appear most often in women and in elderly people.

How Are Skin Tags Treated?

*cutting it off with a scalpel or scissors.

*cryotherapy (freezing it off).

*electrosurgery (burning it off with an electric current).

A lentigo is a skin spot which is darker than the surrounding skin, and is more common among those with fair skin.

The sun seems to be the major cause of lentigines, although they may be caused by genetics or radiation. They usually appear on face and hands. They are removed by:
* Cryotherapy (freezing it off)
* Laser surgery
* Creams that are applied to the skin. These include retinoids and bleaching agents.

Freckles: are small brown spots usually found on the face and arms. Freckles are extremely common and pose no health threat. They are more prevalent among people with light or red hair.

If you feel that freckles are a problem you can cover them with makeup or consider certain types of laser treatment.

Seborrheic keratoses: are brown or black growths usually found on the chest and back, as well as on the head. They originate from cells called keratinocytes. As they develop, seborrheic keratoses take on a warty appearance, and do not lead to skin cancer.

What Causes Seborrheic Keratoses?

The cause of seborrheic keratoses is unknown and generally appear as people get older.

How Are Seborrheic Keratoses Treated?

Seborrheic keratoses are benign, not contagious and don't require treatment. If they become unsightly, methods for removing them include cutting them off, cryotherapy, and electrosurgery.