Contrary to popular belief, people with fewer moles are actually more prone to developing the most serious type of skin cancer. Many used to believe that those with several moles are particularly at risk for skin cancer.

About Melanoma

According to TIME, a new study published in JAMA Dermatology showed that most individuals with melanoma, which is the most serious type of skin cancer, do not have several moles. Melanoma typically occur in the skin and may develop from a mole that undergoes unique changes. The main cause of the skin cancer is exposure to ultraviolet light among individuals with low levels of skin pigment. About one-fourth stem from moles.

Alan Charles Geller of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, who is the principal investigator in the study, stated that several individuals were led to believe that melanoma is mainly a disease of people who have several or many unusual moles. The main finding seems to point out that it is actually the opposite.

Fewer Moles Means More Risk

The research on JAMA Dermatology involved 566 people from California and Michigan, who were recently diagnosed with melanoma. Doctors noted their total moles and marked unusual ones. Sixty-six percent of the people in the study group had 0 to 60 moles, which doctors deemed fairly small. As people grew older, the number continued to rise. Only 19 percent of individuals 60 years old and above had 20 or more moles. Meanwhile, 73 percent of the study group did not have unusual moles, which were described to have asymmetrical shape, irregular borders, multiple colors and a diameter wider than 20 mm.

Geller also showed that middle-aged and older white men who had melanoma had worse prognosis compared to other groups.

Although the findings suggest that people with fewer moles may actually be more vulnerable to melanoma, the presence of moles are still strong indicators of serious skin cancer. People with several unusual moles are more likely to have worse prognosis if they develop melanoma. Overall, the study suggests that people with few or no moles should be checked for skin cancer as soon as possible.

Geller suggested two things. First, people should personally check their skin and know that the cleaner it is, the more likely they can acquire melanoma. Second, they should visit a doctor and be screened despite of the number of moles they have. Doctors will provide preventive measures and helpful tips on how to protect the skin.