subject: Moles On The Soles Of Your Feet? Keep An Eye On Them [print this page] If youve discovered moles on the soles of your feet, you may be wondering if youve cause for concern.
That depends on a few things. First of all, while not the most common place for a mole to show up, moles can and do appear on the soles of feet. In fact, moles can show up on just about any part of your dermis (skin), even between your toes and fingers, on your scalp under your hair, your armpits, and in private parts of your anatomy.
Moles usually appear as small, brown spots, often raised a bit from yours skin. But they can be flesh-colored, reddish-brown, dark or medium brown, even blue. Most are oval or round in shape and can be as small as a pinhead or as large as your entire limb (very rare), although most moles are smaller than inch.
You probably have between 10-40 moles on your body. They usually show up by age 20, but if youve had a mole since you were very young and are now approaching or beyond the age of 50, dont be surprised if some of you moles disappear -- most moles have a lifespan of about 50 years.
If youre female, you may have noticed moles may change a bit with your hormonal fluctuations; many women, for example, sometimes report an increase in the number of moles and a darkening in their established moles during pregnancy. Adolescent males also may see some changes in their moles.
You also can acquire new moles in midlife, so be vigilant and check your skin regularly because a change in the look, feel and size/shape of a mole can be one of the first sings of skin cancer.
In addition, you should also keep a close eye on large (the size of a closed fist, or larger) moles youve had since birth, as these could increase your chances of acquiring malignant melanoma.
If you notice a change in any mole on any part of your body, including the soles of your feet, you should have a medical professional look it over, as the change could be an indication that you may have cause for concern.
Melanoma, the most serious kind of skin cancer, often start as an abnormal mole. Is the mole painful? Does it itch or burn? Has it changed color, shape or its elevation above your skin? If so, you should definitely have it checked out.
If the changed mole is on the sole of your foot, you may wish to visit a podiatrist. You may want to see a podiatrist even if a mole on the sole of your foot hasnt changed because a mole on that location can become agitated from the friction caused by just your daily living (walking). Changes in a mole, even those caused by an outside force (such as friction), take place at the cellular level. Cancer can occur when your cells change (mutate).
Your podiatrist will help determine if the mole on your sole should be removed. A simple Punch Biopsy in the office can determine if this mole is benign or malignant. This usually takes 10-15 minutes but it can save your life.
