{"id":46667,"date":"2026-04-19T19:32:15","date_gmt":"2026-04-19T19:32:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/imedic.rs\/?p=46667"},"modified":"2026-10-28T17:07:05","modified_gmt":"2026-10-28T17:07:05","slug":"everything-about-moles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/imedic.rs\/en\/sve-sto-treba-da-znate-o-mladezima\/","title":{"rendered":"Moles: Check-ups, Dermoscopy & Removal \u2013 Dr \u0106irovi\u0107 | Imedic"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Moles are one of the most common skin lesions and almost everyone has them, but how much do we actually know about them? Dr Marina \u0106irovi\u0107<\/a>, a dermatovenereology specialist at Imedic poliklinika, explains what moles are, why their examination is important, and when they should be removed.<\/p>

Moles are benign structures made up of cells called melanocytes. These are cells present in our skin, as well as in some other tissues \u2014 such as the membranes of the eye and the meninges. When located in the skin, melanocytes are responsible for producing the pigment melanin, which gives our skin its colour and complexion.<\/p>

What determines how a mole looks is the position of the melanocytes in the skin. When they are organised superficially, in the so-called basal layer of the epidermis, they form moles that are flat, level with the skin \u2014 most commonly recognised as round or oval spots of various shades of brown. When melanocytes are organised deeper, in the dermis, raised moles are formed that partially sit above the skin level. It is these raised moles that often confuse patients \u2014 they can resemble fibromas<\/a> or warts, so many people come for an examination thinking it is some other skin lesion.<\/p>

When an examination determines that it is a viral wart, the method of treatment is chosen according to its type and location. More about this can be found on our page about wart removal<\/a>.<\/p>

Why is a mole check important \u2014 and what is a dermatoscope?<\/h2>

Moles on the skin can resemble other lesions, and other lesions can resemble moles. Precisely for this reason, examinations are not performed with the naked eye, but with the aid of a device called a dermoscope or dermatoscope. Essentially, it is a magnifying glass that uses different levels of magnification and \u2014 crucially \u2014 polarised and non-polarised light. This enables the dermatologist to see structures that are not visible to the naked eye and thereby distinguish moles from all other skin lesions.<\/p>

And why is that distinction so important? Because this spectrum of lesions includes both benign and malignant ones. Malignant lesions \u2014 skin cancers and particularly melanoma, which arises precisely from melanocytes \u2014 need to be removed so that they do not threaten general health. Melanoma is a very aggressive malignant tumour, but if detected in time, its removal saves lives.<\/p>

Therefore, it is recommended that everyone over the age of 20 should have a preventive full-body skin examination once a year \u2014 and not just a visual examination with the naked eye, but a dermoscopic examination<\/a>. It serves as a primary screening for the early detection of melanoma.<\/p>

Digital dermoscopy \u2014 monitoring moles over time<\/h2>

There are situations when a dermatologist cannot immediately make a final decision based on a single examination \u2014 especially when it comes to pigmented lesions, very small lesions, or normal moles that show signs of growth. In such cases, it is not enough to look at the lesion just once; it needs to be monitored over time. This means carrying out an examination today, and then reviewing that same lesion in a month, in three months, or in six months \u2014 and determining whether, and in what way, it is changing.<\/p>

To ensure this monitoring is accurate, the lesions need to be photographed. Photographs can be taken with a smartphone too, but such a storage system is impractical, and the image quality is generally poorer. This is precisely where the digital dermatoscope comes in. Digital dermoscopy allows the monitoring of moles and other skin lesions in high resolution and at a much higher magnification than conventional hand-held dermoscopy provides. The photographs are stored in software designed exclusively for this purpose, which allows for greater precision in diagnosis. At Imedic poliklinika, we use the Canfield D2 dermatoscope, providing exceptionally high image quality at different levels of magnification and with different light polarisation.<\/p>

When a follow-up image is taken after three or six months and compared with the previous one, it is possible to spot even the most subtle changes \u2014 those that we would never see with the naked eye. If it is established that the lesion is changing, a decision is made to remove it and send it to a pathologist for examination.<\/p>

It is important to emphasise that it is not necessary to photograph all moles. Only those suspected of changing are photographed. The very purpose of digital dermoscopy is to reduce the number of unnecessary excisions. For individuals who do not want scars or unnecessary interventions, monitoring changes over time is a way to intervene only when it is truly necessary.<\/p>

More about capturing and saving photographs and comparing lesions at follow-up visits can be found on our page about digital dermoscopy<\/a>.<\/p>

Who is at increased risk of melanoma?<\/h2>

Based on the initial dermoscopic examination, the dermatologist assesses how many moles the patient has, what they are like, and whether there are any atypical moles. Based on this, the risk category is determined \u2014 for both the patient and the doctor \u2014 and a decision is made regarding how often follow-up visits should take place and whether it is necessary to photograph a larger number of lesions.
For people who are not at increased risk, a preventive check-up once a year is quite sufficient. For those at increased risk, more frequent follow-up visits and more detailed monitoring are recommended.
So who falls into that increased risk group? Dr Marina \u0106irovi\u0107 highlights several factors:<\/p>