AKA:
Freckles
What are they?
Nothing to do with furry blind animals. These are the (usually) brown spots that appear on our skin.
Skin contains something called melanin. This gives skin its colour. And protects us from the sun. Darker skins have more melanin. And lighter skins get more moles. They're nothing but a pile of melanin.
Why have I suddenly grown so many?
Moles appear at any age. But most of us get a flurry of new ones during puberty. Our hormones get the melanin working overtime. Many of them will fade when we're older.
I hate my moles.
What? Moles are gorgeous. In the 60s girls drew extra ones on. In the 90s Cindy 'Mole Face' Crawford was uber-model. And don't tell me Prince Harry isn't a babe..
I am yet to see an ugly mole. Comb your hair back, chin up and smile. They're yours and they're perfect.
So do moles give you cancer?
Very occasionally (Capital V) a mole will turn nasty. It starts growing and changing. It may even become a type of skin cancer called Melanoma. Melanin - Melanoma. Geddit?
This happens to about one in every million moles. And to less than 50 people aged under 20 in the UK each year. Caught early, this cancer is 100% treatable.
How do I stop this happening?
Stay out of the sun. Think Aussie and Slip Slop Slap. Slip on a shirt. Slop on the Factor 50..
Slap on a hat. And never ever burn. Not only is the pink lobster look gross, it is worse for our skin than cigarettes are for our lungs.
What about my moles? How do I know they're ok?
Keep an eye on them.
Any that seem to be changing:
- Rapidly growing
- Changing colour
- Itching
- Hurting
- Bleeding
Need checking out by a doctor. Simple.
NHS stuff
Melanoma info
Cancer Research UK
Written by Dr Melissa Sayer
Last updated 17th June 2007
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freckles, 15
i love my freckles and i would never try and hide them.
Tom, 13
I know the feeling. I have a mole slap bang in the middle of my forehead. It never used to bother me until i started getting skitted for it. Things like 'mole', 'moley' and other stuff. Even racist words have been exchanged. Im not happy. Even my so-called freinds started skitting me. I hate the damn thing.:(
Luke, 14
i have just came back my holidays and i have more than 100 moles and my shoulders got burnt on holiday and i am home now and my back is brown but my shulders still have bits of white skin. Does this mean i have skin cancer ?
William, 16
my face is covered in freckles, i absloutely love 'em to pieces, also my legs and arms are covered in freckles, i would not look like me if i had no frecles... my friends loe them too..i have a few moles, and i am fine with that bit on my back there are loads of them - no joke - loads!! ahhh :(
Ellie, 13
i have a mole on my arm with a hair growing out of it, sometimes i pluck it will it give me cancer???
nicole, 14
i use to hate my freckles but now everybody loves them n they wouldnt be me without them so be proud
Eleanor, 12
Even really famous people like david tennant have freckles ,(i saw them on a video diary) people just cover them up so loads of celebs have themI like frekles so i'm not going to cover mine upOh and loads of singer like mutya buean (ex sugababe) have moles
kewi, 15
i've got many moles...i've got 5 on my belly, 3 on my back, some on my legs but i love them :X:X they are another thing about you that is unique. i'd love to have freckles, but i don't even if i have a very pale skin :( i love the contrast between the freckles and the skin :X:X it's just lovely :D
Meg, 13
I love my freckles! If I didn't have them my face would be well boring! Love the skin you're in!
Kaia, 17
Moles (Freckles) are nothing to be ashamed of! You're the only one that is bothered by it! If it helps, think of them as 'Beauty' spots =)Don't let your confidence fall because of something like that.
Katie, 16
freckles are underrated, they're not that bad, guys! And there are celebs out there wth 'em too, Lindsay Lohan for example. Perhaps they're not so obvious nowadays, but if you wath Freaky Friday they're so obvious!
Tom, 14
its only people with moles that are bothered by them i have a mate with one and she hates it and i actually dont care.
Louise, 13
I really hate the mole i have on my forehead,it like sticks out,thats why i have a fringe,i really really want to wear my hair back,but i cant because im so in-secure about my mole :(
onelife
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