A mole can appear anywhere on your body, including your scalp.
Like other moles on your body, those on your scalp should be monitored for changes that could be an early warning sign of melanoma, a serious type of skin cancer.
The ABCDE guide for early detection of melanoma is a simple, easy-to-remember method of determining if a mole, whether on your scalp or another area of your body, might be melanoma.
By monitoring your moles and having them looked at by a dermatologist, you can often spot melanoma before it becomes a serious problem.
Look for these signs:
Each of these characteristics could be a sign of a cancerous mole.
Talk with your dermatologist if you have a mole:
Another warning sign is a mole that seems to be unique to other moles on your body and doesn't fit in with the moles around it.
There are two primary types of moles: the common mole and the dysplastic nevus.
A common mole, or nevus, forms when melanocytes, or pigment cells, grow in a cluster.
According to the National Cancer Institute, the majority of adults have between 10 and 40 common moles. These moles are seldom found on the scalp.
Typically smaller than 1/4 inch wide, common moles tend to have a:
People with light skin and hair commonly have lighter moles than people with dark skin or hair.
When referring to a dysplastic nevus, your dermatologist might call it an atypical mole, as it looks different from a common mole.
Not only is a dysplastic nevus often larger than a common mole — it's typically more than 1/4 inch wide — but its surface, color, and border may also appear different.
A dysplastic nevus usually:
Although a dysplastic nevus is often found on skin that's been exposed to the sun, it can also appear in areas not exposed to the sun, including the scalp.
Birthmarks, like moles, can appear anywhere on your body, including your scalp, and need to be monitored.
If you have concerns about a birthmark that doesn't pass the ABCDE guide, bleeds, or itches, consult your dermatologist.
Different types of birthmarks include:
Pigmented birthmarks are types of skin discoloration you were born with. They include:
Caused by a capillary malformation in the skin prior to birth, these birthmarks include:
Other types of birthmarks include nevus sebaceous — which, when it appears on the scalp, has no hair growth in the birthmark — and congenital melanocytic nevi (CMN).
Moles are very common and can appear on any part of the body. They happen when melanocytes, or skin pigment cells, grow in a cluster.
A mole on your scalp is often out of your line of sight and can be hidden under your hair. Ask somebody, such as a friend or loved one, to help you keep an eye on a mole on your scalp, or another part of your body, that's hard to spot.
Be sure note to any changes, and bring them to the attention of your dermatologist.