Cysts and Moles

Cysts are closed sacs found within the body.  Location and the composition of the membrane lining differentiates Cysts found in the skin, these include the epidermal (sebaceous) cyst, trichilemmal (pilar) cyst, and milium.

An Epidermal Cyst is a freely moveable nodule with essentially normal overlying skin.  It is one of the most common benign skin tumors.  The most common locations include the face, ears, neck back and scalp

Trichilemmal Cysts appear very similiar to Epidermal Cysts, however, they mainly occur on the scalp and are usually multiple.

Milia are usually found on the face, most notably around the eyes.  They are small firm whitish lesions.  They usually arise for no apparent reason but several diseases and dermatologic treatments can trigger their development.  They are also very common on the faces of newborns and infants.  Adult patients may request the milia be treated for cosmetic purposes.  The lesions are not treated in infants, as they will resolve on their own in a few weeks to months.    

Moles........everyone has them, sometimes 40 or more.  Most people think of a mole as a dark brown spot, but moles have a wide range of appearances.

Skin Moles can appear anywhere.  They are usually brown in color but can be flesh colored and consist of various sizes and shapes.  Most appear during the first 20 years of life, although some may not appear until later.  Sun exposure increases the number of moles, and they may darken.

Recognizing the early warning signs of the malignant melanoma is important.  Remember the ABCD's of melanoma when examining your moles: 

                                                                 
One half of the                     The border or                   The color of                         Melanomas are usually
mole does not                      edges of the                    the mole is not                    greater than 6mm (about
match the other half.         mole is ragged,              the same throughout            the size of a pencil eraser),
                                          blurred or irregular            or it has shades of               they can be smaller.  They 
                                                                                tan, brown, black,                can be smaller, They can
                                                                                red, white or blue.                also change, bleed
                                                                                                                          or itch. 

If a mole displays any of these signs, it should be checked promptly by one of our physicians.  It is important to remember that not all Moles look alike.  Moles may be skin colored or pink, light tan to brown, and even blue to black. They may be round, oval, or their shape may be slightly irregular.  They may be flat or raised, large or small, with or without hairs, or unevenly colored.  If the appearance of a mole worries you or if it changes suddenly in any way, you should contact our office immediately.

 Brighton Dermatology is conveniently located in Mid Michigan and serves all of Michigan including;  Brighton, Howell, Novi, Pinckney, Whitmore Lake, Wixom, Walled Lake, Milford, Farmington Hills, South Lyon, Northville and all other cities in Mid Michigan and the Greater Metro Detroit areas. 
Please call 810-220-4422 to schedule a Cysts and Moles consultation appointment or to inquire about any other treatments that we can perform here at Brighton Dermatology and Regenesis. Feel free to contact us by email here.