Why do we get moles?

About this episode

The number of moles we have on our bodies largely depends on sun exposure. According to the Mayo Clinic, “Most people have 10 to 45 moles that appear during childhood and the teenage years.” Moles can vary in thickness, shape, colour, and they sometimes even have hair. They can pop up between your toes, on your scalp, on your earlobes or under your nails-anywhere really. Rest assured, most of the time these small brown spots are completely harmless, but still it’s worth knowing some key info about moles. That's especially true given they can sometimes be cancerous, turning into a type of skin cancer called melanoma. According to Cancer Research UK, “there are around 16,700 new melanoma skin cancer cases in the UK every year.” What are moles actually made of ? Which genetic factors are at play then ? How can you tell if a mole is dangerous ? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: Which bread is best for your health? Has the climate breakdown really begun? How small is a micropenis? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices