Skin conditions

This animation illustrates some common skin conditions such as moles, birthmarks, age spots, and warts.

A few common skin conditions include moles, birthmarks, age spots, and warts.

Moles are colored spots on the skin, formed by cells containing the dark pigment, melanin. While generally harmless, some moles can change shape and color, or start bleeding and require immediate evaluation.

Some birthmarks are simply moles that are present at birth, called a pigmented birthmark. Others result from the rapid growth of blood vessels in a localized area, called red birthmarks.

When a person becomes older, they may develop age spots. Age spots are patches of increased pigmentation on the skin' s surface, like freckles.

Warts are benign, or non-cancerous, growths of skin caused by a virus.

Reviewed last on: 9/12/2008
Michael Lehrer, M.D., Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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