Parents should remember to take these steps to protect their children from too much exposure to the sun. Certain moles make it more likely that a person will develop melanoma. One type of mole, the dysplastic nevus, has varying shades of brown, black, and pink within a single more, and irregular or uneven borders, with the coloring fading into the skin around the mole. Dysplastic nevi can appear on areas that are often exposed to the sun, and areas that are usually note, such as the buttocks and scalp. They are often larger than other moles.
Some people have many such moles, but just one is enough to increase the risk of melanoma.
Although dysplastic nevi tend to run in families, the moles are not usually present at birth. Rather, they tend to appear in older children and teenagers. In families with a history of melanoma, skin examinations to look for dysplastic nevi should begin when children are age 8 to 10. If none are found then, the child should have another examination at age 12 to 14. Another type of mole linked to melanoma is present at birth.