Keep in mind that the technical name for moles is melanocytic nevus. Melanocytic nevi, in turn, can be divided into different types based on their characteristics.

The fact is that most moles are brown in color. They can be dark brown, light brown, or have different shades. Not everything that is brown is a mole (for example, you can read about seborrheic keratosis here) and not all moles are brown.

There are nevi of different colors that are still “moles” even though their appearance may confuse us. We will discuss them below:

WHITE

For example, halonevus: these are moles, typically brown, which have a white border that gradually reduces in size until they disappear and become completely white. You can read more about them in the post “Halo nevus: disappearing moles”.

FLESH COLOR

Intradermal nevi are an example. This type of mole is flesh-colored or light brown, in most cases. I told you about them in the article, “Is it a mole or a wart?”

GREY/BLUE

This color is typical of the so-called blue nevi. This is because they are located deeper in the skin than other moles. Due to an optical effect called Tyndall, the brown color of the melanin is seen with this tone. Here you can see pictures of blue nevi.

BLACK

Some “normal” moles with no name of their own, especially in people with dark complexions, can be really dark in tone. For some reason, deep brown or black moles tend to be of more concern, and the reality is that there is no reason for this.

If the color, although dark, is homogeneous, this does not have to mean anything bad. There is a type of nevus called Reed’s nevus that characteristically tends to be darker than normal.

PINK OR RED

Some intradermal nevi, for example, may have a certain pinkish hue. Spitz’s nevus, a type of mole that usually appears in children, can have all kinds of colors, but it is very characteristic for it to be reddish. You can see pictures of Spitz nevus here.

And what if the color changes?

If a mole is one color and remains stable for months or years, there is probably nothing wrong with it. It has its characteristics and that’s all there is to it.

However, if you notice a change in the color of a mole, be sure to see a dermatologist. Sometimes a change in color can be a clue to a melanoma. Remember the ABCDE rule, where C is for color changes.

And you, do you have any moles other than the typical brown ones?

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