Peggy Jo Hamm, age 8, of Williamsport, Pa., for her question:

HOW DO WE GET MOLES?

A mole is a spot on the skin. It is actually a birthmark, even though sometimes it may appear long after a person is born. Everyone has them, often as many as 40 or more although they may be on areas of the body where they are not easily seen.

Moles have a common history of development which most follow. In the beginning they are usually flat and are brown or black in color. With time they usually enlarge and sometimes may develop hairs. As the years advance, moles usually change slowly and become elevated and lighter in color. Ultimately, most moles will slowly disappear by seeming to fade into the skin. While most moles follow this life cycle, many will not.

The brownish color of moles is caused by the presence of special cells which contain the pigment melanin.