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A mole, technically known as a melanocytic nevus, is a small, dark spot on human skin. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, the majority of moles appear during the first two decades of a person’s life while about one in every 100 babies are born with moles]. Acquired moles are a form of benign neoplasm, while congenital moles are considered a minor malformation or hamartoma. A mole can be either subdermal (composed of melanin) or a pigmented growth on the skin, formed mostly of a type of cell known as a melanocyte. The high concentration of the body’s pigmenting agent, melanin, is responsible for their dark color. Moles are a member of the family of skin lesions known as nevi.At one time in the 1950s and 60s, (and, to lesser extent, currently) a mole was known as a "beauty mark" when it appeared in certain spots on a woman’s face. Examples include Marilyn Monroe, model Cindy Crawford and singer Madonna. Madonna's facial mole -- below her right nostril -- has been surgically removed.[citation needed] Almost everyone with light skin has at least one or two moles somewhere on their bodies while large numbers can be concentrated on the back, chest, and arms. Darker skin shades, however, tend to have fewer moles. Some folklore about moles includes the notion that picking at a mole can cause it to become cancerous or grow back larger. While chronic picking or irritation (by clothing) of a mole can be detrimental in many ways, it has not been associated with a higher incidence of cancer.[1] But while a mole may sometimes be removed by its bearer and may not grow back larger, the resulting scar can be larger. When a mole is bothersome, physicians usually recommend that it be examined by a dermatologist to see if it should be removed. The dermatologist or plastic surgeon can perform the procedure with an eye toward preventing a larger scar.