Like a group of smokers standing outside of a bar in the winter, huddling for warmth, moles are a collection of cells clustered together, with a dark appearance and increased risk of cancer.



Also similar to smoking, moles are often associated with models and musicians and can lead to unwanted hair growth. In other words, the side effects are a mixed bag of cool and mildly revolting.



When a bunch of the cells that gives our skin color (or melanocytes) end up in the same place, they form hyper-pigmented patches of skin that we call moles. Because of all this pigment, any hair that grows out of a mole can be darker and coarser—and even grow faster than the rest of your body hair. If you want to get rid of the hair, tweezing is probably be your best option, because many men find that shaving over a mole’s uneven surface leads to cuts.



The real concern with moles isn’t that they grow funny hair, but that they might progress into melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer. “It’s important to evaluate your moles regularly to ensure the mole doesn’t appear atypical,” explains Emily Wise, a dermatologist practicing in Wellesley, Massachusetts. If any of the moles on your body pull a Michael Jackson and start to change color, shape or size, they’re considered atypical—and qualify you for a doctor’s visit.



Generally speaking, as long as you pay attention to any unusual activity around your moles, they shouldn’t cause you any harm.



The same thing, however, cannot be said for your smoking habit.



There’s no such thing as a stupid question—especially when it comes to your body, your health or your hygiene. Send us the things that you’ve always wondered about to bm@dollarshaveclub.com.