Black mole

A black or dark brown spot, from the size of a millet seed to the size of a soybean, either flat or raised, often growing stringlike hairs. Black moles are found on the face and other parts of the body and are attributed to turbid qì in the kidney channel binding in the skin. Normally, they require no treatment, but when they gradually grow larger as a result of friction, they can be treated with Water Crystal Paste (水晶膏 shuǐ jīng gāo). Swift appearance or sudden increase in size may indicate what is termed malignancy in Western medicine. Compare blood mole.