Can flat moles come off?

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Hi,
I have been told that I have a "flat mole" on the underside of my wrist and it's the type that looks more like a dark freckle. I have these "moles" on both arms actually. Anyway, I was scratching my arm and noticed that this "mole" was quite dark and circular. I have a bad habit of picking at my arms, especially if there are bumps...and I scratched that mole and some of it just flaked off just like regular skin would. Underneath the "mole" is a slight indention from where I had scratched the top part off and now it is a very light brown. My question is...is this really even a mole? How do these spots occur anyway? I was told that I acquire them from being in the sun, and I have noticed that since I've been outside a lot lately that they have accumulated. Can someone help? :confused:

ummm...yeah, it's not a good idea to scratch off your moles or ffreckles, since other more serious complications could arise, such as cancer.

That happens to me, too. I have these semi-flat moles, some on my driving arm, but some on hidden places that don't get a lot of sun. Even though, they are dark and slightly raised. Sometimes it looks like pieces of it are coming off. I too have a picking habit and can easily scratch them off--and have. I have scratched off at least 3 as of recently, and probably others in the past, like one on my back that used to bother me a lot and I just didn't know it was a mole cuz i couldn't see it. Anyway, they would come off, but it would bleed. I have two right now that actually itches and are red surrounding the mole, which is why i scratch...and then they bleed and parts of it come off. I'm very afraid that these moles may be cancerous. I probably should go get them checked out at a dermatologist office.

you can get them lasered off at a clinic, i my uncle had a few of them lasered off his face, but it does take a few visits. ANd im sure some will come back.

Is it true that scratching and picking at moles can cause or somehow increase your chances of cancer? Is that just an old wive's tale? I have just of late become almost obsessed with a large mole I've always had and always hated (I'm 50!!) and almost feel a sense of satisfaction that I finally scratched it off - as weird as that is!! But I've always heard that scratching at or cutting a mole off (with a razor) could cause cancer. Is that true?

i don't think that's true

Constant irritation of a tissue means there are always cells dividing, and dividing cells are much more at risk of becoming cancerous. So constantly scratching a mole would increase the risk of cancer, though it is probably still pretty low.