Almost all of us have nevuses (the so-called moles in medicine). We get used to these dark spots on the body, which give a person a specific feature, charm. Usually, once having appeared, the nevus remains with us for life. But what does the fact that the mole has darkened mean? Should I see a doctor? What are the warning signs when a harmless mole degenerates into malignant melanoma?
What is a nevus?
A mole is a consequence of the excessive work of melanocytes (cells that produce melanin), and the accumulation of pigment produced by them. The more speck of melanin in the cells, the darker the nevus will be. A person may have such marks from birth. Sometimes they appear during the course of life - mainly, up to 16 years.
The mole has darkened. Do not be scared right away. This is a normal process if it is associated with the development of education - a newly emerged mole. She is “born” with a bright speck, which darkens over time, approaching her constant shade. However, we note that the period of development is always gradual, consistent.
Signs of a Safe Mole
Nevi themselves are safe for life and health of the owner of the mark. Signs of a normal mole:
- Not more than 6 mm in diameter.
- Static in size - does not grow.
- It has smooth (rather than sharp) edges.
- Smooth surface.
- No roughness or growths.
- Static in color.
If black dots appear inside the nevus that increase in size and extend beyond its borders, then this may be one of the signs of melanoma. What is it? Malignant skin formation, which can lead to serious consequences for human health, like any cancer tumor. The transformation of a harmless nevus into melanoma is called malignancy. A number of factors can provoke this.
Thus, if the mole has darkened, then this is an occasion to pay attention to the nevus. But this will not be a defining sign of the development of melanoma.
Why is the mole darkened?
Changes in nevus lie in the action of certain factors on them. Can a mole darken? Yes, and the whole point is in the reasons that affect the activity of melanocytes (and, accordingly, on the volume of pigment produced by them). This is the following:
- UV rays. Ultraviolet light most contributes to the accumulation of melanin in cells. Therefore, we get a chocolate tan under the rays of the sun, tanning lamps. If you periodically spend a lot of time in the sun, then you can note that along with the skin the mole has darkened (sometimes the nevus becomes almost black, black spots appear on it). Experts advise to protect marks from direct exposure to UV rays - to use protective equipment, hide clothes, do not sunbathe in the sun from 11 to 16 hours. If you have many moles on your body, then it is better to abandon trips to the solarium.
- Change in hormonal levels. This condition also affects the production of melanin. Therefore, nevi can darken during the transitional period, pregnancy and menopause in women. Darkening of the nevi is one of the external signals that the body is being rebuilt; an imbalance is observed in its systems.
- Damage. A mole may well change its color due to mechanical stress on it, trauma. The reason may even be constant friction on clothes.
What is a hanging nevus?
Separately, we will examine why the hanging mole darkened. This is a normal harmless nevus, but located not in the thickness of the skin, but on the so-called leg - attached to the epithelium with a small thin piece of tissue. A number of experts note that such moles are less capable of degenerating into dangerous melanoma than others. They are distinguished by flesh color, a somewhat rough surface and small size.
These formations cause discomfort to its owner in that more than other nevi are susceptible to mechanical damage by clothing, hygiene items, jewelry and so on. Basically, they are located in "traumatic" locations - in the armpits, on the neck, in the intimate zone.
The hanging nevus has darkened - what's the matter?
If the hanging mole has darkened, then the reasons for the change lie in the following:
- Again, excessive exposure to the wearer under UV rays.
- Reorganization of the hormonal background.
- Mechanical injury. The most common reason. As a result of injury, a hanging mole can not only darken, but also become inflamed, begin to dry and even fall off.
- Another reason for the blackening of such a nevus is a violation of the blood supply in its tissues.
What is the danger of damage to the hanging nevus? Even if the area on the leg darkened and came off, the base of the mole still remained deep in the layers of the skin. Damage can cause the growth of nevus cells in the thickness of the epithelium. This process can only be stopped surgically - by removing them.
Dangerous symptoms of degeneration into melanoma
First of all, we note that the blackening of the nevus is a warning symptom in itself! Yes, sometimes the reason can be banal and harmless - friction on clothes, frequent exposure to the scorching sun. But nevertheless, this is a sufficient reason to contact a specialist - a dermatologist or oncologist. So you can stop the development of melanoma in time. Or calm down that everything is in order with your health.
The mole has grown and darkened. What can it talk about? If the blackening of the nevus is accompanied by other unclear symptoms - an occasion for an urgent appeal to the doctor! Let us present a list of the most common signs of malignancy:
- A sharp increase in education in size, a change in its shape and shade.
- Of the nevus, fluid, blood, and mucus are often released.
- Hair appeared on the mole (if they had not grown there before).
- Nevus surrounded a white halo of bleached skin.
- Red, black, or other excellent blotches appeared on the mole.
- The surface of the nevus became rough, covered with roughnesses, cracks.
- The skin integument both at the site of the mark and around it.
- You feel discomfort in the location of the nevus - itching, pain.
If the mole darkens, becomes convex - do not hesitate, consult an experienced doctor as soon as possible! Even one of the above symptoms is a good reason to visit.
What to do - mole darkened?
Once again, we recall that the first thing you need to contact a medical clinic is a qualified specialist. But in itself, the darkening of a mole is not enough reason to make a diagnosis.
The patient will be asked to undergo several diagnostic procedures. First, a visual inspection by a specialist. Then - the delivery of tests (skioscopy, dermatoscopy). If the clinical picture is controversial, then a biopsy is additionally prescribed.
What is the treatment?
Subsequent therapy is based on the diagnosis identified by the results of the examinations:
- The degeneration of the nevus into melanoma. In this case, a traditional operation is performed under local anesthesia to remove the formation. After this, the tumor tissue is sent for histological analysis to assess their malignancy. The disadvantage of this method is that it does not save from relapse of such cases. But still today it is the surest way to get rid of malignant tumors.
- Nevus poses no health hazard. The patient will be offered recommendations to prevent the degeneration of moles into melanomas. A non-hazardous darkened nevus can be removed by a number of hardware techniques - this is cryodestruction (exposure to liquid nitrogen), radio knife (removal using high-frequency electromagnetic waves), electrical destruction (removal of the nevus by exposure to electric current), laser therapy methods.
This cannot be done!
You have noticed that one or more of the nevi on your body has darkened. Now we will provide examples of what can aggravate your condition, cause serious consequences:
- Self-diagnosis and self-medication. The cause of darkening of the mole can only be identified by a qualified doctor. He prescribes recommendations for further actions of the patient.
- Self-removal of a mole. This is especially true of leg nevi. The consequences of such actions can be most deplorable - from infection to the accelerated development of melanoma.
- The use of traditional medicine. Even after consulting a doctor, many people still depart from the prescribed treatment. They are attracted to folk remedies, rumored to bring a quick and painless positive result. However, remember that any chemical and mechanical effects on the nevus without its further complete removal only speed up the rate of conversion of this harmless formation to melanoma.
- Follow controversial tips. On the Internet, you can find recommendations of a similar plan: sticking darkened moles before visiting the beach and tanning bed - they say, this will protect them from the harmful effects of UV rays. But in this way you create a negative greenhouse effect. It is safer for life and health to still follow the recommendations of your doctor.
Now we know that the darkening of a mole can be the result of hormonal changes, too intense tanning, mechanical damage, and dangerous malignant melanoma. Therefore, the only way you can do this is to contact a specialist as soon as possible.