Most people have birthmarks on their bodies . They appear shortly after the birth of a child and remain with him for life. As a rule, such changes on the skin are not cause for concern. However, a birthmark on the face can cause serious psychological experiences. In this publication, we will talk about the nature of such skin changes and whether it is worth getting rid of them.
What is a birthmark?
A birthmark on the face (or other part of the body) is a benign formation with clearly defined borders, which, as a rule, is darker than the rest of the skin. In medicine, they are also called nevus. They consist of many melanocytes - cells containing a large amount of the natural pigment melanin.
Birthmarks appear on the human body shortly after birth (sometimes in youth). In some cases, pigmented patches occur on the skin of women during pregnancy.
Kinds
In modern medicine, the following types of birthmarks are distinguished:
- specific and non-specific moles of epidermal-melanocytic origin;
- dermal melanocytic birthmarks;
- melanocytic moles;
- spots of mixed origin.
Consider each variety in more detail.
Spots of epidermal-melanocytic origin
Nevus borderline is a non-specific type of birthmark that can be localized on the inside of the hand, on the feet, as well as on the female and male genital organs. Such formations, as a rule, are small (up to 1 cm). People who have borderline nevus require regular monitoring by a dermatologist. This is due to the fact that such formations can turn from benign to malignant over time.
Nevus intradermal - a fairly common type of birthmark. As a rule, it has the shape of a hemisphere and medium size (1-2 cm).
Epithelioid nevus is a specific type of benign tumor on the skin. As a rule, such a birthmark appears on the face and has a reddish-brown tint. Moles of this species are characterized by rapid growth and are highly susceptible to mechanical damage.
Setton's nevus is a birthmark on the head or other part of the body, surrounded by a depigmented (bleached) area. Such moles most often appear in children with autoimmune diseases, as well as in pregnant women.
Spots of dermal-melanocytic origin
Mongolian spot - accumulation of melanocytes in large areas of the skin in newborns. Such formations may have a brownish or bluish tint (in some cases, they look like hematomas). Mongolian spots are characterized by rapid resizing. By two years at children they become almost imperceptible, and by five they completely disappear.
Nevus Ota is a small dark blue formation. In most cases, this birthmark appears on the face (in the area of the eyes, cheeks or upper jaw). In addition, Ovus nevus can appear on the mucous membranes.
Nevus Ito - this type of dermal-melanocytic mass has a clinical picture similar to the previous type, but differs from it in its localization. Nevus Ito occurs on the lower and upper limbs.
Dysplastic nevus
Dysplastic nevus is a type of mole of melanocytic origin. It can be localized on the trunk, arms. Such a birthmark on the head is very rare. Dysplastic nevus can take on different shades: from red to brownish-blue.
It is worth noting that birthmarks of this type are inherited. The main danger of their appearance is that dysplastic nevi are more likely than other moles to degenerate into malignant formations.
Do I need to remove birthmarks on the body?
Everyone whose body or head is decorated with such "drawings of nature" wonders: is it possible to remove birthmarks on the body? The importance of this issue is increasingly amplified if moles are located on the face. So, are there safe methods for removing birthmarks?
The correct and effective way to treat such a skin pathology can be prescribed exclusively by a dermatologist. If you find a mole on the body and want to get rid of it - in no case do not use alternative methods. Thus, you will not only not remove the birthmark on the face (or body), but also harm your body.
Modern medicine offers several ways to reduce and remove congenital dermatological pathologies. We will consider the main ones.
Laser therapy
This treatment method is usually used to reduce a large birthmark on the head or face. In this case, a mole or pigmented area is treated with point impulses. Due to this, the pathological formation decreases in size, but does not disappear completely.
Cryosurgery
Cryosurgery is the action of low-temperature liquid nitrogen on the skin. This substance freezes the pigmented area. After some time, the hardened skin is rejected and scraped off by a curette.
The only drawback of this method of treatment are white marks that remain after the removal of moles.
In addition, a birthmark can be removed by invasive surgery.
Birthmarks on the body: meaning
Since ancient times, people believed in the secret meaning of birthmarks on the body. They assigned them different functions and influence on human life.
So, for example, it was believed that the larger the birthmark, the greater the influence it has on fate. In addition, the color of the birthmark was also important. Light yellow and light brown marks on the body predicted a happy fate for a person and had a beneficial effect on her. At the same time, dark spots were considered negative signs and adversely affected life.
Of particular importance is on which part of the body a mole has arisen. So, for example, marks on the hips predicted a person's numerous offspring and healthy children. A birthmark on the right hand indicates that its owner will be not only happy, but also successful.
Today, a whole science is engaged in the interpretation of moles - morphoscopy.