Small spots on the skin of each person usually do not cause much trouble. But what to do when moles grow, change their color and shape? Which doctor should I go to and what are the reasons for the growth and video change of nevi?
Varieties of moles on the body
Toddlers are born without nevi, a mole grows in a child after he reaches 3 years of age. As they grow older, some moles may increase in size, but only slightly.
On the human body, they can be of different shapes, colors and shapes. They can be divided into the following types:
- uniform and uniform spots that do not respond to ultraviolet radiation;
- birthmarks, which are also called epidermo-dermal moles;
- complex nevi (they are more convex and have a dark color);
- dysplastic (they are hereditary, often asymmetric, in diameter reach 1.2 cm);
- blue (unusual and very rare species, fairly dense, but smooth);
- intradermal moles that appear on the face (their diameter can vary from 2 to 20 mm, such facial nevi that bring discomfort to a person can be easily removed without consequences).
Also, pigmentation on the human body can be divided into small (up to 150 mm), medium (up to 10 cm), large (more than 10 cm) and giant, which covers a certain area on the skin of a person.
Can moles grow?
The vast majority of babies are born without birthmarks. In some, they can be at birth, more often on the head, legs and arms, but not more than one dozen. In a child, moles grow when they reach 3 years of age. As a baby grows up, their number can significantly increase on the body. This usually lasts up to 35 years.
As a rule, in people with a light tint of the skin, the number of nevi on the body is greater than in dark-skinned people. They can slightly increase throughout life, but do not change their shade and shape.
If a mole has appeared and grows, this indicates some serious ailments that develop in the human body or about the malfunction of a certain organ. To appear to a specialist in this case will not be superfluous.
Growth reasons
It is worth knowing that moles that appeared on the human body in childhood or adolescence rarely develop into something more serious. But if the nevus appeared on the skin after 35 years, in addition, overgrowth occurs in a short period of time, this is considered potentially dangerous.
Why do moles grow on the body?
- mechanical damage (if the nevi on the human body are in places that constantly rub (this can be under the armpits, in the shaving area or where the woman wears a bra), then they can often be injured, damaged, which can provoke their growth).
If a person accidentally touched a mole, which caused slight bleeding, then the wound should be treated with disinfectants. However, it is worth remembering that inflammation can develop, which will lead to tissue degeneration.
- a change in the hormonal background (moles grow most often during the period of bearing a baby or menopause in women, as well as in adolescence);
- exposure to sunlight (in this case, pigmentation on the skin appears due to an increase in the amount of melanin, most often people with fair skin and red hair are exposed to this, in which case it is important to use sunscreen in the sun);
- reduced immunity (not only warts can occur, but nevi can also grow);
- malfunctioning of the thyroid gland and liver;
- hereditary predisposition;
- allergies and chronic inflammatory processes on the skin at the location of the mole;
- constant stresses that reduce the protective functions of the body.
When not to worry?
It is not necessary to remove all moles on the body. In most cases, they are absolutely safe for humans. Do not worry when the nevus is even, not convex, has a uniform shade, the relief is identical to the skin and hair grows from it.
If the child’s birthmark grows, what to do in this case, only a specialist will tell. The baby should be shown to the doctor if the nevus has become convex and edematous, the contours, symmetry have changed, or he accidentally combed a mole. In other cases, you just need to monitor the condition of the skin, both a child and an adult, and if they do not change for a long time, then do not worry.
Can moles grow with age and is it dangerous?
A variety of factors can provoke the growth of nevi, which by their nature are benign neoplasms, from stress and exposure to ultraviolet radiation and ending with a genetic predisposition.
The spots may change somewhat with age, but if hair grows from a mole, this means that the formation is not malignant. Hanging nevi, regardless of location, should be removed, because they can be injured and then develop into something more serious. In any case, even a mole that appeared at an early age should be monitored throughout life. Any minor changes are a reason to seek medical advice.
When should I see a doctor?
Specialists came up with the following abbreviation called AKORD (Asymmetry, Edge, Color, Size, Dynamics). If at least one indicator changes, then you should consult a doctor for advice and diagnosis.
The following indicators should alert:
- modification of the outlines and edges of the birthmark;
- color unevenness (from dark to light shade, and all this on one mole);
- bulge or swelling of the nevus;
- compaction or cracking;
- if hair grows from a mole, but it begins to fall out;
- burning sensation, pain, or discomfort in the nevus.
In case of any changes - to the doctor who will conduct the diagnosis and follow the dynamics. Diagnostic methods include not only visual inspection, but also carrying out procedures such as dermatoscopy and biopsy (most often excision), when a part of the inflamed mole is taken for subsequent examination.
Which specialist should I go to?
If you notice that a mole is growing, it means you need to consult a specialist. But to whom to turn? First of all, it is worth going to a consultation with a dermatologist. He must conduct research and, if necessary, can send for further examination to an oncologist or surgeon. The surgeon does not treat, he removes the affected areas, but only after the examination.
If the growth of moles in a person is associated with a change in the hormonal background, then they are sent for treatment to an endocrinologist. If moles grow or mutate in a child, you need to visit a pediatrician, who will already give a referral to a specialist.
Some go to the beautician, but in this case, the moles should not be changed. After all, a cosmetologist does not cure, but simply can remove a speck without understanding its origin and nature, which can lead to other health problems. First of all, it can cause a disease such as melanoma.
Diagnostics
The primary diagnosis of mole growth is carried out by a dermatologist. It can be both a child and an adult specialist who works in the field of skin diseases.
To make a diagnosis, the following manipulations can be performed:
- dermatoscopy (the nevus is covered with a special solution, and then the doctor with a dermatoscope examines the inflamed or affected area to detect discoloration, color and small cracks);
- histology (minor tissue of the mole is taken and sent for a study that can determine if cancer cells are present there);
- biopsy (the material is also taken using special equipment and under anesthesia for examination);
- computer diagnostics (the procedure is similar to dermatoscopy, but in this case, the examination is carried out using a video camera that records all changes in the skin of the mole and the place around it).
In most cases, the specialist is not limited to one diagnostic method, but conducts several at once. This allows you to accurately determine the diagnosis and prescribe the appropriate treatment.
Is it possible to remove growing moles?
Many people have a question when a mole grows, what to do and can it be removed? If this growing neoplasm is better to remove it, since any benign nevus can develop into a malignant one.
Removal is not carried out with acute respiratory viral infections, elevated body temperature or with mental disorders. During the bearing of the baby, moles are removed only if they grow rapidly in order to avoid the development of melanoma.
If moles grow, they can be removed in the following ways:
- Cryodestruction, when the affected area is exposed to liquid nitrogen (this method is rarely used, since the removal depth is not controlled, and if it is not possible to remove everything with the root, then the nevus will resume its growth).
- Electrocoagulation or removal using current (performed under local anesthesia, after which the material is sent for histology).
- Laser therapy (the fastest and most painless way to burn the affected area, but in this case it is impossible to examine the tissue).
- Radio wave therapy (the longest procedure, one mole can be removed up to 20 minutes).
- Surgical intervention (this can be excision of both the whole and part of the inflamed nevus, but scars remain after such an operation).
Regardless of the removal procedure, the recovery process should continue for two weeks. It is important to rinse the place with antiseptic solutions, to refrain from exposure to ultraviolet radiation and water on the affected area.