Moles. Small but dangerous

A wide variety of neoplasms can appear on a person’s skin throughout his life. Often these are just moles, which some consider a kind of decoration, and sometimes papillomas, warts, dry calluses. Hanging moles, medically called nevi, are somewhat different from other neoplasms. You should be especially careful with them, as they are capable of degenerating into a cancerous tumor.

Reasons for appearance

Hanging nevi look like cone-shaped growths with an uneven surface. The color may vary, but in most cases it is close to skin tones. Often the growths merge with the skin, and sometimes have a white or even brown tint.

The formation of this type of moles occurs at different periods of life, for example, in children they appear during puberty, and in women - during pregnancy due to fluctuations in hormone levels. Hanging nevi have different morphologies and locations. They often appear on visible parts of the body, are characterized by an unaesthetic appearance and provoke the emergence of complexes. The number of such formations usually increases with age.

The main reasons for the appearance of hanging moles on the body:

Genetic predisposition. If at least one of the parents has a large number of such neoplasms, then with a 90% probability the child will also have a lot of them. They do not pose a serious threat to health, but nevertheless require careful monitoring.
Ultraviolet radiation. Typically, the number of moles begins to increase when the skin is exposed to sunlight. Ultraviolet light changes the composition of cells and provokes excessive production of melanin. Large doses of radiation received, for example, in a solarium, contribute to an even greater appearance of melanin formations. People with fair skin, red hair and light eyes should be wary of such exposure.
Hormonal imbalances. A decrease or increase in hormone levels affects the production of melanin and causes the growth of moles of this type.
Skin damage. Burns, insect bites, scratches and other injuries significantly increase the risk of neoplasms.
Infection with human papillomavirus. Infection can cause multiple formations on the skin, which, if left untreated, quite often degenerate into cancer.
Stressful situations and emotional outbursts. As a rule, after psychological disorders, a surge of adrenaline occurs, which disrupts metabolic processes in the epidermis.
Radiation. The occurrence of nevi is associated with the body’s protective reaction to increased melanin production. Observed when working with radioactive substances.

Formations that appear during pregnancy tend to disappear spontaneously. They disappear when the hormonal levels are completely restored after the birth of the child.

Pigmented formation on the skin can be found in almost all people, regardless of age, race or gender. If such elements appear, you should consult a dermatologist. It will help eliminate the risk of the nevus degenerating into a cancerous tumor.

Is size dynamics dangerous?

In summer, moles increase in size. Do not be afraid - this is a reaction of nevi to ultraviolet rays. Sunscreen should be your best friend during the summer. You should not neglect it in winter either.

The danger comes from birthmarks, which begin to change their shape, color, appearance and combine several colors. Ultraviolet radiation promotes the formation of age spots on the face and body. Pigment spots are always brown, similar to moles. They are safe, but often cause aesthetic discomfort. This issue is solved by aesthetic clinics and beauty salons.

The formation of a new birthmark, especially in summer, is a reason to consult a doctor. A specialist will help determine whether this tumor is benign or malignant.

The mole begins to cause discomfort: it itches, itches, hurts, bleeds, or other discharge is observed, go to the hospital. These may be the first signs of melanoma development. The changing color of the growth should also alert you. The spot has turned black, darkened or lightened - this indicates the possible occurrence of cancer cells.

It is worth making an appointment with a dermatologist if you find strange spots of red, white and transparent color on your body. The safety of a birthmark is evidenced by its similarity to a wart. Such large formations may appear on the face, shoulders, chest, back. The color of which will be from brown to black. They do not cause any discomfort to their owners: they do not itch, they can disappear and fall off on their own, and after a while they reappear on the body.

Vellus nevi (hair grows in place) are safe.

Only a specialist can make the correct diagnosis and assess the risk of developing melanoma.

Large, voluminous birthmarks are subject to surgery; they can be injured, which in the future can provoke the development of cancer cells. Modern methods make it possible to perform operations with virtually no pain, leaving no scars on the body.

The reduction in size of the mole is pleasing, but it should also cause concern. Perhaps this symptom indicates degeneration into a malignant growth.

Dubreuil's melanosis is considered one of the dangerous nevi. You can see it on the face; it has uneven edges and coloring. In 80% of cases it degenerates into skin cancer. Due to the unevenness of its borders, it looks like a geographical map.

Locations

Small hanging tumors can be located on any part of the surface of the body, but in most cases they are localized in the armpit, neck and genital area. This is due to the fact that in these areas the skin is quite thin and is subject to friction, which contributes to the accumulation of pigmentation cells.

Moles in the armpits form in the area of the sweat glands . Excessive sweating negatively affects the nevus, especially when it is damaged. Moles growing in this area interfere with personal hygiene because they force you to be patient when shaving your hair. In most cases, a decision is made to get rid of such tumors.

On the surface of the skin in the breast area in women, you can notice many small pigmented growths. They often appear as a result of strong exposure to sunlight. Pregnancy or its interruption is considered to be a factor in the occurrence of nevi. This leads to hormonal imbalance and leaves a large number of tumors in the décolleté area.

Nevi of this type on the neck are almost always exposed to excessive ultraviolet radiation and are often injured by nails or rubbed against clothing. The reasons why hanging moles appear on the neck are also genetic in nature and are also related to the physiological characteristics of the patient. If a formation bothers a person, sometimes it bleeds or hurts, it is better to choose a safe way to remove it.

Convex elements on the skin often appear in the perineum. As a rule, they cause psychological discomfort and can interfere with the hair removal process. Any cosmetic procedures related to this area should be previously discussed with a dermatologist. An experienced doctor will advise you on how to get rid of skin growths. Today, many methods have been developed for removing hanging moles, which are effective and painless.

Let's get to know each other better

Moles are very diverse in their external characteristics, growth patterns, location and other features. Dermatologists divide them into many types and varieties, in which it is very easy for a non-specialist to get confused. Therefore, it makes no sense to provide a detailed classification. Moreover, most of us have mainly one type of mole - pigmented (or melanocytic, consisting of melanocytes) nevus.

Most often, a pigmented nevus is a benign skin formation that looks like a small speck of different shades of brown. Sometimes it may protrude slightly above the surface of the skin in the form of a plaque or nodule. Some rarer varieties of pigmented nevi have a very dark, almost black, or dark gray color with a distinct bluish tint. These are blue nevi, which are also benign.

Despite all the variety of appearance options, all benign moles have several common features:

uniformity of color,
round or oval shape,
clear, even border
lack of skin sensations,
stable state over time.

Normally, a healthy person can have quite a lot of moles, and with age their number increases - from 5-10 moles in a child under 5 years old, to 25-30 moles in an adult by the age of 30. But despite the fact that pigmented nevi are considered benign, if there are too many of them, this may be a sign of a high risk of developing a malignant tumor - melanoma. Therefore, for those who have 50 or more moles on their skin, it is advisable to consult a dermatologist.

The danger of nevi

Any changes that have occurred in the body of the mole should cause certain concerns. Like any nevi, pendulous lesions on the skin are considered a benign neoplasm. But if unfavorable factors occur, they can degenerate into an oncological tumor. This usually applies to those moles that are subject to mechanical stress. More often than others, nevi in the armpit area and on the face become inflamed, since they are damaged by shaving. They are also affected by sweat secretions, which are a favorable environment for the growth of bacteria. For this reason, these areas require careful hygiene.

The owner of hanging moles should be wary if one of them turns black, becomes inflamed, or begins to grow. It is necessary to pay extreme attention to the appearance of such signs as:

bleeding from a neoplasm;
the occurrence of painful and itchy sensations in the area where the nevus is located;
thickening or peeling of the surface of the mole;
disappearance of the skin pattern during formation;
redness of the skin that surrounds the growth;
hair loss;
weeping discharge from a mole.

In case of such transformations, you should consult a dermatologist as soon as possible. He will conduct an examination, and if melanoma is suspected, he will refer the tumor for histological analysis and then to an oncologist.

Medical professionals consider nevi of this type to be potentially dangerous and recommend paying close attention to them. If you tear off such a formation, it can cause suppuration and the appearance of dangerous symptoms. Before contacting a doctor, the wound resulting from damage to the nevus must be cauterized with an antiseptic, for example, iodine.

When to see a doctor

Moles do not cause harm to health unless abnormal transformation occurs in them. Melanoma or skin cancer is a dangerous consequence of injury and the influence of negative factors. The development of the disease does not go unnoticed; it is accompanied by the following symptoms:

the nevus thickens;
the shape changes to asymmetrical;
throbbing or sharp pain appears;
sharp pigmentation is observed;
peeling;
cracks;
the areola may become swollen and itchy;
blood or ichor is released;
coarse hair becomes thinner or falls out;
the surface pattern is disrupted.

If you notice one or more symptoms, get examined immediately to prevent unwanted consequences.

When a pigment spot appears on the body, many people perceive it as a new key to their destiny. Medicine is far from esoteric and believes that such a phenomenon is preceded by a certain event or unfavorable condition. A mole appears or begins to increase in size as a response to an injury, burn, or other exposure. Dangerous and may harm your health.

Removal methods

To find out how to get rid of pigmented growths, you need to visit a specialist. After examination and diagnostic testing, the most appropriate technology will be recommended to the patient.

Regardless of whether the formation needs to be removed due to the risk of developing cancer or it just causes aesthetic discomfort, doctors and cosmetologists practice several methods that will help remove hanging moles:

Surgical excision. This method is relevant for large skin formations that pose a danger. This is a rather painful procedure, which does not exclude the possibility of incomplete removal of the nevus, as well as leaving scars on the skin. The mole may grow back and possibly be even larger. The method allows you to send the tumor material for biopsy to reveal its nature.
Laser correction is the safest and fastest method of removal, leaving no marks or scars. Allows you to remove nevi on open parts of the body, including the face. This method completely eliminates the occurrence of bleeding and infection. The procedure takes place in stages and has no contraindications. The surface of the growth is successively exposed to a laser, which burns the surface of the mole. A hole remains in place of the mole, which completely disappears after 2 weeks.
Electrocoagulation. Devices for using this removal technology are available in almost every medical institution. A metal thread is attached to the end of a special handle through which current is supplied. The loop heats up quite quickly and cuts off the stem of the mole. The wound does not bleed, which reduces the risk of inflammation.
Cryodestruction is a proven method. With its help, large nevi are removed. Through the nozzle of the device, a specialist supplies liquid nitrogen, which freezes the mole. When exposed to low temperatures, it quickly begins to collapse. The main disadvantage of this method is the deep scar on the skin, which can only be eliminated with the help of plastic surgery.

Moles can be present on a person’s body throughout life and not cause any particular inconvenience. But the treatment of such neoplasms must be carried out comprehensively.

It is better not to remove moles while carrying a child. It is necessary to wait until the hormonal balance is restored.

can a mole shrink?

“Pregnant” superstitions08.11.2007 It has long been the custom that where little depends on a person, and nature decides most of the matter, people are accustomed to trusting various superstitions. The same thing happened with pregnancy. However, in our time, more is known about this complex and not fully understood process of the female body, but many folk signs are still alive. That is why some expectant mothers prefer to hide the fact of pregnancy for as long as possible, others refuse to buy a child’s dowry in advance, others refuse an ultrasound scan, but willingly listen to grandmothers who claim that if the tummy is “cucumber-shaped”, then a boy will be born. Nevertheless, there is a rational grain in some “pregnant” signs.

"Grain" signs

A pregnant woman should not look at scary things, otherwise the child will be ugly.

Although in fact there is no direct dependence on the contemplation of something ugly and the appearance of the child, but still, while still in the tummy, the baby reacts to light, sounds and very well feels what the mother feels, including fear and hostility. That is why pregnant women are recommended to look at beautiful pictures, enjoy walks in the parks, listen to classical music - in general, experience positive emotions, which nevertheless affect both the health and appearance of the unborn baby.

A pregnant woman should not eat in secret: the child will be born timid or a thief.

In fact, this is a “frightening” sign so that pregnant women do not eat in a hurry and secretly. The fact is that many pregnant women find it difficult to admit that they want something strange from food, they feel guilty, so they can make “secret nightly forays” into the kitchen. But what good is food if it is swallowed with a feeling of guilt? In general, the fate of the child is not determined in this way, but this sign greatly influences the process of assimilation of nutrients.

A pregnant woman should not sew, cut or patch anything, otherwise the child will have a birthmark.

The basis of this superstition is the possibility that if a pregnant woman suddenly pricks herself while sewing, she will get scared or upset, and this can affect the baby’s skin. However, these are all just probabilities.

A pregnant woman should not sit on the threshold (step over a log, broom, etc.).

Since ancient times, the threshold of a house or a window have been perceived as the boundary between one’s own (home) and someone else’s (the outside world). On their territory, the pregnant woman was protected by the household gods, and few were responsible for her safety in the outside world. It was impossible to step over the broom, because the brownie actually lives there and might be offended. But seriously speaking, the threshold of a house is not the best place for a pregnant woman (drafts are possible, plus stress on the back). In general, it is better not to step over obstacles for two simple reasons: firstly, you can fall, and secondly, long steps are contraindicated for pregnant women.

A pregnant woman should not play with a cat, otherwise the child will have many enemies.

In fact, here we are talking, rather, not about enemies in the literal sense. The fact is that cats carry the pathogen toxoplasmosis, a disease that is dangerous to the human nervous system. The expectant mother may not even get it, but through her blood (if the cat scratches her hands) it enters the baby’s body. The best solution for cat owners is to visit a veterinary clinic and have the cat tested for the presence of toxoplasmosis.

If a pregnant woman eats red berries, the baby will be born ruddy.

This sign is associated with the people’s misunderstanding of the nature of a certain type of “blush” - diathesis, in other words. The fact is that brightly colored foods are often sources of allergies. And if during pregnancy a mother “presses” on red berries, peppers, oranges, then it is quite possible that the baby will be born “spotty”.

Pregnant women should not sit cross-legged: the child will be born with crooked legs or club feet.

Indeed, during pregnancy it is undesirable to sit with your legs crossed. However, the point here is not at all about the curvature of the legs and clubfoot (to which this sign has nothing to do at all). However, crossed legs can lead to impaired blood flow in the mother's legs, and consequently to varicose veins.

A pregnant woman should not raise her arms above her head (hang curtains, linen, etc.):

the baby may become entangled in the umbilical cord. Umbilical cord entanglement is a complication that occurs due to the large length of the umbilical cord and increased motor activity of the fetus. Both are genetic factors; a woman cannot influence them. However, obstetricians do not recommend holding your arms up for a long time after the fifth month - this position can provoke rupture of amniotic fluid, resulting in premature birth. However, this does not apply to physical exercises - the arms are raised there for a short time, and the position of the body is constantly changing.

A pregnant woman should not sleep on her back: the baby may suffocate.

In general, if the pregnancy is progressing normally, then you can sleep in any position. However, if the uterus is very large (for example, in the second half of pregnancy) or there are complications, then compression syndrome of the inferior vena cava may occur, as a result of which blood flow is disrupted, and the woman may faint.

Strange

A pregnant woman should not cut her hair: the baby may be born prematurely.

Since ancient times, hair has been endowed with magical properties and associated with life, vitality (this comes from those distant times when long hair served as a kind of “hat” and protected from the cold). Losing your hair meant reducing your vitality, shortening your life, or, at the very least, depriving yourself of wealth. In our time, this remains an unfounded prejudice.

You need to hide your pregnancy for as long as possible - otherwise you will be jinxed.

In ancient times, it was believed that evil spirits could kidnap a child after learning that a woman was pregnant with him. Or even move into it. In fact, if you want to hide your pregnancy for the time being (then everything will be visible anyway), then you can calmly do this, because it is in the first trimester of pregnancy that the largest number of miscarriages occur. So if this happens, then people will not have questions related to such a premature end of pregnancy. However, if you don’t have any difficulties, you can talk about your “interesting situation” to anyone.

A pregnant woman should not knit or weave (do not deal with ropes).

It was believed that a knot on clothes “ties” a child’s exit into the world. Ropes are an association with the umbilical cord, in which the baby can become entangled.

If a pregnant woman's belly is covered with fluff (hairs), it means there will be a boy.

This condition is caused by an increased amount of male hormones in the body of the expectant mother. But this means to me that a woman should definitely give birth to a boy.

If a pregnant woman's belly is high and wide, it will be a girl; if it is low and seems to stick out forward, it will be a boy.

All this is also not necessary. A “high” belly most often indicates that a woman has well-developed abdominal muscles or that this is her first pregnancy (with each subsequent pregnancy the muscles become weaker and the tummy “sinks”). If the belly protrudes forward, perhaps the pregnant woman does not have a very wide body, so the baby simply has nowhere to go. A wide belly is a sign that the fetus is still positioned sideways.

A fast heartbeat means a girl, a slow heartbeat means a boy.

Girls, according to scientific research, are indeed born with a more frequent heartbeat than boys, but this only applies to childbirth. During pregnancy, heart rhythms do not depend on the sex of the child.

If the child is calm and doesn’t move around much, it will be a boy; if he pushes often, if he is restless, it will be a girl.

There are no grounds for such judgments - the activity of the fetus depends on the condition of the mother and genetic predisposition.

If a girl is to be born, then spots and swelling appear on the mother’s face (the daughter takes away her beauty)

. One is absolutely independent of the other. The loss of beauty of some women during pregnancy is physiological (and most likely the result of following such signs as not combing your hair or washing your hands).

If the first three months of pregnancy are light, then the baby will be a boy, if the first three months of pregnancy are heavy, it will be a girl.

The pregnant woman steps forward with her left foot - a boy will be born, with her right - a girl. These signs should be taken as experimental observations, without much explanation. In addition, it is often associated with the emotional sphere of the feminine and the rational – the masculine. Hence the correlation between the right and left sides.

It is impossible to find out the gender of the unborn child before birth.

First of all, the church does not approve of this: the ways of the Lord are mysterious and it is not for man to delve into divine plans. In addition, it was also directed against superstitions that could lead to “hard” family planning - abortion if the expected child turned out to be of an unwanted gender.

If you spray water on a pregnant woman during a drought, it will rain.

This is pure mysticism. A pregnant woman has always been understood as a symbol of fertility, a symbol of the earth ready to bear fruit.

If you meet a pregnant woman, it means good luck; if you see her in a dream, it means success.

The belief is based on the association of a pregnant woman with fertility and the continuation of life. It was also believed that if she hit the cow three times with her apron, it would calve better.

The name of the unborn child must be kept secret.

It was believed that demons, having overheard the name of a child, could harm him (or again kidnap him) right in the womb.

A pregnant woman should not touch her face, otherwise the baby will have birthmarks.

The expectant mother should not grab her face, arms, or torso out of fear, since the child may again develop birthmarks in those places. Thus, a woman should not wash her face, wash her face... nothing? All nine months?

Before giving birth, you cannot buy or bring baby things into the house.

It was believed that if everything was prepared in advance, then otherworldly forces would take her away, the child would be born dead, and these same forces would take on the image of the child and act on his behalf, and the family would never understand anything. In fact, large families have always been traditional in Rus', so the same children's dowry was worn by several generations, and accordingly, additional costs were very sensitive for the family. At the same time, in the old days, a dowry for the first baby was prepared long before his birth with his own hands, but this was associated with great danger: security symbols were applied to clothes and the crib, and protection was asked from the spirits of the house.

A pregnant woman should not be drawn or photographed, otherwise the child’s development will stop, like the image in a portrait, or the child will die

. This is a superstition in which there is not a grain of truth. In the old days, it was associated with the fact that the person in the photograph is a double of the real one (remember, the Indians did not allow Europeans to photograph themselves, because they believed that this black box would take their soul), accordingly, just as the photograph froze, so the child will freeze forever.

You cannot tell anyone your expected due date (even the future dad).

It is believed that secret childbirth is quick and easy. And the more people who know her know that a woman is now giving birth, the longer and more severely she will suffer. As a rule, the thing that irritates pregnant women the most is one stupid question: “Have you given birth yet?”

A pregnant woman should not step over earthen fruits (radish, beets, potatoes, etc.): a miscarriage may occur.

Pharmacy products

Before carrying out the procedure, it is recommended to consult with a specialist regarding the use of pharmaceutical products. If nevus removal is carried out at home, it is advisable to do a drug tolerance test . This will prevent the occurrence of allergic reactions. The required amount is applied to the wrist from the inside. If there is no irritation, the drug can be used after some time.

The drug Cryopharma is considered an effective remedy for getting rid of moles. Used to remove benign tumors. The action is comparable to the freezing procedure with liquid nitrogen. The composition is applied to the nevus and held for 15-20 minutes. A blister forms at the site of the mole, which disappears after 10 days along with the neoplasm. There are no scars left on the skin, and after a while, completely healthy tissue forms at the site of formation.

The doctor may recommend the use of a lapis pencil, which contains silver nitrate, which has a disinfecting effect. They lubricate the nevus daily until it dries and falls off on its own.

To eliminate skin growths, a topical cream called Aldara is often used. The active ingredient of this drug has a destructive effect on the formation and causes its complete death. During use, a slight inflammatory reaction is possible, which disappears during therapy.

Stefalin ointment is another modern and very effective remedy. It penetrates deeply into the mole and its root, providing a good result. The skin around the growth should be covered with a plaster, since the ointment cannot be applied to other parts of the body. It is used once a day, but it is better to use it before bed or throughout the night. It is not recommended to wet the mole during treatment.

The result of using any pharmaceutical product should be noticeable in the very near future, for example, after the first week of use. At the site where the mole disappears, a small wound always remains for some time. To speed up its healing, you can use creams and ointments that have regenerating properties.

The mechanism of appearance of moles

A mole is an area of accumulation of melanocytes.
A nevus consists of skin cells containing an excess amount of pigment. The first birthmark appears in a child between the ages of 6 months and 1 year. The first spots are difficult to notice; they are transparent and have not yet had time to color. Over time, their color becomes brighter and darker.

The formation of moles occurs before the age of 24. In older age, the appearance of new elements is associated with various external and internal factors. By the age of 70-80, all neoplasms disappear and are replaced by senile pigmentation.

Nevi come in different types. The evaluation criteria are shape, size, shade. The palette is wide, you can find red, blue, pink, brown. The tone may become darker after tanning or lighter after cosmetic procedures.

Main types of moles:

flat, located in the upper layer of the skin, safe;
hemangioma - a small red nodule that hangs slightly;
blue, characterized by a smooth surface, hemispherical shape;
convex, grow from the deep layers of the dermis, have a small diameter, hairs often grow through them;
large pigment spots are congenital formations that grow with a person.