Birthmarks: Are they dangerous?
Who among us has skin without birthmarks, moles, or warts? I haven't met any. You probably haven't either. But what should you be concerned about, and which ones are not dangerous? This question often arises in the spring and early summer, when the sun starts to burn more intensely and you want to expose your face and décolletage to its effects. What should we do with our birthmarks then?
What are birthmarks?
Birthmarks are colored spots on the skin that are present from birth or appear within a few days, months, or several years after birth. About 80% of newborns have birthmarks, most of which are harmless. They can be from brown to blue in color and vary in size from pinpoint to spots that cover an entire limb.
Skin cancer prevention. Let's examine our birthmarks
Moles, birthmarks, or pigmented spots – some of them are with us from birth, others develop only over the course of a lifetime. Most of them are harmless. With regular skin cancer screening , a doctor can keep an eye on them. This way, any changes in the skin are quickly noticed. Your skin will be optimally protected if you also regularly check your moles on yourself and your loved ones. Because skin cancer is curable if it is detected early.
Dermatology in Switzerland offers a comprehensive skin diagnosis. This also includes the examination of moles and birthmarks and the classification of the risk of skin cancer.
Treatment in Switzerland not only includes the examination of birthmarks, but also the removal of any noticeable moles, if necessary.
Noticeable spots on the skin – recognize skin cancer in time
Do you find new small spots on your skin after the summer or does a familiar mole suddenly look different? Then keep your eyes open and take a closer look. If spots on the skin change over time, this does not necessarily mean skin cancer. But it could be a sign of the development of a malignant tumor. In this case, quick action is necessary to prevent the further development and spread of a possible melanoma in the body. Skin cancer does not have a typical appearance, so proper self-examination is very important.
Why do these spots appear?
They arise as a result of excessive growth of normal skin components, most often blood vessels and melanocytes (cells that give color to the skin and hair). In most cases, these spots are single and are not associated with other symptoms. They are not caused by what the mother did during pregnancy or by injuries during childbirth.
In some cases, children are born with spots that gradually fade away, so treatment of moles should not be carried out immediately if the spots disappear on their own. In some cases, the mole manifests itself only at a later age, when the body matures and changes.
Types of birthmarks
There are two main categories of birthmarks:
- Red birthmarks. These are a type of vascular disorder (they are related to blood vessels) and develop before or immediately after birth as a result of excessive development of blood vessels. Symptoms may include: irritation or damage to the skin, spots on the skin resembling blood vessels, possible bleeding, the skin may crack.
- Pigmented birthmarks. These are areas that differ in color from the rest of the skin and are present at birth. The spots can be brown, blue, purple, gray, or black. Pigmented birthmarks can increase in size as the child develops, change color (especially after sun exposure or in adolescence, due to hormonal changes), cause itching, and sometimes bleed.
When a mole changes in size, shape, or color, it can be a sign of skin cancer, and some studies show that moles make people more susceptible to skin cancer.
Removal of birthmarks
When the decision is made to remove a mole, various treatment approaches can be used. In some cases, surgical removal with a scalpel or laser is possible. Laser therapy can also be used to lighten the pigment in pigmented birthmarks or to destroy the mole so that it is less noticeable. A dermatologist can consult in certain cases and determine whether the removal of moles is effective for the patient.