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Moles during pregnancy

 
, medical expert
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
 
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Moles during pregnancy are a common cause of concern for many expectant mothers during pregnancy.

Every new growth during this period causes not just a storm of emotions - a state akin to panic. And then the expectant mother runs to the doctor, or rummages through mountains of books and pages on the Internet devoted to this topic.

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Are moles dangerous during pregnancy?

What is a mole, especially during pregnancy - the first natural question that arises in the future mother. We will tell. A mole, including during pregnancy, is a neoplasm on the skin of the human body. Moles are divided into congenital and those that appear throughout a person's life. Moles are not to be feared. This is a benign formation. They can become a malignant tumor only when a person has a genetic predisposition to it. In addition, mechanical damage, exposure to ultraviolet radiation can lead to transformation into a malignant tumor. As experts say, moles appear where the cells are overflowing with melanocytes. Melanocytes, in turn, are a certain type of skin cells that produce melanin. And where melanocytes accumulate in particularly large quantities, a mole appears. In medical practice, moles are called nevi.

In general, moles are not dangerous at all. Naturally, if they are benign. Then even a large number of them does not give cause for concern. The reason to be wary may be the growth of the mole, itching, change in shade or color, bleeding. If some strange changes begin to occur with the mole, only in this case should you worry and schedule an examination with a good dermatologist.

A mole that has taken the form of a malignant formation is called melanoma. In this case, it is important to pay attention to the problem in time,

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Causes of moles during pregnancy

If we talk about the human body and the appearance of moles in general, then most often they begin to form when a person reaches the age of ten. However, everywhere, but not very often, there are situations when a baby is born already having moles on his body at a newborn age. This situation may occur once in a hundred cases.

As for the usual appearance of moles on the human body, the most common causes of moles are exposure to ultraviolet radiation and hormonal imbalances in the body. Although these do not necessarily have to be imbalances - most often we are talking about various hormonal changes in the body. The first such example is puberty. Very common situations are when, upon reaching eleven to fourteen years of age, a teenager discovers the appearance of new moles on the body. Other hormonal changes that can lead to the formation of moles can be: pregnancy, abortion, menopause, certain medications that a person takes.

The female body is characterized by a greater number of changes in the body associated with hormonal changes. This explains why the presence of moles is more common in women than in men.

Therefore, you should not be afraid if you start to develop moles during pregnancy. This process is completely natural and logical. Pregnancy and breastfeeding are characterized by frantic surges in hormonal levels. In this way, metabolic processes in the female body are regulated during pregnancy, and hormones also help the growth of the fetus. The female body has to work twice as hard to withstand such a load, the body begins to secrete hormones in double quantities. The appearance of moles during pregnancy is just evidence of the excellent work of the hormonal system. Therefore, fear and panic are completely inappropriate here. Moreover, moles that appear during pregnancy often tend to disappear after some time. Of course, moles do not always go away, but such cases do happen. If moles do not disappear, try to look at this situation differently - let them remind you of the great happiness of having a child.

Why did my mole get bigger during pregnancy?

The appearance of moles during pregnancy is a process that does not require concern. It is another matter if strange transformations begin to occur with new and old moles. For example, the following facts should attract the attention of the expectant mother:

  • change in color of a mole;
  • increase in the size of a mole;
  • pain in a mole;
  • the presence of itching or burning in the area of the birthmark;
  • swelling of a previously flat mole.

Any of the above processes is a significant enough reason to contact a specialist. There is no need to panic in advance, since the changes that occurred with the birthmark could have been caused by hormonal stress alone.

A specialist will examine the mole and will be able to tell you what is happening to it and how to properly care for this birthmark now. The most common tips for caring for a mole that has grown during pregnancy:

  • hide a mole that has increased in size during pregnancy from direct exposure to ultraviolet radiation;
  • If a mole increases in size during pregnancy, it should not be injured under any circumstances;
  • if the size of a mole increases during pregnancy, you should never allow it to be scratched;
  • Squeezing out an enlarged mole is contraindicated, even if there is an accumulation of fluid in it.

Mole Removal During Pregnancy

An experienced specialist can easily dispel fears about a strange or newly formed mole. Removing moles during pregnancy is a step that the expectant mother will be offered to take in some extreme cases, if the situation is very serious and there is a risk that melanoma will develop. All other cases are common, so doctors usually do not resort to removing moles during pregnancy. The most that a specialist can advise is to tell you how to properly handle a birthmark and how best to care for it.

Myths about moles during pregnancy

We can talk about the superstitions of pregnant women for a long time and at length. Birthmarks are one of the popular topics around which many myths, legends, tales and other superstitions circulate among pregnant women. Let's try to understand some of them, which are real and which are not.

  • Myth number one: if a pregnant woman develops a new birthmark, she should expect a similar birthmark on the baby’s body.

As for newly formed birthmarks on the body of a pregnant woman, it is absolutely certain that similar birthmarks will not appear on the baby. The only tendency that can be at least a little bit tied to this myth is a genetic predisposition to birthmarks. The fact is that birthmarks are often inherited. When a mother has many birthmarks, it is quite possible that her child will have a large number of them. This is not dangerous at all, this phenomenon is quite natural.

  • Myth two: about the fateful significance of moles that formed during pregnancy.

Of course, almost all folk signs are not supported by scientific facts. Therefore, it is difficult to talk about any "fatefulness" here. Another thing is if the expectant mother believes in signs and superstitions, then she has the right to decide for herself to what extent such a fact is valid for her.

  • Myth three: if during a severe fright the expectant mother grabs some part of her body, then a birthmark will appear on the child in the same place.

This myth also refers to signs and beliefs, therefore from the point of view of science it is fiction. The expectant mother is already subject to many stresses and reasons to worry, therefore doctors advise not to pay attention to such nonsense, because belief in such signs can only create many additional difficulties during pregnancy.

Moles during pregnancy are a common occurrence, which is quite natural, and should not be feared under any circumstances. The appearance of new moles is natural for the period of pregnancy due to hormonal changes occurring in the body of a pregnant woman. The growth of existing moles, as well as their redness, is generally not a very favorable trend, but you should not be afraid of it, it is enough to simply contact a specialist to determine the cause of the mole during pregnancy, as well as further behavior, handling and care. Removing moles during pregnancy is an extreme measure, it is practiced in rare cases when the mole is dangerous and threatens the health of the pregnant woman and her baby.

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