Medical expert of the article
New publications
Pain in the mole
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Mole, or birthmark (nevus) is a congenital malformation of the skin. Also birthmark can be acquired throughout the life of a tumor of a benign composition that are of a viral nature. At some point in time, the skin cells overwhelm the pigment, resulting in their transformation into melanocytes, the accumulation of which has become known as a "mole". If you have pain in the mole, it is better to immediately seek medical advice from a doctor.
[What is a birthmark?
Pigmental birthmarks are found in almost every person who is more than ten years old. According to medicine, they are often located on the face - counting for every 100 square centimeters of skin surface.
In infants point moles are almost always absent, but they are manifested during the first years of life. The point is that, in all likelihood, newborns have pinpoint spots that are so small that they are difficult to consider. In large numbers, moles begin to appear during puberty - under the active influence of hormones. Slightly noticeable spots begin to grow in size, their color changes, up to black color. The fact that the formation of melanin in the skin has a significant effect of melanotropic hormone, produced by the pituitary gland. New birthmarks can often appear in pregnant women, but old moles can change their color and sometimes increase in size.
By and large, there is no place on the human body where moles never appeared. They are not uncommon even on the mucous membrane, in the oral cavity, on the surface of the tongue, in the anus and in the vagina. Moles on the mucosa in women are more common than in males.
Pigmentary nevus is a birthmark, a birthmark, an acquired non-celled nevus.
The acquired birthmark is a small one (diameter - up to 1 centimeter), a pigmented spot or a formation rising above the skin.
The acquired nekvletchetochny nevus - this is the most common neoplasm of skin in representatives of the Caucasoid race. In general, every adult has about 20 nevi (moles).
When should I see a doctor if there is pain in the mole?
Moles, as a rule, do not bother patients. Pain in the mole and itching in it can be the first symptoms of its degeneration into malignant formation. If there are such signs, it is necessary as carefully as possible to monitor the problem nevus or to carry out the procedure for its removal.
It is necessary to consult a doctor if such changes have occurred in the mole:
- asymmetry (one half of the mole or nevus differs significantly from the second half);
- irregularity of the edges (edge curves, indistinct, there are notches);
- color (pigmentation is not homogeneous, yellowish brown, brown and black are present, the red, white and blue fragments complement the mottled appearance of the birthmark.) The earliest symptom of skin cancer is changes in the distribution of color, especially when the color spreads from the edge of the mole to the surrounding her skin area);
- dynamics or occurrence of any changes in the standard picture for you (growth in size, thickening, change in shade, bleeding, appearance of crusts on the surface of the mole, pain in the mole).
By the way, it should be noted that if hair grows from a mole, it means that she has very few chances to become a malignant entity.
Who to contact if there is pain in the mole?
But still, if you have pain in the birthmark, you need to first seek advice from a dermatologist and an oncologist. These experts either dispel your fears and doubts, or offer removal of the nevus.