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Mole pain
Last reviewed: 06.07.2025
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A mole, or birthmark (nevus) is a congenital defect of the skin. Also, a mole can be a benign tumor acquired during life, which has a viral nature. At some point in time, skin cells are overwhelmed with pigment, as a result of which they are transformed into melanocytes, the accumulation of which is called a "mole". If you have pain in a mole, it is better to immediately consult a doctor.
[ What is a mole?
Almost every person over the age of ten has pigmented moles. According to medical information, they are often located on the face - per 100 square centimeters of skin surface.
In infants, pinpoint moles are almost always absent, but they appear during the first years of life. The fact is that, in all likelihood, pinpoint pigment spots in newborns are so small that they are difficult to see. Moles begin to appear in large quantities during puberty - under the active influence of hormones. Barely noticeable spots begin to grow in size, their color changes, up to black. The fact is that the formation of melanin pigment in the skin is significantly influenced by the melanotropic hormone produced by the pituitary gland. New moles can often appear in pregnant women, while old moles can change their color and sometimes increase in size.
Generally speaking, there is no place on the human body where moles never appear. 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 mucous membrane are more common in women than in men.
A pigmented nevus is a birthmark, mole, or acquired nevocellular nevus.
An acquired mole is a small (up to 1 centimeter in diameter) pigmented spot or formation that rises above the skin.
Acquired nevocellular nevus is the most common skin neoplasm in Caucasians. In general, each adult has about 20 nevi (moles).
When should you see a doctor if you have pain in a mole?
Moles, as a rule, do not bother patients. Pain in a mole and itching in it can be the first symptoms of its degeneration into a malignant formation. If such signs appear, it is necessary to monitor the problematic nevus as closely as possible or perform a procedure for its removal.
It is imperative to see a doctor if the following changes occur in a mole:
- asymmetry (one half of a mole or nevus differs significantly from the other half);
- uneven edges (the edges are crooked, unclear, there are notches);
- color (pigmentation is not uniform. There are yellowish-brown, brown and black colors. The mole's mole-like appearance is complemented by red, white and blue fragments. An early symptom of skin cancer is a change in color distribution, especially when the color spreads from the edge of the mole to the surrounding skin area);
- dynamics or occurrence of any changes in the standard picture for you (increase 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, this means that it has very little chance of degenerating into a malignant tumor.
Who should I contact if I have pain in a mole?
But still, if you have pain in a mole, you should first consult a dermatologist and oncologist. These specialists will either dispel your fears and doubts or offer to remove the nevus.