Black mole on the body: what it is and the reasons for its appearance

Causes of moles

Most moles form in childhood and adolescence. Heredity and genetic predisposition play a key role. In adulthood, the appearance of new formations is facilitated by external and endogenous factors. The most important is hyperinsolation - regular and prolonged exposure of the skin to ultraviolet radiation.

Ultraviolet light is the main catalyst for the formation of melanin pigment in skin cells, and it is melanin that determines the color of the entire skin and its elements. The appearance of a black mole may be a consequence of too frequent and long exposure to the sun. Fans of artificial tanning are at risk, since solarium lamps are a source of intense ultraviolet radiation.

Changes in hormonal balance can contribute to the appearance of new nevi. For women, a risk factor is ovarian dysfunction (imbalance of sex hormones). Changes in hormonal levels can be triggered by taking oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy during menopause. The formation of black moles is possible during pregnancy and lactation.

How to prevent degeneration

The appearance of black dots inside a mole does not pose a serious threat to the life and health of the patient. The risk of degeneration of the formation increases with the constant influence of provoking factors - ultraviolet radiation, radiation, stress.

Factors that can help reduce your chance of developing skin cancer:

Periodically examine large moles, birthmarks, and freckles yourself. If the shape or contours of the growth have changed, new points have appeared in the center or along the periphery of the growth, immediately visit a doctor.
Eat healthy, natural foods. Preservatives and flavor enhancers increase the risk of developing malignant tumors by 3 times.
Protect moles from mechanical damage with jewelry, tight shoes, clothing, and razors.
Boost your immunity. A strong immune system prevents the cancerous degeneration of melanocytes. Vitamins, walks in the fresh air, a regime of work and rest are the main postulates of good health.
Avoid excessive exposure to sunlight. Refrain from visiting solariums.
Treat endocrine diseases in a timely manner. Hormones are responsible for the functioning of all internal organs. Pituitary tumors and thyroid diseases negatively affect the condition of the skin.

Doctors recommend following the rules daily.

Tomorrow I’ll run to the oncologist and let him take a look... but I’m trembling all over, roaring... my nose can’t even breathe... 2 moles protruding on my face, this has appeared... I’ve read a lot... new ones are also appearing.

Dangerous symptoms

Only a very few black moles pose a potential threat. The risk of malignant transformation to melanoma is low, but caution should be maintained. In any case, it is advisable to show the skin lesion to a specialist. You definitely need to see a dermatologist or oncologist if you have the following symptoms:

The black mole increases in size. Even small growth should be alarming; a rapid increase in size is an unfavorable sign.
The surface has changed (becomes “glossy” or loose).
The formation peels off or bleeds.
Unpleasant sensations appear in the form of pain, burning or itching.
The shape has changed, the edge has become striated, uneven, asymmetrical.
The color changes: an ordinary mole becomes black, bluish or dark brown.

Any dynamics should be alarming. There is no need to panic, but you need to make an appointment with a specialist. What you definitely cannot do is try to remove the tumor yourself using traditional medicine. Injury by mechanical or chemical influence is one of the main causes of malignant degeneration.

What to do with a suspicious mole

If the birthmark suddenly begins to increase in size, its edges are uneven and the color darkens, then you should consult an oncologist. You should not wait until the mole begins to transform into a malignant tumor. It is better to recognize this disease in the early stages of its manifestation.

It is also under no circumstances recommended to try to remove such a stain yourself. This is fraught with serious complications and consequences. It is better not to touch such a formation at all, not to smear it or subject it to any mechanical damage. And you will need to avoid being in direct sunlight for some time, until the doctor determines the nature of the nevus.

Treatment of suspicious and malignant moles

Moles that are suspicious should only be treated by a qualified doctor. Doing therapy at home is not recommended. Typically, the treatment process is based in this case on surgical removal of the growth.

The operation itself is considered simple. It is based on the excision of a mole, especially when it comes to the back area. First, the doctor determines the histology of the formation, and then selects the most suitable method of therapy. In this case, the individual characteristics of the body and the presence of concomitant diseases must be taken into account.

Melanoma-dangerous nevi

Listed below are specific types of black moles that are melanoma-dangerous. This means that when exposed to unfavorable factors, they can degenerate into melanoma; the risk of malignant transformation is higher than in the case of ordinary nevi.

Dysplastic nevi. This type of nevi is characterized by the presence of melanocytic dysplasia, an atypical arrangement of melanocytes. Only a dermatologist can diagnose melanocyte dysplasia. The patient needs to know that a dysplastic nevus has a smooth surface. It does not rise above the skin, or only its central part rises. The shape is irregular, with uneven edges. The coloring is uneven, with black areas located in the center.

Blue nevus. Despite the name, the formation can be not only blue, but also black. Usually has the shape of a regular hemisphere and rises above the surface of the skin. The surface is smooth, the edges are even. Typical localization is the scalp, feet and hands, and gluteal region. The risk of malignancy increases after injury, including independent attempts at removal.

Nevus Ota. This type of tumor appears only on the face. Characteristic mainly for representatives of the Mongoloid race. The color is black or bluish. The differential sign is the presence of pigmentation of the sclera, iris or conjunctiva of the eye.

Borderline pigmented nevus. The neoplasm is formed in childhood. Subsequently, birthmarks increase in size throughout life, reaching one and a half to two centimeters in diameter. The differential feature is an uneven ring-shaped coloration, with a decrease in color intensity from the center to the periphery. The color is brown, darker in the central part.

Giant pigmented nevus. Refers to congenital. Increasing in size, such birthmarks reach gigantic sizes, up to 15 centimeters or more. A characteristic feature is an uneven surface with “potholes”, nodules and cracks. Hair growth from the nevus may occur.

For melanoma-dangerous moles, the risk of malignancy is higher than for ordinary skin tumors. Such nevi and birthmarks require observation by a dermatologist or oncologist. Malignant degeneration can be caused by exposure to external factors - mechanical or chemical damage, ultraviolet irradiation.

Moles on the back - signs of health

One of the meanings of moles on the back is poor health.
The owners of these treat them with care. They lead a healthy lifestyle, are interested in alternative medicine such as foil treatment, and enjoy sports. Owners of such marks try to introduce everyone to a similar lifestyle. They are among those parents who instill in their children a love of hardening, tourism, and sports. They serve healthy food and collect a whole library of books about a healthy lifestyle.

Those people who have birthmarks or nevi on the back are born sickly, suffer from frequent colds in childhood and adolescence, and reduced immunity is not able to protect them during flu epidemics and other diseases. Holders of such marks suffer from low blood pressure. Physical weakness forces them to play sports.

When there is a multiple scattering of moles, this indicates a tendency to pulmonary diseases. They suffer from bronchitis and asthma. Smoking is a bad habit for them. When there are such signs on the body, it is better to quit smoking with a conspiracy.

Diagnostics

If you have a black mole on your body, it is not at all necessary to remove it, but you need to contact a specialist. The dermatologist will conduct a diagnosis, which consists of examining the neoplasm and studying it using optical or digital dermatoscopy (under magnification).

During the examination, the doctor evaluates the size of the tumor, its density, structure, consistency, surface character, symmetry, edge, color and other signs. As a rule, examination and dermatoscopy are sufficient to make a diagnosis. Biopsy and histological examination are carried out only before removal. In other situations, dermatologists prefer not to injure black moles unnecessarily.

Treatment: removal or observation?

Benign neoplasms of the skin do not require removal, but surgery can be performed for aesthetic reasons, as well as in situations where the nevus is located in an open area of the body, is exposed to ultraviolet radiation, or is injured by parts of clothing or jewelry.

Removal of benign black moles that are not melanoma-dangerous is carried out in the following ways:

Surgical removal;
cryodestruction;
electrocoagulation;
radio wave removal;
laser removal.

Melanoma-dangerous nevi can only be removed surgically. The operation is performed in the presence of an oncologist and involves healthy skin. The removed tissues are necessarily sent for histological examination. Melanoma-dangerous nevi can also be removed in aesthetic medicine clinics if the medical institution has a dermatologist oncologist on staff. The operation is performed in a classical way; cryodestruction and other modern technologies are not used.

If malignant degeneration of the neoplasm is diagnosed, complex antitumor therapy is indicated, which includes surgical removal with wide coverage of adjacent tissues, radiation and chemotherapy.

Prevention methods

The main cause of cancer is ultraviolet radiation. Black spots on a mole are areas with a high content of melanin. As you know, pigment is formed under the influence of sunlight, preventing the development of burns. But when cells can no longer protect against harmful radiation, they begin to mutate and acquire malignant properties. This is why you should protect your body and face from sunbathing. This rule is especially acute for people with fair skin, freckles and a large number of moles. It is undesirable to be on the street, and especially on the beach, in the summer from 12 to 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Favorable times for sunbathing are morning and evening. You should definitely use sunscreen.

It is also important to avoid injury to nevi, rubbing with clothing items, or scratching. Large lesions should be periodically shown to a dermatologist so that if cancer is suspected, tissue samples can be sent for analysis in a timely manner. Do not panic when you find a black dot on the surface of a nevus. In most cases, it is the result of an injury that goes away on its own. But several black dots combined with an uneven shade of the mole may indicate the development of one of the forms of melanoma.

After the procedure

After removing a nevus, it is extremely important to protect the skin from ultraviolet radiation. You can’t sunbathe in a solarium; you should be in the sun as little as possible. It is recommended to refrain from thermal procedures. It is impossible to remove crusts at the site of the surgical wound; the skin should be provided with maximum rest. After removing a mole on the face, it is not advisable to use decorative cosmetics.

You can learn more about the diagnosis of skin tumors and methods of their treatment at a consultation with a dermatologist at the Galaktika clinic (Moscow).