Since ancient times, it was believed that the more moles on the body, the happier a person will be. Whether this is true or not, it is a fact that moles can be dangerous and cause cancer. There is a wide variety of nevi (moles), they can also be completely harmless and even disappear on their own over time.
There are cases when a person or child accidentally rips off a mole; the consequences of this can be very different and unpredictable. For some, it will begin to break out, become inflamed or bleed , and may even cause death from cancer. But don’t get scared and panic right away, let’s look into everything in more detail.
What are moles and what are they?
Moles can appear immediately after birth and throughout life. In our skin, between its upper and inner layers, there are and can accumulate cells - melanocytes, which subsequently form our moles, different in size and shape, from pinkish and light brown to black.
All nevi can be classified according to the following criteria:
- Vascular, they are also called hemangiomas; their color can range from pink to scarlet red, and behind their shape they occur in the form of nodules or flat spots.
- Regular (not vascular), in appearance they look like warts or are simply smooth, but their sizes can vary from small dots to huge spots of brown or even black shades.
- In appearance they are: flat, convex and warty, different in shape.
- The sizes can be very diverse: small, medium, large, giant.
But despite their appearance, if you pick off a nevus, you must immediately stop the bleeding and consult a dermatologist or oncologist.
Why moles are dangerous
The nevi themselves are benign neoplasms and are not at all dangerous. But under the influence of external factors they can develop into malignant ones. This process can be started:
- hormonal changes during adolescent puberty, pregnancy and thyroid diseases;
- ultraviolet radiation (if you spend too long and often in the sun and solarium);
- mechanical damage.
If you scratch or tear off a mole, and we cannot know in advance whether it is malignant or not, then cells with melanin will definitely enter the blood and start an irreversible process. There are cases when people die in a matter of weeks from a sudden onset of cancer. That is why they should not be injured and such areas of the skin should be treated with care, since the risk of blood poisoning is very high. It is worth noting that large and fast-growing skin formations are considered very dangerous.
Mole removal procedures
Moles located on the above areas of the body and subject to trauma are subject to removal. This minor operation is performed on an outpatient basis using one of the following methods:
- Surgical – excision with suturing;
- Electrocoagulation (burning);
- Laser coagulation;
- Cryodestruction using ultra-low temperature.
The removal method is selected individually depending on the nature of the mole, its size and location.
For example, large moles are not removed by coagulation, but surgically, and if necessary, skin grafting is used. For small formations there is no point in making incisions; coagulation is preferable. The removal procedure is performed under local anesthesia on an outpatient basis, and large and giant moles are often operated on under anesthesia and in a surgical hospital.
The removed material must be sent for research, and when removed by coagulation, a histological analysis is done before the procedure.
There is no urgency in removing a damaged mole; it is removed only if it is located in a dangerous place or has external signs characteristic of a tumor. The doctor monitors the patient over time and conducts an examination.
How can you injure a mole?
Since no one can influence the appearance of nevi, they can be located on any part of our body, even on the head and palms. For some they add a certain zest to the image, but for others they cause a lot of inconvenience.
The most common mechanical damage to moles:
- their constant rubbing and touching by clothes, jewelry on the neck;
- can be accidentally scratched or torn off by a bra or nails on the back;
- can be cut or even cut off when shaving on the face, under the arms and in other delicate places;
- chemical burns of the skin with the presence of a mole on it;
- Children may accidentally or intentionally damage them.
Not all nevi turn into bad ones when damaged, but you should still be as careful as possible yourself and be sure to explain to your children what will happen if you pick off a mole.
Damage to blood
People sometimes accidentally pick and scratch moles without noticing. As a result, blood appears on the surface of the nevi. When the growth is on the back, there is also a chance of picking it out due to carelessness. If you are faced with such a situation, do not panic. The appearance of blood is a natural reaction of the body to damage to the skin. It is enough to treat the wounds to stop the bleeding. The inflammatory process is stopped with an antiseptic. To do this you can take:
- chlorhexidine;
- hydrogen peroxide;
- alcohol;
- potassium permanganate solution.
Iodine and brilliant green should not get into the wound directly; they should be applied along the edges. If damage to a mole occurs in nature, where there are no antiseptics with you, you can use improvised means.
Of the plants, chamomile, plantain, and coniferous tree resin have an antimicrobial effect. Food products that can be used to treat a skinned mole: garlic, onion, lemon, soda, table salt.
Stop bleeding
The algorithm of actions involves stopping the bleeding at the first stage. For this purpose, cotton wool is moistened with hydrogen peroxide and applied to the damaged area for 15 minutes. The wound is sealed with a bactericidal plaster. If you only have a regular band-aid at home, first moisten a piece of cotton wool in an antiseptic, apply it to the mole, and only then cover the skin with it. The torn area is stored in saline solution.
You can also prepare a strong saline solution. This is required in order to send it later for examination to the laboratory. After treatment, the damaged areas are sent to a specialist. He prescribes treatment if necessary. Sometimes there is a patch of growth left in the skin that needs to be removed.
There is a chance of scratching the tumor if it is located in inconvenient places. Not knowing what to do if they scratch a mole, most people simply cover the damaged area with a band-aid and do not consult a doctor. This attitude is negligent and can lead to health problems.
Help a child
If a child picks a mole, first aid is provided according to the same algorithm. But the patch is additionally protected by wrapping it with a bandage. This is insurance if the baby wants to peel it off. Which doctor should you contact if a mole has been damaged:
- dermatologist;
- oncologist;
- surgeon.
After a visual examination and histological analysis, the specialist will recommend the use of special drugs or refer the patient for surgical removal. You cannot use questionable treatment methods if you accidentally pick at a mole. A dermatologist can tell you what to do in such cases. But to get an appointment with him, you have to wait a while. There is a certain general algorithm if a person unintentionally rips off a mole. What to anoint the surface of the skin in such a situation should be decided based on the properties of the medicinal composition. It should disinfect and also promote tissue regeneration.
First steps in case of damage to a mole
The main thing is not to panic and think soberly. Indeed, according to statistics, two out of 2 thousand people die from melanoma, but more than half die from cardiovascular diseases. Analyze the condition of the mole and where its torn part is. Next, you should proceed as follows:
- Use a clean cotton swab to stop the bleeding.
- Treat the wound with hydrogen peroxide.
- Apply a sterile bandage.
- Immediately contact a surgeon to remove any remaining nevus.
- The torn mole should be placed in saline and sent to the laboratory for testing for malignancy.
If there was no bleeding or it was possible to stop it, then you should be careful not to damage the crust that has formed during healing in the problem area, let it fall off on its own. The torn area can heal wonderfully on its own, however, it is better not to let it happen and still do not delay to visit a doctor just in case.
In cases of injury to a mole on the face, you should discard decorative cosmetics until it is completely healed and normal skin color is restored. You should also not sunbathe if you have damaged them in some way, as a pigment spot may appear at the site of the wound. And if moles are frequently picked off and damaged, it is worth considering their removal.
Consequences. Video
The video below tells what the consequences of damage to a mole on the face and body are.
Following precautions and a number of rules when dealing with moles will help you avoid negative consequences and remain healthy for many years.
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Signs of degeneration of a mole
It’s good when, after picking off a mole, the wound heals safely on its own and you forget about this not very pleasant incident. But this is not always the case. Afterwards, the mole may degenerate into a malignant neoplasm of the skin; this is not something to joke about. Doctors noted the following signs of degeneration of a mole after its removal:
- There was constant itching.
- Bleeding.
- Changing the original form.
- Its color changes.
- The place becomes inflamed.
- Its structure is changing.
- All the hairs fall out of her.
Even if you did not immediately consult a doctor, you need to carefully observe how the disturbed area heals and if there is the slightest change in its condition, do not put off visiting him.
Symptoms of melanoma formation
If a person tears off or damages a growth while shaving and does not protect the affected area in any way, there is a possibility of melanoma formation. Yes, this is what will happen if you tear off a mole and do not carry out any disinfecting measures. Signs of growth of malignant tumor:
- shape deformation,
- curvature of the edges of the nevus,
- even if the mole is not damaged, it can bleed, chameleon effect, the mole can change color, lighten or darken,
- increase in size,
- the nevus becomes covered with a crust,
- painful sensations,
- itching,
- hair grows from the nevus (don’t worry, for most people this happens on its own and does not guarantee the development of melanoma).
Where and how can you remove a mole?
Today there are several methods for removing nevi . The most commonly used are:
- Cryotherapy;
- Electrocoagulation;
- Laser therapy;
- Surgery under local anesthesia.
This procedure is best done in the autumn-winter period when the sun is less active and our skin is well protected by clothing. As for age, even children can have moles removed, but only in some situations on the recommendation of a doctor. But in adolescence you should not do this, because then the hormonal levels change.
To remove nevi, you should go to a specialized clinic or hospital , where competent dermatologists, oncologists and surgeons will help you cope with this problem, and not to some dubious salons.
To summarize, it is worth noting that no matter what size, shape or color your mole or spot is, you need to treat it with caution and regularly inspect all problem areas. If a mole is damaged, do not panic, but take the necessary measures to disinfect the wound and see a doctor. And of course, pay attention to the healing process and further behavior of the affected nevus. If you notice various redness, increased growth, itching, color changes, then know that all this signals an urgent need to visit a doctor, since the appearance of cancer is possible.
Is it possible to remove moles yourself?
There are a large number of ways to remove moles at home, using various lotions and traditional medicine methods. However, the use of such techniques is contraindicated; removal must be carried out by specialists under sterile conditions.
Otherwise, infection and the appearance of various pathologies may occur. The use of removal techniques in medical institutions prevents the formation of cancer cells, and conducts research on the material before starting the procedure.
It is impossible to carry out such procedures at home.
