Birthmarks in the baby

definition

A birthmark or mole is a benign skin change. More precisely, a collection of pigment cells so that the stain is differentiated in color from the surrounding skin. Birthmarks are usually one color and can take on various shades of brown or almost black.

They can exist from birth. Most of the time, however, they only develop after puberty. The higher the age, the more moles / birthmarks are usually also present, so that babies usually have very few or no birthmarks. Around every hundredth newborn is born with a birthmark. If a pigment spot is present from birth, it is called a birthmark. If it only develops in the course of life, it is called a mole. Often, however, no distinction is made between the two terms and they are used as synonyms.

causes

How and why birthmarks arise is largely unknown - especially if the birthmarks are present from birth. If birthmarks only appear in childhood, both hereditary predisposition and exposure to sunlight play a role. Moles are more common in people with light skin types. Red-haired people in particular have a light skin type and, as a result, usually many birthmarks.

Also read: What is your skin type?

When do moles appear?

Birthmarks can exist right from birth, but these are very few. Most birthmarks appear around puberty and can still appear as you get older. The rule is: the older a person, the more birthmarks they have. Babies accordingly have the fewest moles or often none at all.

Which birthmarks are dangerous?

In most cases, birthmarks or other birthmarks, such as fire marks or a stork bite on a baby, are harmless. However, if the color, size or shape changes, this should be shown to a doctor because it can then be a malignant degeneration. Also suspicious in addition to the change in appearance is an itchy birthmark, weeping or reddened birthmark.
If a mole is malignant, black skin cancer, a so-called malignant melanoma, develops. If a child has larger birthmarks / moles or a particularly large number of birthmarks, there is a higher risk of malignant degeneration.

Malignant degeneration rarely occurs, but congenital moles that are present from birth should be observed more closely than moles that develop in the course of life, because congenital moles degenerate on average more often than moles that develop later. However, this does not mean that every congenital birthmark should be removed directly to be on the safe side. The risk of degeneration is still low.

Read more on the subject at: Baby skin cancer or mole and skin cancer- How to recognize the danger

What birthmarks do I have to see a doctor with?

Most birthmarks or moles are completely harmless. The same rules apply to babies as to adults. If a mole is growing rapidly, has fuzzy edges, or is growing in awkward places, a dermatologist should take a look. Basically, moles are only pigment enrichments, which do not pose a risk. However, some birthmarks can degenerate and therefore preventive checks of all birthmarks should be carried out every few years.

Itchy birthmark

Birthmarks, also called nevus in technical terms, can also lead to itching in some cases. Itchy birthmarks are particularly common in babies and toddlers. This is difficult to recognize in babies, as they cannot yet describe their problem, in this case the itching. Parents therefore often only see scratched areas on the skin. Itching is not one of the warning signs that indicate a possible malignant degeneration of the mole. Treatment with skin care creams can keep the skin moist and thus reduce itching.

Also read the article on the topic: Birthmark itches - when is it dangerous?

Is a black birthmark dangerous?

The color of a mole is not a criterion for the malignancy of a mole. Some babies are prone to very dark birthmarks, but these are no more dangerous than other birthmarks. It is more relevant whether the color is uniform or whether there are different hues within a mole. Since the characteristics of malignancy in dark birthmarks are somewhat more difficult to assess, a screening every few years can provide security. The dermatologist looks at the individual birthmarks of the baby or child and examines them for signs of malignancy.

What are raised birthmarks?

Birthmarks can be classified according to different criteria. This includes the shape, the color, the limitation, the size and also the sublimity. Some birthmarks are on the same level as the rest of the skin and you cannot tell a difference when you stroke them. These birthmarks are not raised. Raised birthmarks are higher than normal skin level and can be felt well. Highly raised birthmarks can also be assessed as such immediately on sight.
The grandeur does not allow any direct conclusions to be drawn about the possible malignancy of a mole. One form of the raised birthmark is the connatal nevus, this is a raised birthmark which is already present at birth and in rare cases takes up areas of more than ten centimeters. The structure is usually soft and slightly knotty and especially later covered by strong, black hair. Since the congenital nevus is known to be the precursor to malignant melanoma, it should be checked regularly by a dermatologist and, if in doubt, treated.

Bleeding birthmark

Birthmarks can also lead to local inflammatory reactions in babies. Inflammation is characterized, among other things, by good blood circulation and pain. Both inflammation and itching can cause the baby to scratch the birthmark and cause it to bleed. If bleeding occurs frequently, a dermatologist should examine the birthmark. A bleeding birthmark is not an indication of a malignant change. Care creams can be used to prevent frequent scratching and the babies can be put on gloves, especially at night.

Read more on the subject at: Mole bleeds - how dangerous is that?

Pain at a birthmark

A birthmark is itself just a collection of melanin, the brown pigment of our skin. These usually don't cause pain. If a baby or toddler shows pain when touching the mole, it may indicate inflammation. This can often be recognized by a reddening around the birthmark. Such an inflammation can occur, for example, when the mole is scratched and should heal on its own. Another cause can be a splinter or something similar, which only looks like a birthmark.

Find out more about the topic: Pain in a birthmark

Inflamed birthmark in the baby

A birthmark can become infected in babies as well as in all other age groups. One of the reasons for this is scratching the mole. Ingrown hairs, which are often stronger in birthmarks, can also lead to inflammation and pain. Inflammation can be recognized by the redness around the birthmark, possible swelling and pain. In some cases, the birthmark can also fester. Usually an inflamed birthmark in a baby heals in a few days. A pediatrician or dermatologist should only be consulted if the inflammation persists or spreads over a larger area.

Further information on the subject can be found at: Inflammation of a Mole- Is It Dangerous?

Birthmarks in babies on certain parts of the body

Birthmarks and moles can appear on almost any part of the skin, even in babies.

On the head / on the scalp

Birthmarks can appear anywhere on the body, including the face or head. In principle, birthmarks on the face or head are no more worrying than, for example, a birthmark on the back. However, birthmarks on the face and head are more often exposed to the sun because the head is usually not covered by a T-shirt or similar like the torso. Particularly with children, care should be taken to ensure adequate sun protection in the form of a hat and sun cream, as high UV exposure can lead to malignant degeneration. If you use sun protection, you don't have to worry more about moles on the head or face than with other moles. Depending on how big a mole is on the face, it can sometimes be perceived as annoying by children from a certain age, so that a decision may be made to remove it for cosmetic reasons.

In the eye

Birthmarks can actually appear in the eye and, like all other birthmarks, are usually harmless. Even so, they should be shown to an ophthalmologist for examination. A birthmark in the eye appears as a small brown spot. Vision is usually not impaired by such a birthmark. The ophthalmologist should document the size, shape and color of the birthmark in the eye during visits so that a change in the birthmark can be recognized. Degeneration in the eye is not to be expected more frequently than when there is a birthmark on the skin. Birthmarks on the eye can also develop inside the eye (in the choroid), but these cannot be seen by the parents from the outside, but can only be discovered by the ophthalmologist.

Read more on the subject below: Birthmark in the eye

On the palm of the hand

Moles on the palms of the hands and also on the soles of the feet are said to have a higher risk of degeneration. By working with your hands or walking in the case of moles on the soles of the feet, these moles are mechanically more irritated, which leads to more frequent degeneration than with other moles. Here, too, however, the following applies: these birthmarks should be observed and not directly removed prophylactically, because even with birthmarks on the palms of the hands, very few patients degenerate.

Which ones need to be removed?

Birthmarks in babies usually do not need to be removed. Sometimes birthmarks are removed for cosmetic reasons, but this should be done at an advanced age. If the color, shape or size of the mole changes over the years, this should be checked by a doctor. If necessary, he or she can advise removal in order to identify potential malignant degeneration at an early stage. To assess whether a pigment spot is malignant, dermatologists apply the so-called ABCDE rule, which can also be used by laypeople as an orientation. A stands for asymmetry, B for delimitation (rather malignant, if the delimitation is irregular), C for color (multicolored or change of color), D for diameter (diameter wider than 0.5 cm) and E stands for sublimity. If one or more criteria apply, the birthmark should be examined to be on the safe side. With many birthmarks, one of the criteria applies and still there is no skin cancer, so that one does not have to assume the worst immediately.

Read more on the subject at: Birthmark - recognize and remove