Is It a Mole or a Birthmark? Here’s Why You Should Know the Difference

Birth marks and moles are types of skin markings that are mostly harmless. But because the moles can rarely transform into skin cancer (melanoma), it is important to be able to distinguish these skin problems.

A birth spot is discoloration, marking or skin growth that is present at birth or develops shortly after. Its shape, color, size and location can vary a lot, and there are many different types.

Although they can form anywhere, you are more likely to find certain types of birth spots on certain parts of your body. Some are permanent; Others end up fading.

There are two categories of birth brands:

• Vascular birth markers: These are the most common. They are caused by abnormal blood vessels and look reddish, generally.
• Pigmented birth marks: These are caused by clusters of pigmentary skin cells, leading to tanning, brown or black, gray or blue spots.

Types of birth brands

The current types of vascular or pigmented brand marks include:

• Strawberry hemangioma: These strawberry birth marks can grow until infants have 4 to 6 months. About 90% of these fondues at the age of 10.
• Deep hemangioma: With a blue or purple color, this type looks like a deep bump and can be painful.
• Salmon patch: These pink or red plates usually grow on the face or back of the neck.
• Café-au-sup spots: These birth marks have well -defined borders and are brown on lighter skin or darker brown to black on darker skin.
• Coloring of port wine: This birth spot generally affects the face. With a distinctive red or purple color, this type can thicken and form rough and paved edges. It does not disappear and grows with age.
• Mongoli points: Generally affecting the buttocks or lower back, these resemble bruises and are clear or dark blue or gray. They usually fade when children are 3 to 5 years old.
• Nevus sebaceous: This type generally develops on the scalp, leaving a bald and raised patch. Over time, it can change, become yellow or orange and become “stony” or bumpy. This guy does not disappear.
• Pauilles: Beauty grains can also be birth marks. These “congenital melanocytic nevi” go from small places to the largest plots of skin and are generally permanent.

The moles are small spots caused by a proliferation of melanocytes, or cells that give the skin its color. They are very common – most adults have 10 to 40 moles. People are developing moles at the end of childhood, adolescence or young adults.

Variation of size and shape, the moles generally develop on the skin exposed to the sun above the waist. There are several types:

• Common taupe: Date or slightly raised and rounded, these have a color. Taupes can germinate the hair and bleach over time.
• Atypical Taupe: Atypical, or dysplastic nevi, look like skin cancer. Larger and more irregular shape than current moles, this type is multicolored and can be brown, red, green or purple.
• Spitz NEVUS: Another that looks like skin cancer, a naevus spitz is generally high, round and pink with other colors such as red, black or brown. Usually, fixing at the age of 20, this type can bleed or ooze liquid.

Birth marks and moles differ in their appearance, when they develop, their causes and what they mean for your health.

• Shape and color: Current moles are more regularly in shape, symmetrical and may appear in groups. They are generally brown, black or darker than the skin around it. Birth marks can be less uniformly, they do not form in clusters and some can be reder or more pink.
• When they appear: A birth spot is present at birth or for forms shortly after. Some people are also born with moles, but moles can also develop until the age of about 40.
• Genetic influence: Mutations of certain genes can make you more likely to develop moles. The genetic link is less clear with birth brands. While some studies have revealed that genetics influences certain types, researchers do not know how much.
• Risk factors: Exposure to the sun is a current risk factor in beauty grains. The risk factors for birth marks may include a premature birth, low birth weight and other factors linked to birth, such as being a twin or a triplet.
• What they mean for your health: Rarely, moles can be transformed into a type of skin cancer called melanoma. Birth marks are rarely cancerous, although the birth of a mole (congenital naevus) can increase the risk. Sometimes some types of birth marks can cause pain or self -esteem difficulties.

A dermatologist is a skin specialist. They can be useful if you have a birth spot or moles.

For a birth spot

You can see a dermatologist if a birth spot bothers you. There are options, such as surgery and drugs, which can help reduce the size or appearance of a birth mark.

It is also important to speak to a dermatologist if your birth spot:

• Bleeding
• Itchy
• Injure
• Becomes infected

For moles

It is a good idea to have regular visits with a dermatologist if you have moles and other risk factors for skin cancer. The risk of becoming cancer is the highest if you have:

• Family history of skin cancer
• Many small or several large moles
• Lots of atypical taupes
• Light skin that burns easily or shapes of freckles
• Impaired immune system due to a medical disease or treatment

To help recognize the signs that suggest that you need a dermatologist’s medical care, remember the ABCDES of melanoma:

• Asymmetry (a): One side of one mole is not the same as the other
• Border (b): The mole has difficult edges to see, irregular or striated
• Color (C): Your mole changes color or has different colors in different parts of growth
• Diameter (D): Growth is greater than 6 millimeters, the width of a pen
• Evolution (e): Your taupe changes shape and color or size over time

Birth marks are skin marks with which you were born, while moles generally develop in childhood, adolescence or young adults. Although almost all of the birth amounts are harmless, moles can sometimes turn into skin cancer. Ask your health care provider to consult any growth on your body which is unequal or changes shape or color.