Moles+&+Birthmarks

﻿ Moles and Birthmarks

Birthmarks: What are birthmarks? A birthmark is an irregularity found on the skin that usually appears at birth or shortly after birth, usually within one month.

What causes birthmarks? A birthmark is caused by an excess amount of keratinocytes, fibroblasts, smooth muscle, blood vessels, or melanocytes .

Types of birthmarks: Scientists can classify birthmarks into two different types: pigmented and vascular (red) Pigmented birthmarks compose of three different types, which include cogenital melanocytic nevus (a type of mole), cafe au lait spot, and a Mongolian spot. Pigmented birthmarks are caused by excess skin pigment cells .

<span style="color: #00b1ff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">﻿Mongolian Spot

<span style="color: #00b1ff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">﻿Cafe au lait spot <span style="color: #00b1ff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">﻿Cogenital melanocytic nevus

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">Vascular birthmarks include Stork Bites (Nervus flammeus nuchae), Strawberry Marks (Hemangioma), and Port-Wine Stains (Nervus flammeus). Vascular birthmrks are caused by <span style="color: #00b1ff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">﻿increased blood vessels <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">.

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;"> <span style="color: #00b1ff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">﻿Stork Bite (Nervus flammeus nuchae)

<span style="color: #00b1ff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;"> ﻿Strawberry Mark (Hemangioma)

Port-Wine Stain (Nervs flammeus)

<span style="color: #00b1ff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 200%;">Treatment for birthmarks: <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">﻿Treatement for birthmarks is usually unnessicary ﻿ <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">, as most birthmarks are harmless and do not cause any serious medical problems. Pigmented birthmarks, in some cases, can resolve themselves on their own. However, some vascular birthmarks may require removal or reduction based on cosmetic reasons. Removal techniques for birthmarks include steroids, dermatological lasers to reduce color/size, or dermatologic surgery.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #00ff00; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 250%;">Moles:

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">What is a mole? A <span style="color: #00ff00; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">mole <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">is a small, usually congenital (of or containing to a condition present at birth) spot or blemish on the human skin, usually of a dark color, slightly elevated, and sometimes hairy; nevus. Some different types include dyplastic nevi, atypical moles, congenital moles(small and large), atypical nevi, benign, and red blood moles.

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">Moles are caused when skin cells called <span style="color: #00ff00; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">melanocytes <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">grow abnormally in clusters, as opposed to being spread evenly throughout the skin. This can happen because of <span style="color: #00ff00; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">genetics <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">, <span style="color: #00ff00; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">gender <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;"> (females more likely to develop moles because of their hormones. Explains why moles can sometimes appear during pregancy), and <span style="color: #00ff00; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">sun exposure.

Types of Moles:

Red Blood Moles: Melanocytes cluster close together to form red moles, form deeper down in skin than brown/black. Usually, red moles are no more malignant than brown or black moles.

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Brown/Black: Once again, melanocytes cluster together to form black/brown moles. Melanin more visible in brown/black, usually closer to surface of skin.

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<span style="color: #00ff00; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 200%;">Cures/Treatments of Moles:

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">Moles can be removed in several ways, but the three most common ways:

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;"> 1. Surgical removal <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;"> 2. Laser removal <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;"> 3. Use of creams/skin products such as DermaTend (Home remedy)

<span style="color: #00ff00; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 200%;">Importance of monitoring:

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">Keeping track of the size and number of moles o

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">n your body can prove worthy, as you might just detect early signs of skin cancer that are normally curable. There are several steps that can be taken to monitor mole changes that could be signs of cancer:

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;"> >>> Watch for moles that grow in size from the original <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;"> >>> Watch for clusters of moles, increasing number from original on body <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;"> >>> Use the A-B-C-D-E method <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;"> >>> Most importantly, limit sun exposure to moles. This is the best preventative measure of skin cancer!!

<span style="color: #00ff00; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">Cancerous/Malignant Moles:

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