Generally, moles on every child’s skin aren’t something to worry about. This is because during their early years or adolescence, new moles tend to appear. As the child grows older, these moles tend to naturally grow larger. It is also normal for the skin of these children to lighten or get darker with time. Some of these moles will even fade away.
All of these changes are common and very rarely are a sign of melanoma – which is a type of skin cancer that begins like a mole. As a matter of fact, melanoma is quite rare amongst young children. That said, why not get these moles checked just to be entirely sure. If detected early, melanoma is very easy to treat.
Just to be sure, it will be a wise decision to have your child’s skin examined by booking an appointment with a dermatologist in Southlake, TX. On that note, let’s introduce you to some typical signs that will help you determine whether your child’s mole needs to be checked.
1. A Changing Mole
It is quite normal for a mole to grow to grow as you child get older. Similarly, it is also normal for the mole to get lighter or darker during this period. If, however, you notice that the mole is growing at a fast rate or looks very different from the average mole, then you need to book an appointment with your dermatologist in Southlake, TX.
Your dermatologist in Southlake, TX will refer to these odd moles as ‘ugly ducklings’ and they have a chance of being a sign of melanoma.
2. Moles That Have Different Colors, Have Jagged Borders or Are Dome Shaped
If you notice a round and raised growth on their skin which is brown, tan, red or pink then they might be have what is known as the Spitz Nevus. You’ll find that according to your dermatologist in Southlake, TX, these moles are completely harmless and just look a lot like melanoma.
Melanoma, on the other hand, is dome shaped, can break open and will bleed if it does. What’s more? Both these types of moles have the possibility of having more than one color. Even when these moles are examined under the microscope, your dermatologist in Southlake, TX may have a difficult time determining what they are.
3. A Bleeding Mole
Oftentimes, raised moles get caught on something and get irritated. If, however, you child’s mole starts to bleed without any apparent reason, then it should definitely be checked by your dermatologist in Southlake, TX. Moles that look like open sore are quite worrisome too. Both the open sore and random bleeding can be signs of melanoma.
4. Many Clusters of Moles
As mentioned above, it is quite normal for children to form new moles. By the time this child will become an adult, they will have an average of about 12 to 20 moles on their body. If, however, you would estimate that your child has about 50 or more moles, you should think about getting their skin examined by a dermatologist in Southlake, TX.
It has been found that children who form such clusters of moles early on have bigger chances of coming down with melanoma. An actual study conducted by Australian experts found that children who were between the age of 15 and 19 and had atleast a hundred moles, were patients who had melanoma.
5. Large Moles
Most common types of moles are smaller than the eraser of a pencil and are round in shape. There have, however, been cases of children who had larger moles – ones that measured about 7 inches in diameter – or even more! Some giant moles even blanket certain parts of these children’s bodies.
These giant moles are either present when the child is born or appear shortly after their birth. That being said, it is important for their parent to know that children with large moles have a higher risk of developing melanoma or even some other skin health problems.
These risks according to almost every dermatologist in Southlake, TX, are especially high when the children are still young. It has been found that more than half of the cases of children with large moles were diagnosed with melanoma at just 10 years of age.
Checking Moles in Childhood Is a Healthy Habit
Yes it is, and it should be a life-long one too. Inspecting your child’s moles and getting a worrisome child checked will also teach them about the importance of keeping check. If you teach your children about these mole and what health problems they represent, it will become a lifelong habit for them.
You can also teach your child about how melanoma forms and how they can protect themselves from this dangerous skin problem. An example of this can be to protect your skin for too much exposure to the sun. And by doing so, you can reduce the risk of them forming melanoma or any more type of skin problems.
Finally, as we mentioned above, there will most probably be nothing to worry about. New moles are normal for children in their early years all the way through to their adolescence. Your dermatologist in Southlake, TX will only remove your fear of the unknown.
Compassion Dermatology Can Help You Out
We would like to welcome you to Compassion Dermatology to find a dermatologist in Southlake, TX that is an expert in cosmetic, surgical and medical procedures for your nail, hair and skin’s health. All of this will be done with the most innovative technologies and up-to-date researches.
Learn more about our services by visiting our website or calling us at 817-380-5911.
