Which person doesn't have moles? Everyone and everyone, even children. They are of different shapes, colors and sizes. Hanging moles are especially embarrassing. Birthmarks differ in their appearance and shape. We will not touch on this topic, since various beliefs and stories are associated with them. Let's discuss the topic of those that interfere and are accompanied by unpleasant processes. Hanging moles, or they are also called nevus, in themselves have an unpleasant appearance and serve as one of the symptoms of the disease. In cases where a mole has dried out and fallen off, it is advisable to go to a doctor and get examined.
A dried mole should be a reason to visit a doctor.
Reasons that lead to moles falling off
This happens in several cases.
- One of the most common situations of falling off is the fact that the growth is not a mole, but a papilloma. Most often they disappear due to death. To understand that this is almost impossible.
- There are also cases when the nevus dies due to hormonal imbalance in the human body. Drying occurs after the hormone levels return to normal; until this moment, moles grow.
- A dry nevus, especially if it changes color to black, is an indicator of malignant neoplasms. Do not confuse the change in color when a mole is damaged. Accidentally torn off and dried blood. In this case, a color change will also occur.
- The mole also dries on its own, due to time. The main risk factor is the place where it was attached to the body. There is no redness or black spot: this means everything is normal with the body.
Be that as it may, there are a huge number of moles on the human body. They can be anywhere from your head to your heels to your toes. Some do not interfere, while others cause discomfort. If there are any, it is advisable to remove them surgically. Those that may fall off and cause pain should be examined by a doctor. Those that increase in size are also equal to this number.
Papillomas are similar to moles and have the ability to dry out
What does blackening of a nevus mean?
The appearance of black moles is associated with the accumulation of melanin. It is he who is responsible for the saturation of the nevus pigment. With a large amount of melanin, you may notice that a mole, which until recently was much lighter, has turned black. But this does not mean that she is now a danger.
Normally, the size of a nevus does not exceed 6 mm and should not increase over time. At the same time, its surface remains smooth, without growths and roughness. The form also matters. Only those formations that have uneven outlines are considered dangerous.
It is worth paying attention to moles that have changed their color to a darker one. If the nevus suddenly darkens, this is one of the signs of cancer. Symptoms of a malignant neoplasm are also considered:
- change in size - the mole began to sharply increase or decrease;
- bleeding from a nevus without damaging it;
- hair loss;
- the mole is inflamed and hurts;
- the appearance of a rim around the nevus, gray or red dots;
- itching or burning sensations;
- the skin around the nevus dries out.
If there is at least one of the listed signs, then this indicates a malignant process. A dermatologist will help you find out why a mole turns black.
Why do moles darken?
The main reasons that a mole has darkened are:
1. Exposure to sunlight. Ultraviolet light promotes the accumulation of melanin pigment. Therefore, after prolonged exposure to the sun, many people notice that the mole has turned completely or partially black. Darker spots may appear on it. It is necessary to protect nevi from the sun to avoid their degeneration. Experts also recommend avoiding solariums for those who have a lot of them.
2. Often the reason that the nevus has darkened lies in changes in hormone levels. This is noted by women during pregnancy or menopause. Adolescence is no exception.
3. Mechanical impact. A mole may turn black if it is damaged. This often occurs upon contact with clothing or household items. Hanging moles are more susceptible to various types of damage. They are a regular nevus, but on a stalk.
If you have hanging moles, you need to be extremely careful. They are the ones that can darken and become inflamed, for example, when rubbing with clothing. If a hanging mole has turned black, then its blood supply may have been disrupted. One of the reasons is injuries. Gradually, the mole will turn black, may dry out and even fall off.
When to worry
As already mentioned, if a mole falls off, this is a signal for alarm. A very bad sign is blackening of the growth. This suggests that various kinds of processes occur in it that lead to serious health consequences. Only a dermatologist can confirm or refute the changes occurring in the body. The appearance of a mole in itself does not mean anything, but its change or increase in size is an alarming sign:
- changes in hormonal levels and the production of melanin in large quantities,
- mechanical damage (clothing, razor, comb, etc.),
- sunbathing in large quantities, especially if sunburned.
Why does a mole fall off in pieces?
Partial disintegration of the nevus occurs for the following reasons:
- Disruption of its blood supply after intense irradiation with ultraviolet radiation or chronic friction of the “front sight” on clothing. These are essentially benign processes.
- Malignant transformation of nevus into melanoma. The pathology in which a mole falls off is accompanied by redness, peeling and soreness of the surrounding skin.
In each case, the patient should collect the fallen parts and undergo examination by an oncologist. The biological material is subject to histological analysis.
Processes associated with moles
Let's look at the most common situations that can lead to problems with moles.
- It begins to fall off and fall away. It is better to make an appointment with a specialist at the skin department. In most cases, this is a consequence of degeneration from a mole to melanoma. The sooner they examine and confirm or deny the presence of the disease, the better and calmer it is for you. Most often, after degeneration, the skin at the site of the fallen mole begins to peel off, itch, and sometimes cause pain. If at least one of the symptoms is present: do not play with your health, but go to the hospital.
- The mole has dried up and fallen off. If you are sure that the fallen growth is not a papilloma, which most often dies and falls off: go to the hospital or take clinical tests for the presence of melanin. If present, it can lead to poor health and sometimes death. It is advisable to submit a mole that has disappeared for histological tests. But often they fall off if they are torn off by clothing, accidentally pulled with a fingernail, cut with a razor, etc. Moles also disappear in cases of lack of nutrients.
- A piece of a mole has come off or fallen off. It often happens that a piece or several pieces fall off from a large mole. It has grown in size in a short period of time. Most often this can happen in cases of summer sun exposure or mechanical damage. The main thing is not to panic, but to take this piece for analysis for your peace of mind. Then go to the doctor with the answers. But this is a last resort. If there are symptoms such as itching, burning, peeling, pain, only a doctor can help. Otherwise, there simply aren't enough nutrients for growth.
Only a specialist can explain what happens to a mole
What to do if a mole is rejected
visit an oncodermatologist as soon as possible for testing.
But first you need to disinfect the wound and stop the bleeding to avoid complications: infection and bleeding.
- Take a sterile bandage, soak it in hydrogen peroxide, apply it to the wound and hold it until the bleeding stops.
- Repeat the procedure using chlorhexidine, apply a napkin with it for 5 minutes.
- Cover the wound with a bactericidal bandage and consult a doctor.
If the formation has not completely fallen off or is simply damaged, do the same.
It is important! Under no circumstances should you tear off a torn mole yourself - this is life-threatening!
the fallen mole in a sterile napkin soaked in pharmaceutical saline solution . Instead, you can use a weak solution of table salt (1 teaspoon per 1 liter of boiling water) or mineral water. In this form, the nevus must be taken to the hospital for examination.
Signs of complications
- spontaneous, prolonged bleeding ;
- inflammation of the site of a fallen mole;
- severe itching ;
- purulent discharge from the wound;
- increase in body temperature.
These symptoms indicate infection of the dermis; the condition requires immediate medical intervention, the prescription of antibiotics and other drugs.
Attempts to independently cope with the treatment of a fallen mole lead, at best, to the formation of scars, and at worst, if the nevus cells are not completely rejected, to the development of skin cancer.
Dangerous mole and melanoma
In order not to beat around the bush, it is better to consider the characteristics of moles that carry danger:
- asymmetry of the mole, papillomas and normal moles have symmetry,
- unevenness at the edges,
- the color is uneven, has inclusions,
- may be larger than 5 mm.
If you observe just such a nevus, it may be a sign of illness. This is what melanoma is. It has the character of an oncological disease. Delayed treatment leads to death. In addition to nevi, there may be itching in the area of the growth, loss of body hair, and changes in the color and shape of the mole. It may blur in the place where it was attached.
Forecast and what to expect
As soon as a mole falls off, you should not panic, but soberly assess what happened. This phenomenon does not yet confirm the development of cancer, but only a doctor can verify this after carrying out the appropriate tests. Some medical facts will help you look at the situation positively:
- the risk of developing melanoma in women is significantly lower than in men;
- nevi located on the upper extremities are most often harmless;
- If a mole has no visible changes, in particular, intensive growth and pigmentation, then it is probably benign.
Treatment Options
Let's move on to treatment. After passing the tests, plan a trip to the doctor. The specialist will draw conclusions and prescribe treatment. Surgery is often prescribed. If the diagnosis is made and this is an early stage of melanoma, then Interferon may be prescribed. It will help boost your immune system to fight disease. It is prescribed to stop disease-causing cells. Thus, the medicine blocks the growth of metastases in the body and prevents the development of a tumor.
Another possible drug is Referon. Essentially, this is an improved form of Interferon. It has virtually no side effects, but forces the human body to develop a protective reaction, which fights the tumor.
If there is nothing dangerous for life according to the tests, it is necessary to carry out a series of procedures to heal the wound as quickly as possible. This is necessary in order not to introduce the virus. And also after the mole falls off, it is not advisable to sunbathe for about 6 days.
Interferon is prescribed in the early stages of melanoma
What is included in the diagnosis?
After a patient seeks medical help, he is examined in the following order:
- Collecting anamnesis of the disease:
The doctor finds out the medical history, the presence of subjective complaints and the existence of a genetic predisposition to cancer.
- Visual inspection of the pathological area of skin:
In this case, the oncologist is interested in the presence of darkening of the nevus, changes in its structure, redness and peeling of the epidermis.
- Biopsy:
Surgical sampling of a small area of the pigment spot and its subsequent histological analysis is considered a reliable way to establish a final diagnosis.
- X-ray examination, computer and magnetic resonance imaging:
These additional techniques are aimed at detecting metastases in regional lymph nodes and distant organs.
Why does it appear
Moles on the leg and the reasons for their appearance are as follows:
- The influence of ultraviolet rays. With prolonged and frequent exposure to open sunlight from 10 am to 4 pm, hanging formations may form.
- Heredity. If one of the parents has several hanging moles on the neck, a similar phenomenon can be inherited by the child.
- Hormonal imbalances. Pigment formations can form during pregnancy, puberty, a stressful situation, menopause, or termination of pregnancy.
- A pedunculated mole can occur as a result of an insect bite, as a result of which an infection has entered the body through an unhealed wound.
- When the protective crust is injured by an insect bite, the process of activation of melanocytes begins.
- Diseases of the endocrine system provoke the formation of hanging growths.
How to minimize the threat of degeneration
Although for the most part moles are harmless and harmless, practice has a different history of their degeneration into life-threatening malignant formations. Is it possible to somehow influence these processes? If yes, how can this be prevented? To do this, you just need to follow simple recommendations:
- When outdoors, try not to expose your body to prolonged exposure to direct sunlight. Research shows that ultraviolet light has the ability to activate the growth of melanocytes. In such cases, sunburn of the skin is very dangerous, which significantly increases the risk of cells degenerating into poor-quality cells.
- Ask if there have been any sad cases in your family when moles degenerated into malignant formations. Perhaps someone in the family has a predisposition to such phenomena. In a word, the more you know about moles, the better. Try to keep under control all changes regarding moles - this will allow you to promptly seek help from a doctor.
- The localization of moles, structural features, and appearance are a reason for close study. If the formations have nodules of gray shades, which lack a leathery covering and the usual hairs, they are potentially dangerous. Often similar shapes and shades of formations are found on the hands, in the genital area and soles of the feet. If you notice these in yourself, seek medical advice.
