Moles, or melanocytic nevi, are benign growths that occur when the pigment-producing cells in the skin, called melanocytes, proliferate, explains the New Zealand Dermatological Society. They vary in size, color and shape and may lay flat against the skin or protrude. While treatment of moles is not usually necessary, mole removal in children is sometimes done for cosmetic reasons or to test for malignancy.
Significance
Moles are the most common type of skin abnormality and can occur anywhere on the body, according to Nevus Outreach. They may develop during life or be present from birth. As many as one in 50 children is born with at least one small mole, with about one in 20,000 being born with a large congenital mole. Large moles cover at least two percent of the child's total body surface area and are more likely to be removed.
Reasons for Mole Removal In Children
Some children may develop a large number of moles or have one or more moles on the face or other highly visible areas. In some cases, the child or his parents may want these moles removed for cosmetic reasons. Because removing a mole may cause some scarring, removal is best done during childhood to allow the scar sufficient opportunity to fade. Moles that show signs of malignancy, such as itchiness, pain, increasing size, irregular borders, changes in color or bleeding, should also be removed to rule out melanoma or another type of skin cancer.
Types of Procedures
The type of procedure used to remove a mole depends on the mole's size, location and potential for malignancy, according to Great Ormond Street Hospital. Cryosurgery is a common method of mole removal that involves freezing the mole with liquid nitrogen so it falls off the skin. A dermatologist can also use a blade to shave off the mole or apply a solution of acid to burn the mole off the skin. Moles suspected of being malignant are sometimes removed by punch biopsy and sent to a lab for analysis.
Larger malignant or potentially malignant moles may be surgically removed. In these cases, an area of skin around the mole may also be removed to ensure no malignant cells are left on the body. Laser surgery and cauterization are other possible methods of mole removal in children.
Considerations
Mole removal in children may cause pain and/or scarring and should, therefore, be performed only when necessary and only by an experienced medical professional. Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford recommends performing regular inspections of your child's mole to look for changes that may indicate the mole is at risk for malignancy. By monitoring the symmetry, border, size and color of your child's mole, you are more likely to detect dangerous changes early, which decreases your child's risk of developing cancer and will make mole removal easier.
Warnings
Most doctors will send a sample of a removed mole for biopsy if any risk factors for melanoma are present. Malignant melanoma is a potentially fatal form of skin cancer that develops in the melanocytes of the skin. According to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, risk factors for melanoma include a family or personal history of the cancer, a history of excessive sun exposure or severe burns, light skin, weakened immune system and one or more dysplastic, or abnormal, moles on the skin.
