Introduction
Everyone has moles and moles. A birthmark consists of a collection of cells that form pigments, called melanocytes or similar nevus cells. Birthmarks have an even tan, while nevus cells form a dot-like tan.
Colloquially, both forms are called birthmarks. A birthmark can be flat or raised and differently browned. A birthmark can be so dark that it appears almost black.
A birthmark can develop into a malignant tumor of the skin, the melanoma. An irregular black coloration can indicate skin cancer. If malignancy of a birthmark is suspected, a dermatologist should always be consulted.
These symptoms can indicate malignancy!
A harmless birthmark usually does not cause any symptoms. Symptoms such as itching, weeping or bleeding of the birthmark can indicate that the birthmark is malignant and require a dermatological examination. If black skin cancer is actually present, accompanying symptoms may occur.
Externally, the birthmark appears darker than other birthmarks and is mainly differently colored (pigmented). This means that there are different colors within the mole. A birthmark becomes conspicuous when it grows faster and looks different than the other birthmarks on the body.
As long as a melanoma still grows thin and superficially, the prognosis is very good and the chances of cure are 100%. Untreated, however, a melanoma continues to grow. An untreated melanoma can, over time, penetrate deeper into the skin and spread through lymphatic and blood vessels in the body.
The cancer cells of skin cancer can deposit in organs such as the lungs, bones, liver or brain and reach lymph nodes via the lymph, where metastases (metastases of tumor cells) can grow. If a metastasized malignant melanoma is actually present, the symptoms can vary depending on the organ infestation. Therefore, as soon as symptoms such as itching, bleeding or weeping in the area of moles occur that are not known from other moles, it is essential to consult a dermatologist and have a screening performed.
A sudden bleeding of a black mole should definitely be considered a warning sign. A birthmark can bleed if it is injured, for example when shaving. If the birthmark bleeds without a recognizable reason, the bleeding can repeat and be accompanied by crust formation and pain.
If a black mole bleeds without previous injury, one should call the dermatologist immediately and make an appointment for a screening to rule out malignant skin cancer. The same applies to bleeding due to scratching caused by itching around the birthmark. Normally, a mole does not itch.
An itchy birthmark can indicate that it is black skin cancer (malignant melanoma). It is not uncommon for the itching of malignant skin cancer to cause you to scratch unconsciously and the birthmark will eventually bleed. In any case, if you have itching in the area of the birthmark, you should consult your dermatologist and have the birthmark examined. Itching is a clear alarm signal!
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