Brief overview What is a birthmark (nevus, neavus)? A circumscribed, benign change of the skin or mucous membrane, usually different in color from its surroundings and congenital or acquired. Size, shape, color and other appearance can vary considerably. Types of birthmarks: most common are birthmarks based on pigment cells (pigment nevi), e.g. age spots, café-au-lait … Mole (nevus): Development, types
What is often called a “mole” or “birthmark” in colloquial language is called “pigment nevus” in technical language. Sometimes one also finds the terms “melanocyte nevus” or melanocytic nevus. These are benign skin growths that have dark pigmentation due to their melanocyte content (skin pigment cells) and appear light to dark brown. More precisely, what … Mole or skin cancer
Therapy Malignant melanomas are surgically removed. No biopsy (tissue removal) of the primary tumor is performed in order to prevent degenerated cells from spreading into the blood or lymphatic system. It is important that the malignant tissue is removed over a large area. This involves removing the tissue under the tumor up to the muscle … Therapy | Mole or skin cancer
Prophylaxis People with very light skin and many “liver spots” should take special care to protect their skin from damaging influences. But in general: do not stay in the sun for too long and without protection! Accordingly, very light skin types should use sun protection products with a high sun protection factor and freshen up … Prophylaxis | Mole or skin cancer
Symptoms The acquired mole offers a morphological diversity. What they have in common, however, is that they are small (less than 5 mm in diameter), round, not quite sharply defined and not excessively pigmented. In addition, they usually blend well and homogeneously into the surrounding skin. Depending on the stage of development, the mole offers … Symptoms | Liver spot
Treatment Liver spots can be removed using various methods. A dermatologist can determine whether this is also useful in individual cases by means of a biopsy (tissue removal) and depends on the findings. For example, if the mole is harmless, its removal is not necessarily indicated from a medical point of view. However, if the … Treatment | Liver spot
Liver spot scratched If a mole has been scratched open, it usually bleeds and encrustations occur which can look very threatening at first. Most of the time these are protruding liver spots, which have been accidentally injured by mechanical stress. This is usually not dangerous and will heal by itself with a little care of … Liver spot scratched | Liver spot
Liver spot inflamed If a liver spot becomes inflamed or a red edge forms around it, this can be due to various causes. These can be rather harmless processes, such as an allergic reaction or an infection. However, a permanent inflammation can also promote a degeneration of cells, which in the worst case can lead … Liver spot inflamed | Liver spot
Synonyms in a broader sense Birthmark, mole Medical: nevus, nevus cell nevus, nevus pigmentosus, junctional nevus, compound nevus, dermal nevus A “mole” is generally referred to in medicine as a nevus (= mal, plural nevi) and describes a localized malformation of the skin, which is characterized by an increase in pigment cells, so-called nevus cells. … Liver spot
