A mole on my lip

You can spend a lot of effort looking for a person whose skin would be absolutely free of moles. And still not find one. Why? There are many versions of how moles appear and what they are needed for. Astrologers and psychics believe that each mole is a sign. The life path and character of the owner depend on where the mole is located, what is its shape and size. It is believed that people with a mole on the upper lip are demanding and strict. A mole on the lower lip indicates sophistication. A mole on the lip border speaks of the suspiciousness of its owner, undeveloped will and responsibility.

Medicine is skeptical about these views and believes that the appearance of moles is a special signal from the body, which sometimes indicates a hidden threat to health. This is especially true for moles on open areas of the skin that are often exposed to mechanical stress and ultraviolet radiation, such as a mole on the lip.

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Why do moles appear?

A mole is caused by the development and growth of a certain number of specific epidermal cells - melanocytes. Doctors put forward several versions of the reasons for the appearance of a mole on the lip:

1. Genetic causes – a predisposition to the appearance of moles, passed on to offspring from parents.
2. Exposure to ultraviolet radiation – prolonged exposure to the sun or tanning in a solarium.
3. Changes in hormonal balance – as a result of taking hormonal medications, due to pregnancy and childbirth, under the influence of stressful situations or illness.
4. Exposure to harmful factors: radiation exposure, traumatic events, viral attacks.

What types of moles are there on the lips?

Nevi are divided into vascular, which appear as a result of rapid growth of capillaries, and pigmented, which occur due to excessive production of melanin.

Moles differ in shape, diameter and color. According to these features, moles are classified as follows:

• Flat - small spots on the surface of the epidermis. Such moles are almost invisible and do not cause any inconvenience.
• Convex - appear in the deep layers of the epidermis and have hair follicles.
• Vascular – colored blue or purple, with a dense structure.
• Hemangioma is a formation that resembles a nodule or wart. Such a birthmark is a blood bundle. Therefore, a red birthmark on the lip requires special attention: in rare cases, it can transform into a cancerous tumor, but can threaten bleeding if accidentally injured.
• Pigmented - are usually congenital. They can be quite large in size and are the most dangerous due to the risk of cells degenerating into a cancerous tumor.

Hidden Danger

Most often, a mole on the lip does not cause any inconvenience. Usually, the desire to get rid of it arises only because of aesthetic ideas. But it is worth remembering the threat that can lurk behind even the most insignificant neoplasm, which can degenerate into a cancerous tumor. There is a list of factors that play an important role in the pathogenesis of skin cancer.

First, do not forget that the skin on the face is the most unprotected, it is often exposed to ultraviolet radiation. Due to exposure to the sun, a mole on the lip can change size and shape, which is one of the first signs of the development of a cancerous tumor.

For this reason, it is important to keep an eye on visual changes and try to protect yourself from sun exposure.

Also, if a mole rises above the surface of the skin, it is more likely to be injured, which is absolutely unacceptable.

If any of the listed symptoms appear, you should contact a specialist without delay:

• Trauma to a mole.
• The appearance of blood or ichor.
• Itching, pain in this particular area of skin.
• Inflammatory process in a mole.
• Rapid change in size.
• Color change.

Mole or skin cancer?

To help each person determine the potential danger of a mole, a specialized methodology called ABCDE was developed. It is used for differential diagnostics to distinguish a typical nevus from melanoma.

• A (asymmetry) – asymmetry. When a nevus grows in length or width. A normal nevus should remain symmetrical.
• B (border irregularity) – jagged edges. When the edge is uneven, has lost its clarity, this is one of the symptoms of skin cancer. Typical nevi always have a clear edge.
• C (color) – color. Uneven coloring, the presence of dark, reddish, bluish inclusions are not typical of ordinary moles. An ordinary mole has a uniform color.
• D (diameter) – diameter. The diameter of a mole normally does not exceed 6 mm.
• E (evolving) – variability. This refers to the change of any property: color, shape, diameter. Such changes are a good reason to visit a dermatologist. Usually, moles do not change throughout life.

What turns a mole into a mortal threat? Everyone should periodically do an independent examination of nevi: this is the best prevention of skin cancer. However, there is a category of mole owners who should treat them with double attention. We are talking about people whose blood relatives have suffered any form of cancer, and those who have already undergone the removal of atypical nevi.

If alarming signs are detected, the doctor will perform dermatoscopy as a standard method of instrumental diagnostics and create a personal photo map of moles, when photographs are taken using a specialized device, and then a specific program creates a diagram of their localization on the skin.

At the next visit to the doctor, it will be possible to compare the previous map with the current one: have any other marks appeared, what changes have been noticed in the previous ones. Dermatologists believe that such maps are an indispensable tool for diagnosing melanoma at an early stage. Melanoma at the initial stage of its development is removed with a simple operation, practically without consequences, and the prognosis for treatment in such cases is favorable.

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Removal of a mole on the lip

If a patient decides to remove a mole on the lip, one should not attempt to get rid of it using folk remedies, herbal treatments or a cosmetologist in a salon. In these cases, there is a risk of not only being left with an unaesthetic scar on the face, but also provoking complications. It is better to consult a doctor for qualified help. In modern medicine, one of the following methods can be used:

• Surgical treatment.
• Laser removal.
• Radio wave method.
• Electrocoagulation.
• Removal with liquid nitrogen.

Each of these methods has its own advantages and disadvantages. Usually, only after certain tests and diagnostics, the doctor recommends the destruction of the mole in the best way for its owner. The aesthetic factor plays a big role: the probability of scar formation depends on the method of removal.

Destruction of a mole is contraindicated during pregnancy, acute respiratory diseases, exacerbation of hypertension, and allergies to painkillers.

It is better to postpone this operation to a season when the skin is less exposed to ultraviolet rays: winter or autumn. In addition, doctors do not recommend removing a mole on a child's lip, except in cases where the mole causes discomfort. Attention to your health will help control changes in moles and avoid the risk of developing dangerous processes in them.