moles on children

lovetheisland · by **lovetheisland** on Mon Jan 17, 2011 4:41 pm

I am wondering at what point you would start to worry about a mole on your child and when would you bring him into the Dr to get it checked out. I noticed my son (5yr) had a mole on head (under his hair) this summer that I had never seen before and every once in a while I notice it again when washing his hair but I don't always notice it so I tend to forget about it. I noticed it again a few minutes again and it seems way bigger than it did this summer so I measured it and it is only 5mm across so isn't that big but it does worry me since it has grown so fast AND it isn't a nice perfectly round mole. It isn't raised or anything though so doesn't look unhealthy. Should I be concerned now and bring him to the Dr or just wait and see if it continues to grow? If I should just wait then does anyone have any suggestions or know how big it should be before I worry? I just seriously hate bringing my kids to the Dr and waiting around in the waiting room forever to just feel like I wasted everyone's time.

Thanks so much.

NLMD · by **NLMD** on Mon Jan 17, 2011 5:37 pm

Hi OP,
My son is 2 and was born with a 'Giant Congentital Nevi' which mean 'large mole'. His whole back from the top of his neck to his bum and around his right side of his chest is a mole. Veryyyyy rare! He also has a lot of what an average person would think are large moles all over his body. He has ones that appear out of nowhere. Just regular small moles that get bigger. We go to at Dermatoligist at BC Childrens every 4 months to check on changes. From what they have told us regular moles do appear and do change and they are never concerned. They did say that as DS gets older moles will stop changing. In my own opinion i wouldn't be concerned about it. It wouldnt hurt to get it looked at just to have it doccumented for changes though.

s5 · by s5 on Mon Jan 17, 2011 9:13 pm

I think you will always be worried until you get it checked out - I know I was for my 12 year old - turns out it is benign and the kind of thing that disappears with time. We got a referral to a dermatologist and I felt much better after that appointment

Emaof4 · by **Emaof4** on Mon Jan 17, 2011 9:55 pm

Two of my kids have a biggish mole on their head. I had them both checked out. One of the main things he looked for was if there was hair growing out of it or not. Hair is a good thing.

I'd probably have it checked either way, but definitely if there is no hair there.

GC · by GC on Mon Jan 17, 2011 10:11 pm

We get our skin and moles checked once a year but if there was a mole that has changed or something I am worried about then I would get it checked straight away. I hope it turns out to be nothing.

JaynaF · by **JaynaF** on Mon Jan 17, 2011 10:26 pm

I am quite moley, and I can see my kids are starting to be as well. I have been keeping an eye on them, as I had 2 moles removed when i was in high school... I would just have them checked by the doctor, and if he doesn't seem concerned, that is great. You have to keep watching them though, if they change shape, that isn't so good. I'm sure its nothing but it wouldn't hurt to have it checked

BabyFair · by **BabyFair** on Tue Jan 18, 2011 11:48 am

I'd take him in to get it checked out and if nothing else, just documented.
I have known very young people to have issues with moles- one was melanoma at 20 years of age and it was a fairly normal mole, so I don't think there's any harm in starting to document it with your doctor.
A regular check up once a year or so is a good idea anyway.

JaynaF · by **JaynaF** on Tue Jan 18, 2011 3:23 pm

and they can also do a mole count, if there are numerous moles.

lovetheisland · by **lovetheisland** on Tue Jan 18, 2011 8:28 pm

Thanks for your replies everyone. I think I will keep an eye on it over the next few months and ask about it at another appt or bring him in if I notice it continuing to grow at a fast pace.

Thanks again. I appreciate it