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Children's health

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Original poster

Itchy mole on dd's back-what to do?

15 replies

archfiend · 04/05/2011 19:35

DD is 6 and has fairly olive skin but she has a large freckle/flat mole at the top of her back. I noticed this morning that it looked a bit different, asked her about it and she said it had been itching and she had scratched it.

The mole isn't in a place that gets exposed to the sun a lot and she is usually out with factor 50 on.

My thought is to see if it is just an itchy patch that she scratched too hard and leave it a day but to take her to the dr if it doesn't improve. It isn't raised at all and looks like a small scab has formed on it's edge.

Am I being overly paranoid in thinking of taking her to dr or should I take her regardless? Help!

OP posts:

whomovedmychocolate · 04/05/2011 19:49

If it's itching it may be catching on her clothes, perhaps a GP should have a look with a view to removing it. I have a few moles on my back, two of which have had to be removed, one was itchy and it turned out, not very healthy and one which was just a PITA (which came back as well grrrrr).

Don't assume it's a melanoma, or that it isn't. All moles which change need checking. :)

Original poster

archfiend · 04/05/2011 19:59

Thank you! Think I might get it checked and see what dr thinks, as you say it might be catching on her clothes and need removing.

Don't want to freak out over nothing but at the same time you think 'mole' and changing and panic a bit!

OP posts:

whomovedmychocolate · 04/05/2011 20:05

Most moles on the back can cause problems, if you think about it, your back is a huge expanse of skin with clothes pulling across it - when you carry a bag you catch it, when you get older your bra catches it, even your hair can catch on it through your clothes. No need to freak out but yes do go. :)

Original poster

archfiend · 04/05/2011 20:10

I will make an appointment tomorrow! Thank you for your advice (and calming words).

OP posts:

Original poster

archfiend · 05/05/2011 16:26

Hi wmmc, took dd to the dr and all is well. Looks like she caught it on something so have cream to help with itching.
thanks for your help!

OP posts:

whomovedmychocolate · 05/05/2011 16:30

Hurrah. It's worth bearing it in mind when she gets old enough to wear bras because straps can cause irritation and at that point it may need relooking at :)

I'm glad you are feeling better about it.

Original poster

archfiend · 05/05/2011 17:09

Good point! Hopefully I'll have a few years before I need to worry about that

OP posts:

IngridBergman · 05/05/2011 17:14

Glad Dr wasn't concerned. However I think it's worth keeping a close eye on it and if anything else happens to it, take her in and get it cut off.

It isn't worth the risk and even a GP can't be sure if it's all fine, without doing a biopsy.

Unlikely to be nasty at such a young age, though. just keep an eye.

Original poster

archfiend · 05/05/2011 18:27

Thanks, I will be keeping a close eye on it from now on. Hopefully it is just a one off and she just caught herself in the wrong place but I will definitely be back to dr if I am at all worried in future!

OP posts:

corblimeymadam · 05/05/2011 18:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

whomovedmychocolate · 06/05/2011 09:34

Ingrid - these days most GPs inspect them with a special light gun thingy (doesn't hurt OP) and do a biopsy if there is any of the six signs of abnormality (non-symmetry, change of colour, large size, uneven colour, pain, bleeding - from memory I'm sure I've not described them correctly)

whomovedmychocolate · 06/05/2011 09:36

Sorry pressed post too soon -meant to say, they don't do a biopsy unless at least one of those signs is present and the light gun shows interesting looking cells in the mole. All very clever though. I was amazed how much the technology has moved forwards last time I went :)

tigerandtabs · 06/05/2011 09:39

took my dd to gp as was a bit concerned about a mole, she said she thought it was fine but that the practice had a dermatology specialist gp, so to go back and see that dr. made 2nd appointment and was very reassuring, but just thought i'd tip you off to check with your gp practice if anyone there has a dermatology specialism, as would mean you got the most expert advice available and could avoid 2 appointments like I had!!

tigerandtabs · 06/05/2011 09:40

sorry, just seen you already been, am glad all fine.

Original poster

archfiend · 06/05/2011 20:42

Thanks all. Think it is just a scrape, if it had been anywhere else I would have not thought much of it but as it was on the mole I did panic a bit! I will keep an eye on it anyway, hopefully this was a one off but if it happens again I will look into getting it removed when she's a bit older.

OP posts:

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