Moles in children - no cause for concern
Children are not small adults. One topic where this beautiful phrase once again applies is the mole, medically known as a nevus. Dealing with brown moles and the need to have them looked at by a dermatologist is very different for children than for adults.
In adults, it is definitely advisable to have moles checked regularly - especially if they change in size, shape or colour. This is because tumours can develop on moles, which should be detected early by the examination.
However, this is not the case with children. Fortunately, it is very rare for newborns and babies to have large congenital moles that need to be dealt with immediately. But, as I said, this is a rarity.
Otherwise, between infancy and the end of puberty (15/16 years), nothing normally happens to children with moles. They have some, and some may appear - but you don't actually need to have them checked because there is no real risk of degeneration. An absolute exception would be if the moles were to increase massively in size, bleed or itch. However, I have never experienced this here in 15 years of practice. And a dermatologist I have asked has never seen a malignant change in a mole on a kindergarten or school child in his 20 years of practice.
So here's the message: If you discover new classic moles on your child, there's no need to worry. You do not need to show them to the paediatrician immediately. If at all, it is sufficient to have it looked at during a check-up or another appointment. But as long as your child is still before the age of puberty, you fortunately don't need to worry about this issue.
Further interesting tips
Fennel tea
There is a lot of excitement in many online forums and social media channels at the moment. A popular household remedy for stomach ache and flatulence, but also for coughs, toothache and sleep disorders, is under suspicion: Fennel tea. And now all of a sudden it's supposed to be poisonous? Cause for panic or pure scaremongering? The doctor explains.
Nosebleed
A constant issue with children is a bloody nose. And when the blood is flowing in streams, it's easy to lose your cool. But don't panic. Nosebleeds are actually quite harmless. And with our tips, it's quickly under control.
Immune training
Is it Christmas already? At least when we look at how many children are currently coming into the practice with mild respiratory infections, you could almost think so. While we had virtually no mild infections last autumn and winter, we can hardly save ourselves from children with coughs, colds and fevers. This is extremely atypical for summertime - but it's not bad. Quite the opposite.