Moles are what we call those small round shaped brown spots on the skin. Many people are born with a few moles on their skin and as they age some new moles may develop while others may disappear. They are brown or red colored as a result of melanocyte cells that gift them with this pigment on the skin. Most of these moles are harmless and often may add to some people’s personality depending on where they appear. However, moles that look different or suddenly itch can be the first symptoms of more concerning medical conditions that mustn’t be overlooked.
In this OneHowTo article we explain what causes moles to itch.
Dry skin
During the warmer months and especially if you live in dry areas, your skin may get notably dry. When your skin is not properly hydrated it may itch and you may be propelled to scratch your skin. If you happen to have a large number of moles you may believe that your moles are itchy when in truth you might just need to apply some body oil or moisturizer on your skin.
Body lotion and fragance
Sometimes it is the abundance of skin products and not the lack of them that may cause the problem. Perhaps there is an ingredient on your body lotion or fragrance that you may be sensitive too or might be irritating the skin. Moles are just concentrated areas of skin cells and therefore are often more sensitive to skin irritants.
Opt for eliminating those products from your beauty routines for a few days to see if the itching fades.
Skin trauma or massages
You may notice that some of your birthmarks or red moles will actively grow over the years. This is a result of a process of cell division that may often cause the mole to rise up. However, sometimes moles can rise up as a result of acute instances where the skin is stimulated.
For instance, after an intense massage that may have included some massage equipment you may notice that your red moles look darker colored and slightly inflamed. The mechanic impact may activate the cell division process and the moles may start to itch.
On other occasions you may scratch a mole by accident perhaps by using a razor blade after shaving. If you notice some bleeding it is important that you take care of the mole immediately. You can clean it with a cotton pad and some hydrogen peroxide solution followed by an antiseptic. The healing process may cause the mole to itch.
Melanoma or skin cancer
A common symptom of melanoma or cancer of the skin is having moles that itch. Melanoma is most often developed from congenital nevi (birth moles) that over the years may have grown bigger, changed shape and color and may start to cause pain.
Your dermatologist will check your skin and consider the following factors: asymmetry, irregular border, changing color shades, diameter and overall evolution. Not all abnormal moles are cancerous but it is important to schedule a yearly skin clinical exam and protect your skin from sunburns.
This article is merely informative, oneHOWTO does not have the authority to prescribe any medical treatments or create a diagnosis. We invite you to visit your doctor if you have any type of condition or pain.
If you want to read similar articles to What Causes Moles to Itch, we recommend you visit our Family health category.