Moles in Children: Care Instructions

Overview

Moles are skin growths made up of cells that produce color (pigment). A mole can appear anywhere on the skin, alone or in groups. Most people get a few moles during their first 20 years of life. They are usually brown in color but can be blue, black, or flesh-colored. Most moles are harmless and do not cause pain or other symptoms, unless you rub them or they bump against something.

A child usually does not need treatment for moles. But some can turn into cancer. Talk to your doctor if your child has a mole that bleeds, itches, burns, or changes size or color. Also let the doctor know when your child gets a new mole. Make sure your child wears sunscreen and other sun protection every day to help prevent skin cancer.

How can you care for your child at home?

Help your child prevent skin cancer

• Always use sunscreen on exposed skin. Make sure to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen that has a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher.
• Keep babies younger than 6 months out of the sun. If you cannot avoid the sun, use hats and clothing to protect your child's skin.
• Have your child wear a wide-brimmed hat and long sleeves and pants if he or she is going to be outdoors for very long.
• Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., which is the peak time for the sun's ultraviolet rays.
• Avoid sunburns, tanning booths and sunlamps. Sunburns in childhood damage the skin and increase the risk of cancer.
• If you see a change in a skin growth, contact your doctor. Look for:
  • A mole that bleeds, itches, burns, or changes shape or color.
  • A fast-growing mole.
  • A scaly or crusted growth on the skin.
  • A sore that will not heal.