Birthmark or nevus is a group of pigmented cells on the skin. They can be of different size, with hairs or without, brown, black, blue or in the colour of the skin.
All birthmarks can be divided into inherited and acquired. The inherited birthmarks become obvious immediately after birth, but in the majority of cases they develop at some point in person's life and are called acquired. Until adolescence birthmarks can occur in greater numbers, but with years the hormonal activity slowing down, birthmarks do not appear again, although such changes of the skin as, for example, age pigmentation can develop.
It is important to pay attention to one's own skin and to consult a dermatologist immediately if a birthmark or a pigmented skin formation has one of the following characteristics:
A - asymmetry (one side of a skin formation differs from the other)
B - border (irregular, indented, faintly determinable)
C - colour (diverse in different areas of a skin formation; different shades of brown, black, white red or blue colouring can be seen)
D - diameter (melanomas usually exceed 6 mm (the diameter of eraser on a pencil), but they can be diagnosed earlier - when their size is smaller).
The aim of the diagnostics is to find out the nature of a birthmark - whether it is benign or malign.
Due to the fact that a malignant tumor of skin or melanoma occurs more often and even young people may have it, an early diagnostics is very essential. In the case of a skin formation the diagnostics is performed with the help of dermascope. It is a fast, convenient and painless method of skin examination.
If a doctor diagnoses a benign skin formation, a patient is offered possibilities to have it removed for cosmetic reasons, or in case it is periodically disturbed, for example, when getting dressed or shaving. Skin formations can be removed with the help of laser or surgically.