Pigment spots in children: causes, treatment. Removal of age spots

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Detection of age spots on a child's skin alarms not only the baby's parents, but also doctors. Are such neoplasms dangerous, should they be removed? We will answer these questions, and also tell you why age spots appear in children.

What are age spots?

Human skin is a complex protective mechanism that protects the body from excessive moisture loss, adverse external factors, and the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms. Melanin plays an important role in the described processes. But an excess of this substance leads to its point accumulation. This concentration of the substance is called skin pigmentation. We will discuss the factors that contribute to the development of this condition below.

Reasons for education

Did you notice age spots in your child? The reasons for their appearance may be different. In the medical literature, there are two large groups of factors that can provoke the formation of pigmentation on the skin:

• congenital;
• purchased.

So, the first category is geneticpredisposition. If the next of kin are prone to the formation of age spots, then the likelihood of their occurrence in the child is high.

Also, congenital factors include skin neoplasms that appear as a result of complications during labor.

Acquired Factors

Does the child have age spots? The reasons for this condition may be a disease of the internal organs or the negative impact of external factors. In particular, the following factors can provoke the appearance of skin neoplasms:

• diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
• injury;
• hormonal changes;
• metabolic disorder;
• drastic change in climate and diet;
• taking certain medications.

Views

In children, including newborns, the following types of age spots occur:

• hemangioma;
• "coffee" birthmarks;
• "stork kiss";
• nevus;
• "Mongolian spot";
• freckles.

In some cases, the removal of age spots is required, in others there is no such need. Therefore, it is important to conduct a medical examination of the baby in a timely manner to determine the type and nature of the skin neoplasm.

Let's talk more about each species.

"Coffee" age spots

This kind of skinpigmentation is common in newborns. The color of neoplasms can be from light beige to dark brown. Such age spots appear in children on any part of the body, but are more common on the face, arms, legs and back.

"Coffee" neoplasms can appear during the first two weeks of a baby's life, and then disappear on their own without a trace after a few months. There is no need to treat such spots - they do not cause any disturbances in the he althy functioning of the baby's body.

What is a hemangioma?

Hemangioma is a pink or red spot on the skin. It differs from other types of age spots in that it is not an accumulation of melanin, but a benign tumor that forms as a result of damage to blood vessels. According to medical statistics, such age spots in children of the first six months are common. In addition, it is noted that such neoplasms are more common among girls.

The causes of the development of such a tumor are intrauterine disorders in the formation of the circulatory system of the fetus, as well as complications during childbirth. In 70% of cases, the neoplasm disappears on its own by the age of 7. Of the remaining 30%, 10% of children have hemangioma involution during adolescence. This happens due to changes in the hormonal background.

This type of age spots can form not only on the skin, but also on the internal organs, disrupting their work. Therefore, hemangioma can be dangerous to the he alth and life of the child. If there werepink or red pigment spots on a child’s arm, face, occipital region, abdomen, then there is a need for a complete medical examination of a small patient and further specialized monitoring of neoplasms.

Should hemangioma be treated?

Such a skin defect in children as hemangioma is recommended to be removed in the following cases:

• there is a rapid growth of the tumor;
• pigmentation color changed;
• spots bleed.

Hemangioma treatment can be conservative and surgical. The latter is carried out for babies older than three months in the presence of medical indications. Removal of age spots is also possible with the help of conservative methods such as:

• cryotherapy;
• quinine injections;
• radiotherapy;
• electrocoagulation.

Telangiectasia or "stork sting"

Every third newborn is born with pink spots on the back of the head, temples, forehead or cheeks. Popularly, such pigmentation is called "stork's bite", but in medicine it is denoted by the complex term "telangiectasia".

The reason for the appearance of these spots is intrauterine pressure of the mother's pelvic bones on the baby. This happens at the end of the third trimester, when the fetus occupies the occipital position in the uterus with its head down. In addition, during passage through the birth canal, trauma to the skin is also possible, which leads to the formation of such pigmentation in the newborn.

Telangiectasiasmay gradually become paler, but in some cases remain for life. Such age spots in children do not carry he alth hazards and cannot be treated.

Is a nevus dangerous?

Nevus is nothing but a mole. But, as you know, such spots under certain conditions can transform into a malignant tumor. Therefore, such skin defects require medical supervision. If the color changes, the size of the spot, the formation of nodules on it, the presence of a large number of moles, the neoplasms should be examined as soon as possible for their good quality.

The reason for the appearance of nevi may be a genetic predisposition or endocrine diseases. Depending on the causes of the formation and the nature of pigmentation, the doctor may recommend conservative or surgical treatment.

Mongoloid spot

This type of pigmentation is a kind of nevus. Outwardly, it is a large pigmented spot in a child, similar to a hematoma, which is most often found on the buttocks, lower back or leg. In 90% of cases, it occurs in children of the Mongoloid race. In our country, babies from mixed marriages are most often born with this skin defect. The reasons for the appearance of the "Mongoloid spot" are the genetic characteristics of the production of melanin in representatives of certain nationalities: Chinese, Japanese, Africans, Indians, Pakistanis and some others.

Such a pigment spot does not pose any danger tohe alth of the baby and in most cases disappears or brightens significantly on its own by 5 years.

Freckles

Freckles, or "sun kisses", appear in children older than a year in the presence of a genetic predisposition. They are one tone darker than the main skin color. In addition, in the summer, under the influence of sunlight, the spots become brighter, but in winter, on the contrary, they turn pale. Orange-brown hemp covers the cheeks, forehead, and chin. There are freckles on the shoulders, back, legs.

Such pigmented skin used to be considered a characteristic feature of people of the lower class. To date, freckles are a reflection of the individuality of their owner. In addition, it is noted that such spots gradually turn pale, starting at the age of 25.

However, quite often the owners of "sun spots" turn to specialists to remove such pigmentation. Freckle removal methods are very different:

• cosmetic whitening products and folk recipes;
• cryotherapy;
• chemical peel;
• laser therapy;
• dermabrasion;
• removal by light waves.

But before deciding to use the above methods, it is worth considering that the removal of age spots always leads to traumatization of the skin, often irreversible complications occur.

Thus, any neoplasms on the skin of a childrequire examination and observation. If in some cases age spots in children are absolutely harmless, then in others they are dangerous for the baby. Therefore, the timely detection of the problem and the provision of the necessary medical care can keep the crumbs he althy.