Hanging moles on the body reasons for their appearance

In most cases, moles do not develop into a malignant formation. They have different colors, structures, and sizes. One of these defects that appears on the skin is hanging moles.

What are hanging moles?

A hanging mole (nevus) is a benign neoplasm. It appears in places where the pigment melanin, produced in melanocyte cells, accumulates.

A dense growth on the stalk (in the form of a papilla), the size of which varies from small to large, is covered with epithelial tissue. This type of mole comes in a variety of colors, from light to dark brown. It can grow sideways and take on unusual shapes.

These warts appear on the hands and feet and are often found on the neck, face, groin, armpit and chest.

They are mainly the result of human infection with the papilloma virus, but can be congenital or formed under the influence of other factors.

Why do hanging moles appear on the body?

The mechanism of occurrence of such formations is not fully understood. But as a result of observations, it was found that there are a number of reasons that can provoke the appearance of growths:

1. lack of hygiene
2. pathological defects of the skin
3. sunburn
4. prolonged and frequent exposure to the scorching sun
5. viral infections
6. decreased immunity
7. chronic diseases of internal organs
8. metabolic disease
9. endocrine pathologies
10. hormonal imbalances.

The appearance of neoplasms in a teenager or adult indicates that the body is signaling about malfunctions that have occurred in the body.

Features of hanging moles

A hanging mole can be congenital. Such formations appear at birth or a few months after it.

Also, the stain can be acquired, arising throughout life.

If there are many hanging warts on the body, then they are classified as papillomas. It is believed that their formation is facilitated by the progression of the HPV virus.

Rubbing or damaging the growth can cause bleeding and inflammation with further infection of the wound.

Therefore, this type of mole is at risk of degenerating into a malignant formation.

Who most often gets hanging moles?

Patients who may have hanging moles include:

1. those with sensitive skin
2. survivors of burns
3. staying in the sun for a long time
4. living in hot climates.

Hanging moles especially often occur in women under the influence of the hormone estrogen, since their level is higher than in men.

The same formations can appear in adolescents during puberty and in pregnant women during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

American scientists hypothesize that hanging moles appear during the aging process.

Places of formation of hanging moles

Unlike other nevi, hanging formations have certain locations of dislocation:

1. Neck. Moles can be located in any part of this department. The growths are dangerous because they can be damaged by jewelry, a narrow collar, cuts from shaving (in men) and from constant exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
2. Axillary area. Against the background of increased sweating in these areas, the risk of bacterial infection increases.
3. Back. Often the affected areas are the upper part.
4. Groin area. Moles have a high probability of becoming damaged or infected during active sexual activity.

What is the danger of hanging moles and when to see a doctor

With various changes in the body, growths can provoke symptoms such as:

1. painful sensations
2. peeling and itching
3. rapid increase in size
4. change in structure
5. hair loss
6. suppuration, ulceration of the surface or its bleeding
7. color change
8. formation of inflammation around
9. violation of shape (disproportionate growth, sagging or deformation)
10. change in consistency (compaction or looseness).

If such signs appear, you should consult a doctor and undergo an examination.

Methods for removing hanging moles

There are various ways to help get rid of the unpleasant growth.

But before removing the tumor, you need to contact an oncologist, who, after performing a dermatoscopy, will give an opinion.

Types of procedures for excision of formations:

1. Laser therapy – removal using a high-precision laser beam. Under its action, the formation “evaporates” to the base of the skin. This is a quick and painless method. A crust forms at the site of the former mole, which falls off after a few days. This procedure does not require anesthesia and is performed in 1 session. But for large moles, the operation can be carried out in several stages.
2. Cryodestruction is the effect of low temperatures (up to -200°C) on a neoplasm. As a result, the growth collapses and dies. The procedure is performed using a special apparatus (cryoprobe) filled with liquid nitrogen. The procedure time is 5 minutes. This method is painless.
3. Electrocoagulation is the effect of high-frequency current on the affected area. The mole and nearby passing vessels are cauterized.
4. Radio wave therapy is the use of high-frequency waves that generate thermal energy using the Surgitron apparatus (radio knife). During the procedure, tissue is cut (without the device coming into contact with the skin) and hyperpigmented cells are removed. It is performed under local anesthesia. But such excision is used for malignant tumors.
5. Surgery is recommended if there is a suspicion that a hanging mole has degenerated into a cancerous tumor, as well as in case of deep and extensive growth of the nevus. It is performed under local or general anesthesia for 40-60 minutes. Healing occurs within a few weeks. Complete excision of the tumor is performed, capturing healthy skin and applying sutures. In some cases, skin grafting may be necessary. The main disadvantage of this method is the remaining scars. If surgical excision is recommended by an oncologist, it should only be performed by an experienced surgeon, who will also conduct a histological examination of the excised mole.

Removing moles at home

In some cases, hanging warts can be gotten rid of using folk remedies.

A few of them:

1. Soak the raw onion in vinegar for 2 hours, then apply it to the growth overnight. It is recommended to repeat this procedure until the wart comes out from the roots.
2. Apply onion pulp to the formation once a day until complete recovery.
3. Every day, rub the wart with the juice of a fresh apple. It will begin to shrink, darken and gradually disappear.
4. Mash fresh Kalanchoe leaves and apply them as a bandage.
5. Pass the celandine bush with its roots through a meat grinder. Squeeze the juice out of the pulp, pour it into the bottle and close tightly. Periodically release the gas resulting from fermentation. After a week, wipe the affected areas with the resulting product.
6. For small moles, rub them with milky dandelion juice 2 times a day.
7. Crush the cornflower seeds into powder, sprinkle them on the warts and bandage them. It is advisable to do this daily. You can also prepare an ointment by mixing the powder with pork fat.
8. Lubricate the growths with castor oil several times a day. It prevents the formation of new papillomas.
9. Apply fresh celandine juice from a cut of the plant to a hanging mole. Celandine is poisonous, so care must be taken when using it.
10. If you have a wart on your foot, grate raw potatoes on a plastic grater, put the resulting pulp on wax paper and bandage it to the sole overnight.
11. To treat protruding birthmarks on the face, creams and ointments made from calendula flowers purchased at the pharmacy will help.

If any folk remedy helped remove one wart, this does not mean that it will also work on others.

Precautionary measures

When hanging moles appear, you must be careful:

1. carefully shave the axillary and groin areas
2. undergo regular preventive examinations
3. remove moles only in specialized clinics.

After excision of the tumor (regardless of the method), the patient should adhere to the following recommendations:

1. avoid exposure to the sun at its peak
2. do not visit the solarium
3. do not go to saunas and swimming pools
4. limit the consumption of alcoholic beverages
5. do not apply decorative cosmetics to the sites of removed growths
6. choose gentle skin care products.

Hanging moles on the neck and other exposed parts of the body should be protected from sun exposure with special creams. They are applied to the neck, face and hands before going outside.

Each patient has the right to decide for himself how to get rid of this pathology. But it should be remembered that independent removal of tumors, even of a benign nature, can lead to irreversible consequences and the transformation of a harmless growth into melanoma.

Therefore, in order to make a correct diagnosis, select a removal method and obtain a positive result, it is recommended to undergo examination by a specialist.

Medical expert article

Every person has moles - some have more, some have less. They appear in the first months of a child’s life and remain for life. In some nations, the presence of many moles on the body is considered a sign of a long, happy and comfortable life. In the Middle Ages, fashionable women and beauties even painted on “sights” on their faces to look more flirtatious and charming. However, not all moles are so harmless. The medical name for moles is nevus, and they are considered a congenital or acquired skin defect. As a rule, moles are a small brown, slightly convex spot - this is exactly how we are used to seeing them. However, there are also other varieties. For example, hanging moles. Their peculiarity is that they develop from epithelial tissue. They are a cone-shaped outgrowth with an uneven surface. As a rule, their color does not differ from the color of the skin, but they can be in different colors - from white to dark brown. Hanging moles “love” to settle on the neck, under the arms, and in the groin.

[1], [2]

ICD-10 code

Causes of a hanging mole

The reasons for the appearance of hanging moles on the body are different and are individual for each individual.

One of the reasons is a change in the body’s hormonal levels. For example, this is a common occurrence in pregnant women. Women notice that small formations begin to grow under their arms or in the groin - hanging moles. Such nevi do not pose a danger, and sometimes even go completely unnoticed. They disappear after childbirth, as soon as the woman’s hormonal levels return to normal.

The second reason is the human papillomavirus. In this case, everything is much more serious. The virus enters the blood and multiplies, causing multiple formations to appear on the skin. If you suspect infection with the papilloma virus, your doctor will refer you for tests, the results of which will help you choose further treatment.

The third reason is age-related changes in the skin and hormonal levels. This theory was put forward by American doctors, and so far they have not been able to either completely confirm or refute it. However, it is known for certain that cases of hanging moles in older people are very common.

And fourth is the effect of ultraviolet radiation on the skin. It has long been noted that areas of the skin that are often exposed to sunlight are prone to the formation of nevi. It is better to cover moles on exposed parts of the body or treat the skin with products with a UV filter.

[3], [4]

Pathogenesis

The causes and mechanism of the appearance of hanging moles on the body have not yet been fully studied. However, it is known for sure that most often they appear in places that are subject to friction or exposure to ultraviolet radiation. For some reason, the epithelial cells begin to divide with a vengeance, which leads to the mole increasing in size and taking on the appearance of a small cone-shaped formation of irregular shape.

[5], [6], [7], [8], [9]

Symptoms of a hanging mole

The symptoms of hanging moles are very simple and obvious. On palpation, a nipple-like formation is felt, painless when palpated. This is a hanging mole. As a rule, several days pass before the person or someone in his family notices the growth, especially if the hanging mole is located on the back, shoulders or in the pelvic area, where it is not easy to notice. If the mole has been damaged, there may be minor bleeding, a burning sensation, and pain. In the future, the location of the mole may swell and change color, which in itself is a serious symptom. In such a case, you should immediately consult a doctor.

[10], [11], [12], [13]

Are hanging moles dangerous?

Single moles of this type are common. However, if moles begin to appear in large quantities, hurt, itch, or change color in any way, this is a reason to consult a doctor. Doctors consider moles of this type to be potentially dangerous and advise paying close attention to them. It is necessary to ensure that such moles do not develop into tumor-like formations. There is no point in panicking, because many people live with hanging moles all their lives without any problems. However, you should listen to your doctor and do all the necessary skin tests and tests. The danger is that hanging moles can often be injured by clothing or accessories, and in open areas of the body they are exposed to ultraviolet radiation. If you tear off such a mole, it can cause suppuration or even the appearance of melanoma. If the nevus is damaged, it is recommended to cauterize the wound with a disinfectant - for example, hydrogen peroxide or iodine.

[14], [15], [16]

Forms

Hanging moles vary in appearance and location.

They come with uneven, bumpy edges and smoother shapes, reminiscent of a pea.

The color also varies - from white to dark brown and even black.

Depending on their location, hanging moles are divided into those that form in the groin, under the arms, on the face and on the neck. They are most often found in these places. Black hanging moles are not very good in themselves. After all, nevi turn black due to damage or inflammation. If you find that a hanging mole has turned black, do not hesitate, contact the clinic for tests. White hanging moles are most common during puberty and in pregnant women - under the arms or in the groin. They are dangerous because they can easily be overlooked and cut off during hygiene procedures. If this happens, quickly treat the wound with a disinfectant. Brown, large hanging moles appear on the face and neck they also cause a person a lot of inconvenience - from their appearance to constant injury from items of clothing.

It is better to remove a hanging mole on the neck, since it is constantly exposed to ultraviolet radiation and is rubbed by clothing - a collar or scarf. Hanging moles on the face cause particular inconvenience to women, because such a formation will not decorate even the prettiest face.

Hanging moles under the arms are most often injured during swimming or shaving. If you constantly accidentally cut a mole, then it is better to remove it, since systematic damage can cause it to grow or fester.

If a mole is inflamed, itchy, or painful, this is the first sign that inflammatory processes are occurring in it, which can have a very negative effect on the body. Therefore, if there is the slightest change in the appearance of moles, or painful sensations in them, immediately go to the doctor! The same should be done if the hanging mole has become crusty, thickened, and the vascular pattern on it has changed.

If a hanging mole turns red and hurts, then there may be several reasons for this: the same hormonal imbalances (in teenagers, pregnant women and women on certain days of the cycle) accidental cuts or rubbing by clothing and, finally, the most serious reason is the degeneration of a mole from a benign formation to a malignant one. Such transformations can be accompanied by the appearance of blood inside the mole, its loosening, and a radical change in color. Of course, the sensation of pain will not be as strong as, for example, with flux, but it is difficult not to notice it.

[17], [18], [19]

Diagnosis of a hanging mole

Diagnosis of hanging moles does not present any difficulty for an experienced doctor. The characteristic shape, location and color of these skin formations speak for themselves.

In cases where there is suspicion that the formation is not benign, a biopsy will be proposed to determine the nature of the mole.

Also, for diagnostic purposes, tests are carried out for the presence of the human papillomavirus. In this case, local treatment of hanging moles will be ineffective.

If the mole has changed size or turned black, an examination should be carried out by an oncologist.

[20], [21], [22], [23], [24], [25], [26]

Who to contact?

Treatment of a hanging mole

To get rid of hanging moles, there are many methods - from radical removal to treatment with various folk remedies.

1. At home, hanging moles can be smeared with iodine solution or celandine tincture. The latter, however, must be used very carefully, as burns are possible. The tincture should be applied directly to the nevus.
2. Large moles that spoil the appearance and interfere are best removed. It goes without saying that this should be done after consultation with a dermatologist. Removal of hanging moles on the neck, face or body is carried out in a clinic or beauty salon.

Removal is possible using cauterization with liquid nitrogen (the most effective method is 85-100%), laser (electrocoagulation) or surgery under local anesthesia. The last method is the most traumatic, and is currently little used. A laser will cope with the task much better than a scalpel.

1. If the appearance of hanging moles is associated with the papilloma virus, then the following drugs can be used: Condimin, Bonafton ointment, Aldora cream. They are based on folk recipes using medicinal herbs. These ointments are applied to the mole twice a day for two weeks. Contraindications to treatment are pregnancy and lactation. Recently, the drug Panavir has appeared, which is administered intravenously and destroys the papilloma virus. However, it should also not be used during pregnancy or in children under 12 years of age. Adults with human papillomavirus infection are usually prescribed 5 ml of solution every 48 hours after 3 injections, they switch to 5 ml of Panavir solution every 72 hours. The course of treatment is 5 injections.
2. Traditional methods, such as compresses with Kalanchoe juice, garlic, potatoes and celandine, are ineffective, but they also have the right to be used. Some recipes advise removing small hanging moles with vinegar essence. We would like to warn against such extremes - as a result of such “treatment” a serious chemical burn can form, which you will have to treat for a very long time.

The simplest folk method is to tie the base of a hanging mole with a coarse thread. Dermatologists do not recommend using this type of removal - firstly, it is unhygienic, and secondly, it is ineffective.

A popular remedy is wormwood oil for hanging moles. It is recommended to lubricate it with wormwood essential oil twice a day for several weeks. After this treatment they disappear.

Many people are interested in the question of how to remove hanging moles around the eyes and whether it is dangerous. It is recommended to remove such moles surgically with a thin cosmetic suture. Laser or liquid nitrogen may leave marks on the skin of the face.

Treatment of hanging moles should be carried out comprehensively, taking into account the medical history in each specific case. During pregnancy, it is better not to remove hanging moles. It is better to wait until the hormonal balance is restored. And of course, under no circumstances should hanging moles be torn off or cut off! This can lead to the worst consequences. If this happens due to negligence, the wound should be cauterized with iodine or peroxide and consult a doctor.

Hanging moles are pigmented benign formations of the epidermis that tend to appear in small clusters. Papillomas protrude above the surface of the skin and can be easily injured, which is an indication for their removal. Before eliminating the formation, you should study the reasons for the appearance of hanging moles in order to influence the provoking factor and avoid the possibility of relapse.

Hanging mole as a signal from the body

Hanging moles appear at any age they are called completely different formations - papillomas. The risk of injury to malignant tumors is higher due to their convexity. Features of the location (in the groin, under the arm, on the neck, face), mechanical friction in contact with clothing (pants waistband, bra straps) or during daily hygiene procedures (shaving, rubbing with a washcloth) provokes hyperhidrosis and the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria.

The appearance of single hanging pigment elements in men can occur normally, but the appearance of a group of papillomas is a signal of hormonal disorders with suppression of testosterone production and hyperestrogenemia. Such processes indicate the development of infertility and atrophy of the male gonads. The appearance of hanging moles is the first sign of large-scale hormonal changes in the body.

If new skin elements appear that protrude above the surface, you should consult a dermatologist to eliminate the risk of developing cancer.

Reasons for appearance on the body

Birth pigment formations occur in almost all people, regardless of race or gender. Among the etiological triggers for the development of neoplasms, internal causes are distinguished, which depend on the coherence of the body’s functioning and the presence of concomitant pathology. External environmental factors that affect the superficial skin.

Children are less likely to develop hanging warts due to the peculiarities of the anatomical structure of the skin and the protective effect of subcutaneous tissue. With age, there is a tendency to increase in size and in the number of pigment elements due to a decrease in the lipid layer, protective properties and disruption of local metabolism.

Internal factors

Among the reasons associated with intraorganismal processes are:

1. Genetic changes and hereditary predisposition. If parents or close relatives have hanging papillomas, the risk of similar elements in children increases to 85-90%. This does not pose a threat to health, development, or is an aesthetic defect of the skin. If there are moles that have a tendency to malignant degeneration in the parents, it is recommended to monitor changes in the child’s skin. It is necessary to undergo preventive observation by a doctor to eliminate the risk of malignancy and, if necessary, to remove such pigmented formations.
2. The human papillomavirus, which persists on the surface of the skin, penetrates deep into the body. Sometimes HPV causes multiple tumors, and in the absence of proper treatment, the risk of degeneration of such elements is extremely high. Often, when diagnosing the histological material of a hanging nevus, the cause of formation is HPV-6 or HPV-10 with a low level of malignancy.
3. Under the influence of hormonal imbalance in the body: endocrine disorders, in adolescents with hormonal changes, pregnancy and breastfeeding, treatment with corticosteroid drugs, polycystic ovaries, menstrual irregularities. Papillomas that appear during pregnancy tend to disappear spontaneously and become transparent, provided that the hormonal levels have fully recovered after childbirth.
4. Concomitant diseases in the body: type 2 diabetes, pathology of the thyroid gland, hypothalamus, congenital pathologies of the ovaries, infertility.

External factors

Among the adverse effects of the external environment, the following reasons for the development of neoplasms are distinguished:

1. Often, with prolonged exposure to direct solar ultraviolet radiation, hanging papillomas tend to form on exposed parts of the body. The most susceptible areas are the face and neck. Ultraviolet rays provoke excessive production of melanin, the growth of moles, including pedunculated, convex, acute-angled formations. Light marbled skin is especially vulnerable it is more prone to sunburn and pigmentation disorders.
2. Exposure to natural and artificial radiation helps stimulate the division of melanocyte cells. Such phenomena are observed when working with radioactive substances (radiologists, radiologists, research scientists, chemical technologists).
3. Under the influence of injuries, damage to the skin: bruises, deep wounds, insect bites, even ordinary scratches and abrasions.
4. If there is an excess of fat layer due to poor nutrition, inguinal acrochordons appear in the folds (formed from degenerated adipocytes - fat cells).
5. The effect of stressful situations and emotional outbursts. After disturbances of a psychogenic nature, all metabolic processes change temporary damage to the adrenal cortex may occur (release of adrenaline during stress), which disrupts local metabolic processes in the epidermis.
6. Taking artificial stimulants-steroids, which disrupts the process of collagen production, atypical structure of skin fibers with provocation of the formation of hanging papillomas.

Types of hanging moles and their localization

Hanging warts come in several types. Depending on the location and structure, the following skin elements are distinguished:

1. Acrochordon or soft fibroma (fibroepithelioma). The skin growth is of regular shape, densely elastic consistency. Most often localized on the back and abdomen. The subtype is small acrochordon, in the inguinal folds the appearance of a thread-like growth on a stalk is more typical, and a large fibroepithelial wart-like polyp is more often detected in the armpits, legs or neck. The reasons for the development of acrochondron are often due to mechanical influence: burns, injuries, friction of delicate skin with clothing. There are accompanying factors for the development of epidermal growth (wound surface, increased sweating, bacterial processes in skin folds). They often develop in old age with thinning skin, impaired microcirculation, and hypolipid disorders of the epidermis. Senile warts appear in the chest area in women, the favorite place of formation is near the nipple area, the nipple areola.
2. Intradermal and pigmented nevus, which occurs when melanocytes are hypersimulated under the influence of ultraviolet radiation or genetic predisposition. The layering of melanin with an external growth of connective tissue elements makes the mole convex and then hanging. Often such formations are completely harmless and hair follicles grow through them.
3. Intradermal and complex pigmented nevus are associated with a violation of melanin formation, provoking the growth of a cluster of pigment cells through several layers of skin the risk of such formations becoming malignant is high. May cause symptoms of pain and itching at the site of formation.
4. Seborrheic hanging keratoma is localized on the chest and nipples. Seborrheic flat moles with age build up a layer of horny epithelium and turn into hanging senile warts.
5. Pigmented papillomavirus moles on a stalk. They appear during the active reproduction of HPV against the background of weak immunity, during periods of illness, during severe emotional upheavals, frequent changes of sexual partners (formation on the intima of the genital mucosa) and disruption of the digestive processes, with dysbacteriosis.
6. Neurofibromas, which grow from nerve fibers, destroy them, and turn into hanging warts. They are quite rare and signal significant damage to the nervous system or hereditary neurological diseases.

Based on the localization features, we can distinguish:

1. acrochondron is most often observed in the folds of the skin, namely in the eyelids, groin, armpits, and abdomen
2. senile keratomas are localized on the anterior surface of the body - abdomen, chest, much less often on the upper limbs, face
3. HPV warts - most often on the face, on the foot, under the armpits
4. intradermal growths appear on the uncovered neck and face getting rid of them is especially difficult on the thin skin of the neck
5. Neurofibroma can be expected to develop throughout the body, up to the spinal cord. Medications for their removal do not always cope with their task due to the complexity of such formations.

Reasons for intensive growth

If moles grow rapidly, you should immediately seek advice from a dermatologist or oncodermatologist a rapid increase in the size of a pigment spot is the first sign of malignancy. Treatment methods are selected individually, indications and contraindications for urgent mole removal are determined.

The following factors can stimulate the appearance of neoplasms:

1. reproduction of the human papillomavirus
2. most often, the growth of moles is caused by excessive sun exposure and lack of protection with a cream with a high level of SPF (when asking why use sunscreen emulsions every day, it is worth remembering about UV rays even in cloudy weather)
3. hormonal surge (childbirth, first trimester of pregnancy)
4. increase in body area with stretching of the skin (obesity, growth of the abdomen during pregnancy).

You should not neglect the fact of the growth of hanging warts, use home methods or traditional methods of removal to treat them - this can be dangerous to human health and life.