Scratched a mole: first aid, consequences, complications


Everyone has moles. Sometimes people hurt them. This usually does not pose a health risk. But sometimes such injuries can cause serious problems. From this article you will learn how dangerous mole cuts are when shaving. You will also learn what to do if injury cannot be avoided.

Many men have moles on their faces. Should I worry about this when shaving?

First, a little background. About 10 years ago, I injured a mole on my face while shaving. At medical school, during lectures on surgery and dermatovenereology, teachers often scared students about melanoma. Lecturers named nevus injuries as one of the risk factors for the development of this malignant tumor.

I remembered all the scary stories and ran to work in a panic. On duty, I then worked in the same office with two doctors. One of them is a former military doctor, the second is a psychiatrist. Both doctors looked at the cut. The military doctor said that you can forget and not fool yourself. The psychiatrist said the same thing. I really calmed down and forgot about the problem. Was it worth worrying? Let's figure it out.

What are moles?

If a man cuts a mole while shaving, many uninformed people turn a blind eye to such an injury.
In fact, it is important to know in general what a mole is, as well as what consequences a person can expect if it is traumatized. From a medical point of view, a mole has a special term - nevus, that is, an initially benign neoplasm on the skin, which is formed due to excessive accumulation of melanin pigment cells under the dermis. For reference! Doctors draw the attention of all people to the fact that any papilloma and mole, if traumatized or cut, can lead to the formation of skin cancer (melanoma).
The deeper the melanin pigment accumulates under the skin, the higher and larger the mole will rise above the skin. It is these large neoplasms that are more likely to be injured. Moles can be congenital or acquired as a person grows. Doctors associate the growth of moles on the body with hormonal changes in adolescence, pathologies of the endocrine system, pregnancy, and labor in women.

How to shave with a mole?

A common question among men: how to shave if there are moles on your face? Surely many people know that these benign formations on the skin can be either absolutely safe or, conversely, pose a threat to human health.

It happens that the growth is located in places that are constantly exposed. Then you can accidentally scratch the mole or cut it off altogether, which often happens during shaving. Quitting using a razor is not an option.

You need to get used to shaving in such a way as to prevent damage to the growths as much as possible.

The presence of nevi on the face of men can cause accidental injury when shaving.

Is it dangerous to scratch a mole?

People who have numerous moles on their body, which are also abnormal in size, can accidentally damage them. There are different cases, so you can hear that “the child caught a mole”, “torn a growth while shaving” or “plucked a mole while getting dressed.”

But what happens if the nevus is damaged? First of all, the bulge itself and the dermis are deformed, as well as pain at the site of the cuts and bleeding. During the entire healing period of the wound, you need to monitor whether changes have appeared in the structure or shape of the damaged mole.

Deformed nevi are primarily dangerous due to their degeneration into malignant neoplasms.

What happens if you cut a mole while shaving: consequences

Sometimes a harmless mole on the body can lead to a serious pathology - skin cancer. A simple cut with a razor or simply scratching a mole until it bleeds can provoke the degeneration of a benign formation on the skin into a malignant tumor. The larger the nevus, the higher the likelihood of blood infection.

Outwardly, growths on the skin do not reveal themselves in any way, but it is in their cells that danger lurks.

When a cell is cut, melanocytes (these are special cells responsible for the production of melanin, the excessive accumulation of which causes dark bulges on the body, called moles or nevi) can penetrate into the blood and lead to the formation of a malignant tumor.

First aid

What to do if you accidentally cut off a mole while shaving? It is important for every person to know a number of measures that will help avoid unwanted consequences from a damaged growth. A torn or cut mole should be treated as follows:

  • the first thing you need to do is stop the bleeding, if there is any, and hydrogen peroxide will help with this;
  • then apply a compress bandage or simply hold a piece of bandage soaked in hydrogen peroxide for 20 minutes;
  • after the bleeding has stopped, the wound is washed with the medicinal antiseptic “Chlorhexidine” or iodine solution;
  • To prevent repeated deformation of a benign formation, a bandage is made.

After providing first aid, you must consult a doctor so that he can assess the nature of the damage.

For a minor cut, it will be enough to just apply a sterile bandage after treating the area with an antiseptic.

But if the cut is strong, then a diagnostic examination of the growth will be required to exclude a malignant tumor and further appropriate treatment.

Do I need to see a doctor?

If you damage a nevus while shaving, it is not necessary to immediately visit a doctor.

The help of a medical professional will be required if the damaged growth has changed in size, changed color, began to hurt or peel off.

You need to consult a specialized physician if bleeding appears or a mole comes off or hair begins to grow on it. In such cases, the victim needs to consult a dermatologist.

Therapeutic measures

You can shave your face and accidentally catch a nevus, but in this case you should not panic, but should begin treatment as quickly as possible. Therapeutic measures are required to prevent infections from entering the wound.

The area with a mole deformed due to shaving is treated with an antiseptic solution and the bleeding is stopped, and the torn off nevus is sent to the laboratory to determine its nature.

If the growth is partially damaged during shaving, the doctor will write out a direction for its complete cutting off. The procedure is painless and does not take much time. Removing a hanging piece of a benign formation at home is extremely dangerous.

Specialized doctors do not recommend tying the growth with threads or waiting until it falls off on its own. It is necessary to remove the mole as soon as possible so that the remaining melanin does not penetrate into the blood.

Security measures

On the body of every person there are dark spots, to damage which it is not necessary to put a lot of effort, it is enough to accidentally cut them with a razor or catch them with a long nail. But if you follow certain tips, you will be able to maintain the integrity of the growths and thereby prevent the development of a serious disease - melanoma.

Measure nameDescription
Hand hygieneIt is important to maintain hygiene and aesthetics of the hands, in particular the nails, which should always be trimmed to a suitable length
Take special care when swimmingOften, a mole is torn off due to excessive diligence in maintaining personal hygiene, when during bathing they use scrubs or a hard washcloth, forgetting about problem areas on the body. Bumps on the skin can also be torn off due to careless handling of the towel after bathing, as well as during shaving, cutting off the growth with a razor.
Choice of clothesYou can tear off a nevus with tight clothes, so it is recommended to choose a loose-fitting outfit that will protect you as much as possible from close contact with the mole

It is important to monitor your health, not to let the recovery of damaged moles take its course and not to self-treat at home. Deformed benign formations can instantly turn into malignant tumors and lead to irreversible consequences for humans.

Source: //StopRodinkam.ru/rodinki/problemy/kak-britsya-s-rodinkami.html

What is the risk of damage?

When a mole is injured, the melanin pigment is released and, together with the blood, can spread throughout the human body, and this already threatens the cells developing into oncology. Moles themselves do not pose a danger to the human body, but according to statistics, every thousandth mole can cause the appearance of cancer cells . To protect yourself from these risks, you need to not touch and protect the nevus from mechanical impact, tearing or cutting.

Not in all cases of mechanical damage to a nevus, a man may be in danger. Most often, careless shaving leads to deformation of the mole or traumatization of the skin. Bleeding and pain may also occur. After the wound has healed, it is important for a man to examine the condition of the mole, whether there have been changes in the appearance of the mole, its shape or structure. The situation will be dangerous when the cut leads to the degeneration of the nevus into a malignant formation.

Why are people afraid of traumatized moles?

It's simple: almost everyone knows that “moles” sometimes degenerate and lead to the death of a person. You can often hear expressions like “a neighbor tore off a mole, and a year later he died,” “a neighbor had a mole cut out, but it was reborn.”

This is how people without medical education talk about a very dangerous tumor - melanoma. It is dangerous for a number of reasons:

  • In the first stages of development, it may look like an ordinary “mole” and not cause suspicion.
  • One of the most aggressive tumors. Quickly metastasizes (spreads throughout the body).
  • Melanoma can be non-pigmented. Not even every doctor can identify this form at an early stage.
  • Due to lack of information, fears of “moles” and prejudices, people often turn to a doctor in later stages, when effective treatment is impossible.

There is good news. In the early stages, radical or complete removal of the tumor and cure for melanoma are possible. To notice a suspicious formation in the early stages, you need to know what this tumor looks like, so that when the first signs appear, you can consult a doctor or draw the doctor’s attention to a suspicious formation during an annual examination.

What to do if you cut a mole?

In a situation where a man accidentally cuts a mole while shaving, it is important to immediately visit a dermatologist. It is this specialist who deals with any skin diseases, including moles. The specialist will conduct an examination and diagnosis, after which he will identify other specialists to further resolve the issue. But besides this, it is important to carry out initial treatment of the injury to prevent infection.

To prevent infection and inflammation it is necessary:

  • treat the bleeding site with hydrogen peroxide;
  • if the cut bleeds heavily, apply a gauze bandage;
  • the injury can be cauterized with iodine or brilliant green;
  • if a man partially cuts off a mole while shaving, this piece should be taken for analysis, wrapped in gauze with saline solution.

In any case, visiting a doctor is important, since a specialist will be able to prevent the formation of cancer cells in time. And, as you know, oncology in most cases is incurable and can lead to death. If the nevus regularly comes into contact with objects and is at risk of injury, it is necessary to safely remove the mole in a specialized institution.

How to disinfect a nevus if damaged

First aid for injuring a nevus is to disinfect the wound and stop the bleeding. For these purposes any antiseptic available in your home medicine cabinet is suitable - hydrogen peroxide, chlorhexidine, brilliant green or iodine.

To stop bleeding, the treated area is covered with a sterile bandage.

completely cut nevus should be placed in an antiseptic solution and immediately delivered to the laboratory for examination. It is better the bandage until the wound has completely healed to avoid re-injury. You need to change bandages and treat the cut site daily.

Prevention measures

If a man has a raised mole on his face, which is constantly at risk of cuts and injuries, preventive measures must be taken. You should not delay this and underestimate the danger of damage to the nevus, since almost every man is at risk of developing melanoma. To protect moles from cuts and scratches you should:

  • reduce contact with animals that can scratch the mole;
  • if there are raised moles on the face and body, it is advisable to remove them with the hands of a specialist;
  • avoid friction with synthetic fabrics;
  • protect moles from contact with nails;
  • Shave your face carefully;
  • avoid prolonged direct exposure to sunlight;
  • Avoid squeezing moles with shoes if they are on your feet.

But the most competent step to prevent melanoma is to consult a dermatologist and remove the nevus with melanin. Especially if the mole is on the face of a man who regularly shaves his stubble, the risks of injury are as high as possible.

How to prevent cuts

Like any problem, nevus cutting is best prevented. Large convex formations pose a danger. Therefore, it is better to consult a doctor before mechanical damage occurs. After examining the nevus, he will tell you whether it can be removed.

Before this, you need to follow simple recommendations:

  • choose clothes to wear without rough seams to reduce friction;
  • shaving is done carefully, avoiding the area where the mole is located;
  • do not scratch the birthmark;
  • When playing with pets, care should be taken to avoid scratching the site of the nevus.

Moles that are injured more than once are best removed as quickly as possible. Even with a benign form of the neoplasm, wound infection can occur, so you should not ignore the situation, it is better to consult a doctor.

When should a nevus be removed?

Only a doctor determines the degree of importance of removing a nevus, so it is difficult to say unambiguously whether it needs to be removed in a particular case. In addition, most people do not pay attention to moles until they begin to cause discomfort. You need to pay attention if moles have a rich pigment, protrude excessively above the skin or even hang down.

Important! In general, removing moles without good reason is not recommended by doctors. There is an opinion that moles protect a person from the negative effects of the external environment.

You need to examine moles when they are bright in color, occupy a decent area on the skin and are accompanied by increased hair growth. Experts advise removing those moles that are in constant friction and contact with objects. For example, moles on the face of a man who shaves, on the neck, in the waist area or on the lower extremities in the foot area.

Moles on the face - beauty or danger?

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It is believed that moles on the face not only do not spoil the appearance, but also give it a certain charm. But this only applies to those cases when there are not too many moles and they look aesthetically pleasing.

But what to do if your entire face is dotted with moles, they grow and look untidy? Of course, it’s good to have an experienced specialist at hand who will inspect and give his verdict in a timely manner. However, not everyone manages to get a consultation with a dermatologist on the first call.

In order not to panic, let’s try to learn more about moles and the nature of their appearance.

Should I shave or not? - that is the question

If the female half of the population is concerned that moles on the face spoil the appearance, then the male part is more interested in the question - how to shave if there are moles on the face? There is a clear answer to this question - as carefully as possible, trying not to touch the mole itself. Under no circumstances should you shave with a straight razor, as there is a risk of cutting and infection. For such a case, it is best to use an electric razor - it causes the least trauma to the skin.

It should be remembered that the danger of any mole lies in the possibility of its degeneration into a malignant melanoma. Particular attention should be paid to large dark-colored moles with an uneven surface and edges. The appearance of peeling, pain and bleeding is also a signal to visit the doctor's office.

Source: //oborodavke.ru/rodinki-na-lice-krasota-ili-opasnost.html

Ways to remove a mole

If a man has a mole on his face that has been repeatedly injured during shaving and other hygiene procedures, a specialist usually decides to remove it. Modern medicine offers several options for nevus removal, namely:

  • freezing the nevus and its processes with liquid nitrogen;
  • removal of a nevus using a laser device;
  • removal of a nevus by exposure to radio waves or electric current;
  • removal through surgery in particularly difficult situations.

For each patient, the doctor determines an individually appropriate method for removing the nevus, taking into account his body characteristics, health status and genetic predispositions. But before carrying out such a procedure, the patient should be familiar with the disadvantages and advantages of each technique. The most commonly used method is nitrogen and laser removal.

How to prevent cuts

All of the above does not mean that you should forget about shaving. In the end, for many, this is the only suitable method of depilation. If you cut yourself while shaving, from my own experience I can point out several life hacks that will help avoid blood loss in the bathroom.

  • Monitor the condition of the razor. As soon as irregularities appear on the blade, change it immediately.
  • Don't handle the razor while you're asleep. The process requires extreme concentration.
  • Don't get stuck on one type of shave. If redness constantly appears on your face, change the tool: an electric razor for a safety one, a dangerous razor for a mechanical one, and vice versa.
  • How to stop bleeding after a cut? I noticed that if a wound does appear, the bleeding can be stopped by immediately washing the cut site with hot water. Later, in a conversation with dermatologists, it became clear that there is a rational explanation for this. Exposure to high temperature contracts blood vessels, as does extremely cold water, so bleeding stops.

Advice: If you constantly suffer from redness after shaving, ingrown hairs and pustules, consult a dermatologist or read the article about irritation after shaving.

Injury factors

There are several types of nevi, each of which has an individual degree of risk of injury:

  1. Flat moles - externally similar pigmented structures do not rise above the surface of the epidermal cover, which significantly reduces the risk of mechanical damage to a mole of this type.
  2. Convex moles are formations that protrude beyond the boundaries of the surface layer of the skin. Convex nevi are often exposed to traumatic effects due to contact with tight clothing, accessories and shoes, as well as during the process of combing, washing or performing certain physical work.
  3. Hanging moles - such neoplasms are most often subject to injury, which is due to their morphological characteristics.

The last two categories of nevi require very careful handling and constant monitoring. In addition, the risk group, whose representatives often encounter damage to skin nevi, usually includes children and women. The latter top this statistics due to their adherence to uncomfortable tight clothing and various accessories that often injure the body of the mole. Children scratch or tear off moles often unconsciously, during play.

What if you scratched a mole and it started bleeding?

Symptoms of violation of the integrity of a mole

If painful sensations or a feeling of discomfort appear, it is necessary to urgently take measures aimed at establishing the causes and further treatment of the phenomenon on the epidermal surface. Several of the most common symptoms of general nevus disorders:

  • the skin has uneven edges around the formation;
  • signs of asymmetry in the shape of the mole appeared;
  • the color of the nevus has changed;
  • increase in size of formation;
  • the occurrence of pain or discomfort.

Signs of degeneration of education

Although a single injury to a growth does not pose a risk of skin cancer, you should know how to determine that the nature of the growth is changing:

  • the contours of the mole become uneven, the precise limitation of the growth disappears;
  • if you mentally divide the formation in half with an axis, then the parts lack symmetry;
  • heterogeneity in the density of the mole appears, creating an area with bumps and dips;
  • the color of the nevus changes, spotting with a more or less intense color appears;
  • bleeding, redness, swelling of the mole itself or the area around it appears.

Only a doctor can draw conclusions about the danger of formation after conducting a preliminary examination of a piece of growth.

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