Pediatric Birthmarks and Moles

Birthmarks and moles are pigmented skin lesions that your child may be born with or develop later in life. Our team of specialists can help determine whether your child’s birthmark or mole needs any treatment and provide expert care when needed.

At MU Health Care’s Children’s Hospital, our pediatric dermatologists and pediatric plastic surgeons can treat all types of moles and birthmarks in kids. From hemangiomas to large congenital nevi (moles), we can provide kid-friendly care for common and rare skin lesions.

Birthmarks and moles happen when certain skin cells grow more than usual. Your child’s family history and time in the sun can also affect them. These spots, or lesions, can appear anywhere on the body and may grow as your child gets older.

When to Get Care for a Birthmark or Mole

Most birthmarks and moles do not become skin cancer or cause serious issues. However, some types need to be checked by a pediatric dermatologist.

Talk to your primary care provider or reach out to us directly if your child’s birthmark or mole:

Has a spot or edge that grows faster than the rest
Has irregular or uneven borders
Has an area that is changing color (such as turning blue, red, pink, white or black)
Starts to bleed
Develops sores or scabs that won’t heal

We also provide second opinions if you want more guidance on how to treat your child’s birthmark or mole. If a lesion needs to be removed, our pediatric plastic surgeons can also discuss options to minimize scarring.

Are Moles and Birthmarks Painful for Babies?

Birthmarks and moles don’t usually cause your child any pain, but some may become irritated and cause discomfort. If this happens, surgery may be the best option for removal.

How We Diagnose Birthmarks and Moles

Our pediatric dermatologists and pediatric plastic surgeons work together to treat birthmarks and moles. We offer a range of tools to evaluate your child’s birthmark or mole in our clinic or in the hospital.

You can see a pediatric dermatologist in Columbia or Jefferson City. For your convenience, our team can also see your child at one of several outreach clinics in Versailles, Linn, Booneville and Mexico. Live, interactive telehealth appointments are also available.

Dermoscopy

Dermoscopy, also called dermatoscopy, is noninvasive and painless for your child. Using a small, polarized light device, we can closely examine their birthmark or mole. Our pediatric dermatologists will use expert techniques to help minimize stress while checking your child’s skin.

We’ll also take photos and measure the skin lesions so we can monitor them as your child grows. Our team may recommend yearly follow-up visits to check for any changes.

Biopsy

Birthmarks and moles are not always cancerous. To learn more about your child’s mole or birthmark, we may suggest a biopsy, or tissue sample.

Either a dermatologist or plastic surgeon can perform a biopsy. If necessary, we’ll use sedation to help your child relax during the procedure.

Advanced Imaging

For large lesions like congenital nevi, we may recommend a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the brain and spine. Congenital nevi are dark, hairy patches that put kids at higher risk of brain and spinal issues. An MRI can provide clear pictures of your child’s anatomy to help diagnose these conditions and get them the treatment they need.

We’ll use sedation to help your child relax during an MRI. Our child life specialists can also help comfort your child with distractions and other techniques.

How We Treat Birthmarks and Moles

Your child may only need regular skin exams so we can monitor their birthmark or mole over time. Otherwise, if your child has a mole or birthmark that requires treatment, we’ll assemble a care team that may include:

Pediatric dermatologists: Experts in managing skin conditions.
Pediatric plastic surgeons: Can surgically remove more complex or severe birthmarks and moles.
Interventional radiologists: Can shrink complex vascular anomalies like hemangiomas with minimally invasive treatments.
Pediatric oncologists: Can treat skin cancer.
Geneticists: Can perform genetic testing on some birthmarks to determine more personalized treatment options.

Our team offers nonsurgical and surgical options for children with birthmarks and moles.

Medication

Oral medications, including anti-inflammatory medicines, can help lighten and reduce the size of some birthmarks, such as hemangiomas. Topical medications applied on the skin may also be an option for some kids’ birthmarks.

New biologic therapies are also available to treat more complex birthmarks and vascular anomalies.

Laser

Therapy For some birthmarks, pulsed-dye lasers may be an option. These lasers use light energy to destroy pigment or abnormal blood vessels in the skin. Your pediatric dermatologist may recommend several sessions of laser therapy, spaced about a month apart.

Surgery

We can also perform surgery to remove a birthmark or mole if it causes discomfort or could become skin cancer. You also may decide to have your child’s birthmark or mole removed for cosmetic reasons if it:

Is large
Is on their face
Causes stress

Our pediatric dermatologists or plastic surgeons can remove most small birthmarks and moles with a minor outpatient surgery.

If your child has a large congenital nevus (mole), we may recommend several surgeries, depending on its size and location. Our plastic surgeons routinely perform complex surgeries to remove large lesions and minimize scarring in kids.

Specialized Care for Skin Cancer and Melanoma

If tests reveal a birthmark or mole has skin cancer such as melanoma, we’ll develop a personalized care plan. We’ll also coordinate with pediatric surgeons and pediatric oncologists to determine which leading-edge treatments are best for your child. Options available include surgery to remove the cancer and affected lymph nodes, immunotherapy and other treatments.