Sore Nevus on Scalp
(Page 2)
You should make an appointment with your pediatrician to have
the nevus on your scalp looked at. The fact that it is now painful
could be a worrisome sign, although given the location, it may be
painful because you are constantly rubbing it when shampooing and
brushing your hair. Your pediatrician may refer you to a
dermatologist to have the mole evaluated.
A mole that has been present since birth and has not enlarged or
changed appearance is not likely to be a problem. Perform the ABCDE
on that mole to make sure there are no worrisome signs of potential
skin cancer. Of course, any concerns should be discussed with your
pediatrician.
Henry (Hank) Bernstein, D.O. is a Senior Lecturer in
Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and Professor of Pediatrics at
Dartmouth Medical School. Formerly the Associate Chief of General
Pediatrics and Director of Primary Care at Children's Hospital
Boston, he currently is the Chief of General Academic Pediatrics at
Children's Hospital at Dartmouth. He has extensive and varied
experience as a primary care pediatrician, and is a spokesperson
for the news media on a variety of pediatric health care topics,
including vaccination, common childhood illnesses, and practical
information for caregivers.
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Source: from the Harvard Health Publications Family Health Guide, Copyright © 2007 by President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved.
Used with permission of StayWell.
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