Found a new spot on your child's skin? Here is what you need to know about a Spitz Nevus.

Finding a new spot or bump on your child's skin can feel very scary and worrying. When a spot looks different or changes quickly, you naturally wonder what it might be. One common cause for these spots in children is a skin growth called a Spitz Nevus.

As a parent, seeing any unusual mark on your child makes you want answers right away. This guide will help you understand what a Spitz Nevus is, what it looks like, and when you should talk to a doctor.

What Is a Spitz Nevus?

Simply put, a Spitz Nevus is a non-cancerous, or benign, mole-like skin growth. These spots most often appear in children and young adults. They usually look like small, pink, raised bumps on the skin.

However, some Spitz Nevi can be flat, rough, or colored in shades of brown, black, or blue. Doctors sometimes call these growths an epithelioid nevus or a spindle-cell nevus.

Finding a Spitz Nevus on your child can cause a lot of worry because it can sometimes mimic melanoma, which is a dangerous skin cancer. The great news is that a Spitz Nevus is not skin cancer.

Finding one is usually not a reason to panic. However, you must always visit a doctor to get an accurate diagnosis. Most children with a Spitz Nevus do not need any treatment at all. If the spot changes in shape or size, your doctor may decide to remove it.

What Does the Name Spitz Nevus Mean?

The term Spitz Nevus is a medical name given to a specific type of birthmark or mole.

• Spitz: This name honors Dr. Sophie Spitz, an American pathologist who studied these specific skin growths in children during the late 1940s.
• Nevus: This is the medical word for a mole or birthmark. Moles form when cells called melanocytes, which give our skin its color, cluster together in one spot.

How Common Are Spitz Nevi?

Many people have regular moles that develop over time. People with fair skin can sometimes have dozens of normal moles on their bodies.

However, a Spitz Nevus is quite rare. They make up only about one percent of all moles removed and tested through a biopsy.

What Causes a Spitz Nevus?

Doctors and researchers do not yet know the exact cause of Spitz Nevi. Some experts believe that small changes in our genes can make these unique skin growths more likely to appear.

Who Is Most at Risk for Spitz Nevi?

Moles and birthmarks can appear on anyone regardless of age, gender, or skin color. However, people with fair skin have a higher chance of developing a Spitz Nevus.

Most Spitz Nevi are acquired moles, meaning they appear after birth rather than being present at birth. They can pop up at any time in life. Roughly speaking, these cases are often spread across different age groups:

• Before the age of ten years old.
• Between the ages of ten and twenty.
• After the age of twenty.

In very rare cases, a baby can be born with a Spitz Nevus, which doctors call a congenital birthmark.

What Does a Spitz Nevus Look Like?

A Spitz Nevus usually looks like a pink or red raised bump on the skin. They can also appear flat, or show shades of blue, brown, tan, or black.

Most people only have one Spitz Nevus on their body. Sometimes, however, they can appear in small groups.

Common signs and features of a Spitz Nevus include:

• Looking similar to a small wart on the skin.
• Growing slowly over a few months up to about one centimeter, or half an inch, wide.
• Sometimes leaking fluid, bleeding, or feeling a bit itchy.
• Shrinking, flattening, or even disappearing completely after a few years.

What Does Melanoma Look Like in a Child?

To be honest, getting melanoma as a child is extremely rare. Even in the United States, doctors record fewer than four hundred cases of childhood melanoma each year.

If a child does develop melanoma, it can sometimes look very similar to a Spitz Nevus. This similarity is what makes parents feel so worried.

Signs of melanoma can include:

• A raised bump or wart-like growth.
• A spot that appears suddenly, grows quickly, and changes fast.
• A growth that maintains a single color, usually pink, red, purple, or skin-colored.
• An itchy feeling in the spot.
• Bleeding that heals and then starts bleeding again.

Where Do Spitz Nevi Usually Appear?

A Spitz Nevus can appear anywhere on the human body. However, they are most often found on these areas:

• The face .
• The neck .
• The trunk of the body, such as the abdomen .
• The arms .
• The legs .

How Are Spitz Nevi Diagnosed?

If you find a new spot or notice a change in an existing mole on your skin or your child's skin, schedule an appointment with a dermatologist. This step is vital because a Spitz Nevus and melanoma can look identical to the naked eye.

Your doctor will examine the bump closely. They will ask when you first noticed it and if it has changed recently. Your doctor may also use specific diagnostic tests:

• Dermoscopy: The doctor uses a special magnifying tool with a light to look closely at the patterns and structures inside the mole.
• Mole mapping: The doctor takes high-resolution digital photographs using a special lens to track the size, shape, and color of moles over time. This helps monitor any changes.
• Skin biopsy: A skin biopsy is the only way to know for sure if a mole is cancerous. Your dermatologist takes a tiny tissue sample from the spot and sends it to a laboratory where experts check it for cancer cells.

How Are Spitz Nevi Treated?

Many people who have a Spitz Nevus do not need any treatment at all. Your doctor may simply suggest routine yearly skin checks or mole mapping to watch for any unusual changes.

However, your dermatologist may choose to remove the Spitz Nevus and a small margin of surrounding skin through a minor surgical procedure if:

• The mole has an asymmetrical or irregular shape.
• The spot is bleeding, leaking fluid, or feels itchy.
• The growth is larger than one centimeter, which is about half an inch.

Can You Prevent a Spitz Nevus?

Moles and birthmarks develop for reasons doctors do not yet fully understand. There is nothing you can do to prevent a Spitz Nevus from forming on you or your child.

How Can You Prevent Skin Cancer?

Everyone faces some risk of skin cancer. You can help protect your skin and reduce sun damage by following these simple steps:

• Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher every single day, even when you stay indoors.
• Never use tanning beds or sunlamps.
• Try to schedule outdoor activities before 10 AM or after 4 PM when the sun's rays are less intense.
• Stay in shaded areas whenever you are outside during peak hours.
• Wear sun-protective clothing, including a wide-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses, when you go outside.

How to Spot Unusual Skin Changes.

You should check your skin and your children's skin often to look for new marks or changes in existing moles. Doctors recommend checking your skin at least once a month if your family has a history of skin cancer. Taking photos of moles can also help you track changes over time.

The ABCDE guide helps you remember what signs to look for:

• A – Asymmetry: One half of the mole does not match the other half.
• B – Border: The edges are irregular, ragged, notched, or blurred.
• C – Color: The color is not uniform and may include different shades of brown or black, or patches of pink, red, white, or blue. (Keep in mind that childhood melanoma often has a single uniform color like pink, red, or purple).
• D – Diameter: The spot is larger than six millimeters, which is about the size of a pencil eraser, though melanomas can sometimes be smaller.
• E – Evolving: The mole is changing in size, shape, color, or elevation, or begins to bleed and itch.

What Is the Outlook for Someone With a Spitz Nevus?

Most children with a Spitz Nevus do not require surgery. If your child needs a skin biopsy or a surgical removal, a small scar may remain.

In very rare instances, a Spitz Nevus can grow back after removal. Because of this possibility, you should continue to check your child's skin and the scar area regularly. Call your doctor if you see a new bump or skin change.

When Should You See a Doctor?

Schedule an appointment with your doctor right away if you notice any new moles, unusual skin changes, or any of the ABCDE warning signs mentioned above.

What Questions Should You Ask Your Doctor?

When you visit your doctor, you can ask these helpful questions:

• How often should my child come in for professional skin checks?
• How often should I check my skin and my child's skin at home?
• Does my child's Spitz Nevus need to be removed with surgery?
• What steps can I take to reduce skin cancer risks for our family?

What Is the Difference Between a Spitz Nevus and a Spitzoid Melanoma?

On very rare occasions, a doctor might misdiagnose a cancerous growth as a benign Spitz Nevus. When a cancerous growth shares features with a Spitz Nevus, doctors call it a Spitzoid melanoma or a malignant Spitz Nevus. This exact diagnosis is why a skin biopsy is so important when doctors have any doubts.

Can a Spitz Nevus Turn Into Cancer?

A true, properly diagnosed Spitz Nevus will never turn into skin cancer. You either have a harmless benign Spitz Nevus or you have a melanoma. If a doctor feels uncertain about a mole, they will perform a skin biopsy to confirm what it is.

Finding a new bump on the skin can feel scary, especially because a Spitz Nevus can look very similar to melanoma. While skin cancer in children is extremely rare, you should always seek professional medical advice for any unusual skin changes.

If your child has a Spitz Nevus, you will simply need to keep an eye on it for any changes. Ask your doctor to show you the best way to perform skin checks at home for you and your family.