An " Epidermal Nevus"....

This was the term given to the mole like bumbs under my 10 yr. old daughters arm and lower torso. She had them removed yesterday, and the size of the laceration in addition to the amount of skin removed literally made me FREAK OUT. I freaked. This was being treated very casual with my wife and daughter, where DAD, (me), didn't even bother to go. The moles (epidermal nevus) have been there quite some time, and Doctor was just going to "simply remove them" None of us were prepared for the 2-3 inch gash, at the bottom of a 4-5 inch gash that almost circles half her inner arm. This was yesterday, and I went to remove the bandages this afternoon and ...behold. I called my wife and had her call the doctor to find out the excact term for her condition, " Epidermal Nevus" is all we were told... I am freaking right now. She has a few on her scalp as well. One the size of a fly on her torso left a 2-3 inch incision. We are talking 15-25 stiches for what looked like "an average size mole" Not big at all... I will post pictures later today. Please, is it me, or is this "epidermal nevus" a rather vauge prognosis, and do they cut the hell outta every kid like this who suffers from this condition?  Thanks for any info- I am at a complete loss until I go to the doctors monday morning.......Mike

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
I can understand your concern for your child as a parent. Basically epidermal nevi are an overgrowth of the epidermis (upper layers of the skin). Lesions are present at birth (50%) or develop during childhood (mostly in the first year of life). They are harmless but have the potential to run into a tumor or skin cancer.

Treatment option varies from steroids to surgical excision or laser removal depending on the size and site of lesions. There is no harm in getting them removed at an early age and the marks after surgery can be treated as post inflammatory hyperpigmentation or by plastic surgery.
It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.