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nevus sebaceous

by mimmi, Mar 18, 2004 12:00AM
My boy was born on 24th and he had a scar on his head , dime size oval shaped area with no hair. He was referred to the dermatologist who said that before puberty he would need to remove the scar to prevent any kind of cancer. I was going thorught he internet which talks in length about nevus sebaceous syndrome which is a set of symptoms of mental retardation, seizures, etc. My son appears to be very healthy, nurses well and I dont see anything out of the ordinary for that age. Please let me know if oyu all have any information. I want to know of nevus sebaceous always come with the syndrome, or this is just a scar that needs to be removed at puberty. Please reply soon. Thank you in advance
Member Comments (29)

by nanakay, Mar 18, 2004 12:00AM
To: mimmi
sometimes to much research can be a dangerous thing.  Listen to your doctor they aren't going to keep anything from you.

If they said it was just a scar then it is probably just a scar.

I know it is hard to not to worry about your baby. But sometimes we way over think things.  best wishes to you.

by skd7474, Mar 18, 2004 12:00AM
To: mimmi
My nephew had that when he was born. He had it removed when he was around 3 (I think) he is now a healthy 14 year old punk lol. His father also had it and had it removed when he was younger. They say it is hereditary.

by nurse12hr, Mar 18, 2004 12:00AM
There is another condition, called aplasia cuteus congenica (that is probably a gross misspelling!)



here is a link:



http://www.emedicine.com/derm/topic32.htm



There are probably pictures of it somewhere out there.  If your infant looks and acts normal and the docs don't seem worried--I would relax about it.  Good luck!

by quigs, Apr 16, 2004 12:00AM
Don't worry. I had a nevus sebaceous at birth the size of my ear above my left ear. It was basically a bald spot . When I entered puberty I began to get sores (probably zits like other skin). The only risk to your child is possibly developing cancerous and non cancerous growths later in life. I had mine removed in the 7th grade and am now 31 and quite uneffected. I believe the info you have been reading has to do with linear nevus sebaceous which is totally different. Think of it as a bad mole.I understand I have 3 children myself. I hope this reaches you. KQ

by quigs, Apr 16, 2004 12:00AM
Don't worry. I had a nevus sebaceous at birth the size of my ear above my left ear. It was basically a bald spot . When I entered puberty I began to get sores (probably zits like other skin). The only risk to your child is possibly developing cancerous and non cancerous growths later in life. I had mine removed in the 7th grade and am now 31 and quite uneffected. I believe the info you have been reading has to do with linear nevus sebaceous which is totally different. Think of it as a bad mole.I understand I have 3 children myself. I hope this reaches you. KQ

by Abrammann, Aug 06, 2007 08:31PM
To: Anyone
My son was born with a large nevus sebaceous on both cheeks 2 spots on the back of his head on the back of his neck and on his chest.  He is 1 and he has already had to have a growth removed.  Nobody seems to know **** about this. I need help. I need information I need to see pictures I need advice. Please.  My email address is ***@**** please contact me through my email.

by golish mom, Aug 14, 2007 09:31PM
To: Abrammann
My son has a Nevus sebaceous on his head, and we are the fortunate ones because we only have one.  We are going for surgery in Sep, 2007 to St Johns  in St Louis.  A child surgen named Dr Coln is going to be removing it.  His info is Childrens Surgery Associates
                                                         St. Johns Mercy Doctors
                                                          621 S New Ballas rd Suite 6018
                                                           St Louis, Mo 63141
                                                             314-251-5940

by Jennieeve, Aug 19, 2007 10:10PM
To: mimmi
I have a sebaceous nevus.  I am one of those incredibly rare individuals who has it on my arm.  No doctor has ever conciderred it worth being concerned about, and certainly every time the posibility of removal has arisen, I have been told that it is merely a cosmetic choice.  It never grew any lesions during pubery, and is the only part of my body that is not freckled.  It's just funny looking skin, I wouldn't worry about it.

by shaw39, Dec 19, 2007 10:20PM
To: Anyone
I just had my 4 year old daughter into the Plastic Surgeon to discuss the removal of a Nevus Sebaceous on top of her head.  I was told that as a child with the NS, there is a 25% greater risk of it becoming cancer forming if not removed.  We will have the surgery in the first month of 2008.  If it was an adult getting the surgery they would use a local to numb the area and cut a football shaped incision to remove the NS.  Since a 4 year old would not sit still for such a surgery, she will have to be put under.  Should be about a 3 hour visit in total to the doctors  (we are familiar with this portion, my 5 year old just had her tonsils and anoids out about 2 weeks ago).

by stac9, Dec 30, 2007 02:17PM
To: Shaw39
Will you please let me know how the removal works out.  My daughter was also born with a NS on her right check about 2 inchs long we were told by the dermatologist to wait until she hit puberty to have it removed.  She is going to be 8 in february and we have not seen a doctor concerning this since she was 3 or 4.  Thanks and Good Luck!

by aadragonfly, Jan 09, 2008 07:13PM
To: Stac9
My daughter is also 8, she has an NS on her left side right by her ear about 2 inches long, and we were just told today to have it removed this summer.  I'm scared and worried,....and going a little crazy looking up information, which I think is making it worse.  There are some scary stories and pictures on the internet...don't go there.  Stick with what your doctor says, and have it removed when the doctor suggests, which will probably be soon.  Girls go through puberty earlier nowadays than before, so he suggests before she turns 9.  I think that greatly reduces the risk of it becoming cancerous.  We really had always assumed it was a harmless birthmark, and her hair grew in and covered it, and it never became an issue.  All of a sudden, we're in a panic.  I'll be glad to make an appointment with the actual doctor that will do the surgery so I can get some more information.

by rb05, Jan 14, 2008 09:18AM
To: all
My son was also born with a NS on his right cheek near his mouth.  We had it removed when he was around 3. Old enough to not touch the incision sight that much.  It was a simple process for us.  We were told to go ahead at a young age and remove it (1) he wont remember it (2) the scar from the surgery will be less (3) he wont have to go through school and all the kids asking what it is (4) why wait until it turns into something else.  They had to make about a 2 inch incision (moon shape) next to his