# Developing New Birthmarks? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 19, 2002, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/developing-new-birthmarks/143814 "2002-12-19T16:02:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/developing-new-birthmarks/143814/1 "2002-12-19T16:02:01Z")
This morning I was doing my breast exam in the mirror and I noticed a new birthmark (?) on my ribcage. It’s a dark purple blob, sort of like a drop of wine, smaller than a dime. It’s not a mole, it’s not raised from the skin…it looks just like the strawberry birthmark on my thigh. Is it possible to develop ‘birthmarks’ at the age of thirty or is this one of things that I should be losing sleep over? More importantly…IS THIS I SIGN THAT I’M PREGNANT??? 😃 😃 😃 sigh…didn’t think so. ---
**Author:** ![Skelji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Skelji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skelji)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/developing-new-birthmarks/143814/2 "2002-12-19T16:40:36Z")
I developed a small one on my calf a few years ago, a little smaller than a pencil eraser. I did keep an eye on it though, you know, for skin cancer and all that. It’s never changed size or shape or anything. You should definitely pay attention to any changes in yours, especially if it’s purple. Heh, maybe it’s the only evidence of an alien abduction last night. ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/developing-new-birthmarks/143814/3 "2002-12-19T16:43:15Z")
oh GREAT. One more thing to worry about 😃 I’ll definitely keep an eye on it. Although I haven’t been out in the sun or anything for a while. ---
**Author:** ![Surreal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@Surreal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surreal)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/developing-new-birthmarks/143814/4 "2002-12-19T17:01:33Z")
Could it be Molluscum Contagiosum ([http://www.aad.org/pamphlets/molluscum.html](http://www.aad.org/pamphlets/molluscum.html))? ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/developing-new-birthmarks/143814/5 "2002-12-19T17:03:42Z")
I don’t think so. It’s not risen from the skin or different in texture in anyway. It’s just a discoloration. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/developing-new-birthmarks/143814/6 "2002-12-19T17:18:00Z")
Have you been born again? ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/developing-new-birthmarks/143814/7 "2002-12-19T17:36:36Z")
I have something similar on my ribcage, along my bra line. I think my mom does too. Her doctor told her it was a fungus (crazy, i know, because it’s not raised). I don’t think he gave her anything for it. I don’t really know other details, and I’ve never had mine looked at. Mine’s about the size of a quarter now. If yours is along your bra line too perhaps it’s a common thing that happens in that area because of the daily covering-up of the area, the way sweat is trapped, or the general warm darkness of the area. If you’re worried maybe ask your Dr. ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/developing-new-birthmarks/143814/8 "2002-12-19T17:51:26Z")
Hmm…it is on the bra line…perhaps that’s the answer! ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2021, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/developing-new-birthmarks/143814/10 "2021-05-07T18:01:09Z")
> [@Surreal](#): > > Could it be Molluscum Contagiosum ([http://www.aad.org/pamphlets/molluscum.html](http://www.aad.org/pamphlets/molluscum.html))? I’m disappointed that this isn’t some sort of parasitic snail. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2021, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/developing-new-birthmarks/143814/11 "2021-05-07T18:04:20Z")
Never mind, I just noticed the “_18 years_ later.”