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Is A Mole Ulcerating A Sign Of Malignancy?
Posted on
Thu, 21 Aug 2014
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Thu, 21 Aug 2014
Answered on
Mon, 8 Sep 2014
Last reviewed on
Question : I've been using your service for a couple of months now and appreciate the service you provide. All of the answers I've received have been verified by own dermatologist. I have one last issue that I would some feedback back on.
I have a mole on my right shoulder that had a small black spot on it. About the size of a lead point on a pencil. Really small. I scraped it away with my fingernail and noticed that there was a wound on it. I do remember a few days ago scratching around that area due to a misquito bite. The bite wasnt on the mole itself but around the mole and I generally scratched that whole area. I'm not to sure if I directly scratched it or not but I havent noticed anything changing about this mole previously. I even had a full body exam 1 month ago and this wasnt listed as suspicious. My worry is that it's beginning to ulcerate on it's own but in reality I'm sure it was caused my scratching. It hasn't crusted, oozed or leaked any blood. If the mole was ulcerating would it look worse than that? I've provided two pictures. One with regular light and one with flash photography. The flash makes it look worse than it is. The size of the mole is about 4-5mm. My worry is some sort of malignancy here. Am I over reacting? I've got a follow up with my dermatologist on 8/29/14 regardless.
Also all of this was noticed this 24 hours ago. I put cortisone cream on the area and covered with a band aid. The scratched area looks to be healing and there was no fluid/blood discharge on the band aid when I removed it this morning. I have again for the time being put another treatment of cortisone cream on it and put a band aid on it.
I have a mole on my right shoulder that had a small black spot on it. About the size of a lead point on a pencil. Really small. I scraped it away with my fingernail and noticed that there was a wound on it. I do remember a few days ago scratching around that area due to a misquito bite. The bite wasnt on the mole itself but around the mole and I generally scratched that whole area. I'm not to sure if I directly scratched it or not but I havent noticed anything changing about this mole previously. I even had a full body exam 1 month ago and this wasnt listed as suspicious. My worry is that it's beginning to ulcerate on it's own but in reality I'm sure it was caused my scratching. It hasn't crusted, oozed or leaked any blood. If the mole was ulcerating would it look worse than that? I've provided two pictures. One with regular light and one with flash photography. The flash makes it look worse than it is. The size of the mole is about 4-5mm. My worry is some sort of malignancy here. Am I over reacting? I've got a follow up with my dermatologist on 8/29/14 regardless.
Also all of this was noticed this 24 hours ago. I put cortisone cream on the area and covered with a band aid. The scratched area looks to be healing and there was no fluid/blood discharge on the band aid when I removed it this morning. I have again for the time being put another treatment of cortisone cream on it and put a band aid on it.
Brief Answer:
simple mole. not to worry
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for the query and photographs.
Definitely there is nothing to worry. There are no signs of malignancy.
It is a simple mole which has developed slight bleeding due to scratching.
Please don't apply cortisone and also don't cover it. This will increase chances of infection.
Apply an antibacterial cream twice a day and keep it open.
It will heal in a few days.
Let me know if you have any other doubts.
Thank you
simple mole. not to worry
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for the query and photographs.
Definitely there is nothing to worry. There are no signs of malignancy.
It is a simple mole which has developed slight bleeding due to scratching.
Please don't apply cortisone and also don't cover it. This will increase chances of infection.
Apply an antibacterial cream twice a day and keep it open.
It will heal in a few days.
Let me know if you have any other doubts.
Thank you
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Would an malignant ulceration look worse than that? I know I scratched that area but as you could imagine sometimes you don't pay attention to what you're doing sometimes. There has been discharge of any type if there was it had to happen when the trauma happened because there was a scab.
I'm sorry meant to say hasn't had any fluid discharge
I'm sorry meant to say hasn't had any fluid discharge
Brief Answer:
not melanoma
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for the follow up.
Malignant ulceration presents with gross thickening of surrounding skin. Also the progress of lesion Is very rapid.
Suddenly there will be appearance of more ulcerated lesions in surrounding and frequently there will be bleeding.
None of these features are present in your case.
Just relax you are totally fine.
Feel free to ask any doubt.
Thank you
not melanoma
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for the follow up.
Malignant ulceration presents with gross thickening of surrounding skin. Also the progress of lesion Is very rapid.
Suddenly there will be appearance of more ulcerated lesions in surrounding and frequently there will be bleeding.
None of these features are present in your case.
Just relax you are totally fine.
Feel free to ask any doubt.
Thank you
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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