This can mean melanoma, but a mole oozing pus can also have a benign cause.
“Pus or even infection in a mole is not in itself a sign of melanoma,” says Dr. Rebecca Tung, MD, director of the dermatology division at Loyola University Health System, Chicago.
“People can have an acne cyst at the same location as a mole — causing it to swell or become infected.
“Because some skin cancers produce unusually fragile skin which can be easily traumatized, they can become infected and produce pus.
“If your mole is behaving weirdly, a quick checkup with the dermatologist can help sort out if skin cancer is present or not.”
Melanoma. Laurence Meyer, MD. cancer.gov
The Acne Cyst
Acne cysts are deep, sometimes painful, and swollen nodules that can form when hair follicles become clogged with excess oil and dead skin cells.
The pus in acne cysts is usually thick, yellowish or white. It’s a collection of dead white blood cells, bacteria and cellular debris.
It can feel semi-solid or gel-like, and it may be under pressure, contributing to the pain and swelling of the cyst.
The pus can vary in color, ranging from white to yellow, depending on the stage of the infection and the presence of different types of bacteria.
It’s easy to see that is all of this is coincidentally occuring alongside a mole, or the irritated follicle just happens to be inside the mole, that it can make a person wonder if it’s melanoma.
Do not delay getting a mole, that seems to have pus coming out of it, examined by a dermatologist — who is better qualified than a general practitioner to inspect the spot.
Dr. Tung’s
specialties include general dermatology with skin cancer surveillance, moles, melanoma, surgery (Mohs micrographic, laser, skin cancer reconstruction) and cosmetic dermatology.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: Shutterstock/New Africa
