New Raised Mole Among Flat Moles: Red Flag for Melanoma ?
A red flag for melanoma is if you have a new mole that doesn’t look like your other moles, and if it’s a raised mole and all of your other moles are flat, this isn’t [...]
Can Angiomas Ever Lead to Melanoma?
“Melanoma may look similar to an angioma, especially an amelanotic melanoma which are usually quickly growing pink or red bumps,” says Caroline A. Chang, MD, a board certified dermatologist and founder of the Rhode Island [...]
Mole Removed Long Ago, Area Healed, but Now Is Itching
A mole gets removed, then a long time later it starts itching like mad. One woman feared this meant a few mole cells were left behind and turned into cancer. And that the cancer was [...]
Mole Bleeds After Scratching: Melanoma Risk or IS It Melanoma?
Rather than worry that scratching a mole raises melanoma risk, you should be concerned that a mole that bleeds from the lightest scratch IS melanoma. However, this is not likely since often, scratching can cause [...]
Mole Grew Back Rapidly After Shave Biopsy Was Normal
You recently had a mole removed with a shave technique; the biopsy was normal; and now the mole is already growing back quite fast. Melanoma could very well be the first thing that pops into [...]
Maximum Number of Moles that Can Be Removed at the Same Time
Your body is peppered in moles and you’re scared of melanoma or just hate the look, so just how many of your moles can be removed at the same time by a dermatologist? [...]
Can Bra Strap Irritation Turn a Mole into Melanoma?
If your bra strap keeps irritating a mole, can this make it turn into a deadly melanoma? Many women are worried that continuous irritation from a bra strap can cause a mole to develop into [...]
How Does a Dermatologist Check for Melanoma?
Here’s how to make sure a dermatologist is doing everything possible to check your skin and moles for signs of melanoma. […]
Does a Painful Mole Mean Melanoma and Should a Doctor See It?
Melanoma can cause a mole to hurt in a way that can be described as pain. However, other factors can also cause pain to come from a mole. So how can you tell if the [...]
Benign Causes of Itching Moles Other than Melanoma
There’s a surprising number of benign reasons for a mole to begin itching. Though melanoma indeed can cause a mole to be itchy, this symptom often has a cause other than cancer. [...]
Can Normal Mole Hurt if Irritated? Or Does Hurting Mean Cancer?
You irritated a mole, perhaps with clothing or scratching over it without realizing it, and it now hurts; does this mean cancer even though it looks normal? Common moles can get irritated in everyday life. [...]
How to Stop Worrying About Your Moles
Anxiety over your moles can get bad enough to disrupt productivity at work, ruin social events & cause insomnia. However, you can overcome this nagging problem. […]
Can You Get Melanoma from Scratching a Mole?
Whether you deliberately scratch an itchy mole or just happen to scratch it because it's in an itchy area, you may wonder if melanoma can be caused by this. Melanoma from scratching a mole is [...]
Can Moles Grow from Scabs?
Whether or not moles can grow from a scab is a popular question. And it has a definitive answer. Composition of a scab vs. composition of a mole -- do you know the difference? A [...]
Spot Where Mole Was Removed Itches Soon After
What does it mean (melanoma?) when soon after mole removal, the area is itching? Any time you have a mole removed, it should be biopsied—even if the removal was purely for cosmetic reasons. A mole [...]
Loosened Mole Looks Like It Can Be Flicked Off
Is a loosened mole that looks like it can be flicked off melanoma or benign? “This could be a true ‘mole,’ which means it is made of melanocytes, or it could be a vascular growth [...]
Does a Punch Biopsy for Mole Removal Hurt?
Here’s why a punch biopsy for a mole removal does NOT hurt. You don’t need a doctor to tell you that having a mole removed via punch biopsy does not hurt. I’ve had two of [...]
NEVER Pick Off a Melanoma, Says Dermatologist
Don’t even THINK about picking or scraping off that ugly or odd-looking mole that might be melanoma. “You should not try to rub off a growth that you suspect could be a melanoma,” says Dr. Janet [...]
Punch Biopsy for a Mildly Atypical Mole
What does a dermatologist think about a punch biopsy for a mole that’s slightly atypical? An "atypical" mole means it's more likely to morph into melanoma than is a typical mole. “A suspicious mole can [...]
Will Having Normal Moles Removed Prevent Melanoma?
Melanoma can arise from a pre-existing mole, so you might be thinking that it’s smart to have your normal moles removed to at least prevent the development of melanoma from these moles. If you have [...]
Mole Removal with Laser Causes Regrowth of Moles
If you want a mole removed with a laser, the mole might grow back. Traditionally, the idea is that a laser beam will penetrate the mole’s surface area to disintegrate any abnormal cells, and the [...]
How Painful Is Surgical Mole Removal?
Surgical mole removal is not painful at all. At least, it wasn't painful for me, and I have had six moles removed surgically. Yes, the doctor may tell you, "This might hurt a little," before [...]
Benign Mole Removal: My Experience
Ever thought of having mole removal? I've had mole removal twice for benign moles. The first mole was on my abdomen and measured four and a half millimeters in diameter. I had surgical mole removal [...]
Mole Shave Biopsy on Lower Leg Healing Time
Find out how long it may take for a mole shave biopsy on your lower leg to heal. I had a shave biopsy on my lower leg for a mole that I was concerned about [...]
Can You Accidentally Shave Off Melanoma?
Maybe you’ve read a few things about “picking off” a melanoma, but what about shaving it off—by accident? Are you wondering if melanoma can be picked off? “It is moles and nevus or seborrheic keratosis [...]
New Mole but You’re 60-Plus: May Be Melanoma
If you’ve discovered a new mole and you’re 60-plus, don’t wait to get this checked out by a dermatologist. If you’re over age 60 you may be noticing new spots arising on your skin on [...]
How to Check if Your Moles Are Getting Bigger
Here is a really simple way to tell if one of your moles is getting bigger -- even a very tiny dot of a mole. No apps required! You need only two simple items. The [...]
When an Itching Mole Begins Bothering You
Here's what a dermatologist says about itching moles. If you’re concerned about an itching mole (could it be melanoma?), first make sure that the itching is coming from the actual spot itself, rather than nearby [...]
My Teen Has Tons of Moles: Should I Worry?
Skin cancer surgeon Dr. Monica Halem comments about teens with many moles. Have you looked at your teen’s skin lately for moles? Are you even aware of how many moles your teen has? My nephew [...]