Moles are the most common skin growths. You can safely say that you and most people you know have at least 10-40 of them. The vast majority of those moles are harmless. However, moles can change over time and become dangerous.
Fortunately, a cancerous mole often makes its appearance known with visible symptoms.
That’s why our board-certified dermatologists at Sanford Dermatology want our patients to know exactly what to look for, so no warning sign goes unnoticed. Read on to learn whether itching, bleeding moles are cause for concern.
An itching, bleeding mole is often harmless and unlikely to be cancerous. Moles can become irritated by rubbing against clothing, exposure to certain skin care products or chemicals, or accidental razor cuts.
So, if your mole becomes itchy or starts bleeding, but the symptoms resolve quickly, and you don’t notice other changes, it’s probably nothing to worry about.
Even so, we always recommend you make an appointment with us just to be safe. It’s better to leave with a clean bill of health and peace of mind than it is to miss more subtle indicators of a potentially serious health threat.
Sometimes, excessive itching and bleeding near a mole can be a cause for concern. Cancer cells can irritate the nerve endings in your mole, making it itch and bleed. Bleeding is actually one of the tell-tale signs of melanoma. But itching and bleeding aren’t all we’re looking for.
Potentially cancerous moles usually announce their appearance. Simply remember your ABCDEs:
These changes, combined with inflammation, itchiness, bleeding, and other symptoms, may indicate skin cancer, and you should schedule a mole evaluation with our experts as soon as possible.
Mole evaluations are simple and easy. We begin with discussing your health history and current symptoms. Sometimes, we only need to look at your mole to know if it’s a concern or not. Other times, we may need more information from a biopsy (small tissue sample) to determine if the problematic mole is cancerous.
If your mole is problematic, we may recommend removing it. During mole removal, we numb your skin, surgically shave off the mole, and send it to a lab. We also use a specialized needle to stop bleeding and destroy any threatening cells that might remain.
If your mole is cancerous, we discuss your next steps at a follow-up appointment. We may need to order additional tests to see if the cancer has spread. We also walk you through your various cancer treatment options and connect you with cancer specialists.
There are a few reasons your mole could be itchy and bleeding. If your mole is otherwise unchanged, the symptoms are likely the result of irritation or injury. If your mole has changed or the itching and bleeding are severe, you should make time to see us for an evaluation.
Either way, it’s better to be safe than sorry with a worrisome mole. Are you concerned about a mole? We’re here to help. Call or click to schedule a visit at your nearest Sanford Dermatology office in Sanford, Pittsboro, or Lillington, North Carolina, today.
