What to do if you scratch a mole? This is a common question. Damage to moles is a fairly common situation. Often moles appear on exposed areas of the body, where they are susceptible to injury and friction.
Most often, nevi (moles) appear on the human body in childhood, but it is possible that they form in adulthood. To understand what will happen if you injure a mole or have any other damaging effect on it, you need to know what these skin structures are.
What to do if you scratch a mole is of interest to many.
A little about moles
Essentially, moles are considered benign epidermal growths consisting of cells that contain excess amounts of natural pigments, such as melanin. The formation of such structures can be caused by a variety of external and endogenous factors, ranging from hormonal imbalance to ultraviolet influence. Most often, nevi appear on the body in childhood, and in adulthood their formation may be a manifestation of a physiological norm, however, this may be a signal of the emergence of a pathological process, for example, cancer.
Injury factors
There are several types of nevi, each of which has an individual degree of risk of injury:
- Flat moles - externally similar pigmented structures do not rise above the surface of the epidermal cover, which significantly reduces the risk of mechanical damage to a mole of this type.
- Convex moles are formations that protrude beyond the boundaries of the surface layer of the skin. Convex nevi are often exposed to traumatic effects due to contact with tight clothing, accessories and shoes, as well as during the process of combing, washing or performing certain physical work.
- Hanging moles - such neoplasms are most often subject to injury, which is due to their morphological characteristics.
The last two categories of nevi require very careful handling and constant monitoring. In addition, the risk group, whose representatives often encounter damage to skin nevi, usually includes children and women. The latter top this statistics due to their adherence to uncomfortable tight clothing and various accessories that often injure the body of the mole. Children scratch or tear off moles often unconsciously, during play.
What if you scratched a mole and it started bleeding?
How to prevent cuts
Avoiding injury to a birthmark is quite simple. Difficulties can arise only if the mole has a convex shape and a large diameter. In such a situation, the best solution would be to visit a doctor who will examine the growth and tell you whether it can be removed.
To ensure the integrity of moles on the body, you must adhere to the following recommendations:
- it is necessary to avoid friction of the growth on clothing;
- during depilation, you need to take special care and carefully avoid the area where the nevus is located;
- protect moles from contact with nails;
- It is worth making sure that moles are not damaged while playing with animals.
If the nevus has already been injured several times, it is advisable to remove it surgically.
Bad sign
Blood from a mole is considered a bad sign. In this case, it is necessary to stop the bleeding and urgently contact a specialist for examination of the nevus and further therapy (removal of the formation may be required). It is also necessary to carefully examine the nevus: if it is scratched or torn, then this is the cause of the bleeding.
However, it often happens that the bleeding is not caused by trauma to the mole. In such a case, the formation is either slightly scratched or only partially torn off, or the case is even more complex. There is a certain risk that the mole has become dead and inflamed, which causes such bleeding. In any case, the cause of bleeding from the nevus should be consulted with a doctor. There is no need to worry, since neither the collection of tests nor the procedure for removing this formation, if necessary, causes pain or difficulty.
Should I see a doctor if a mole bleeds?
If you are bleeding from a mole, then you should see a doctor.
If you are bleeding from a mole, then you need to see a doctor! If a mole bleeds blood, then something is wrong with it. When blood starts coming from the ear, everyone goes to the doctor, but why should moles be an exception? On the contrary, bleeding from a mole is a call to visit a specialist as soon as possible.
If you often notice that you touch a mole, that it interferes and creates discomfort because of this, then such a mole must be removed, preventing it from starting to bleed. If blood is already flowing and the mole is torn off or simply injured, then most likely your doctor will advise you to remove it in order to prevent the development of a malignant tumor. The risk of such a development is small, but it always creeps up unnoticed, so it is worth insuring yourself against difficulties. In addition, if you remove the disturbing mole, you will be able to feel more confident and calm, because... you will know that this problematic mole will no longer cause trouble.
In general, when visiting a doctor with a complaint such as bleeding from a mole, the patient will take a stripped mole or part of it for tests to find out whether the mole is dangerous and whether it will cause the development of skin cancer. Depending on the diagnosis, the doctor will decide whether to remove the mole. But, if it bothers you and you tore it off, then of course it would be better for you personally and your convenience to remove it.
Why else should you see a doctor if a mole bleeds? The fact is that you can stop the bleeding and even calm down after this or even not pay attention to what happened. However, a mole you pick off can trigger a long or rapid process of the transformation of a benign mole into a malignant tumor. For this reason, it is important to get tested to understand what you have torn off - a simple and harmless mole or melanoma (malignant tumor).
It happens that a mole is torn off not with one’s own hands, but during children’s games with each other or with animals. In this case, it is even more important to contact a specialist, because during this, an infection could be introduced to the injury site, which should be removed and eradicated as soon as possible.
I think no. Any changes in the mole will not be noticeable until six months or at least several months. Usually, after a mole has been traumatized, I recommend regularly monitoring it independently for 6 months. If any changes appear during this period (enlargement, change in color, color or shape, bleeding), you must immediately see an oncologist. At the same time, I urge you to remember the probability of developing melanoma after a mole injury for a resident of St. Petersburg is 0.000075%.
Why does blood come from a mole?
If you scratch a mole and it bleeds, this is a very bad sign. If everything is fine with the mole, it does not grow and does not change its appearance and color, then there is no need to touch it. However, if it is profusely engorged with blood or bleeding occurs from the nevus, this is a sign of a certain pathology that must be clearly diagnosed. A healthy formation will not bleed, so if blood comes from the nevus, it means it is injured.
Sometimes it happens that you scratch a mole without bleeding.
Causes of mole injuries
There can be several reasons for injury to a mole:
- If a person accidentally tears off a mole completely or partially.
- Scratches of moles.
- Friction of the location of the mole.
- Scratching moles due to certain skin diseases.
In fact, there is only one reason for the occurrence of mole injuries - inattention towards it. Every mole requires observation and care. When bathing and grooming, you should always be aware of them and avoid unnecessary exposure. In addition, a nevus can be injured in different ways.
If a mole is seriously injured, blood may come out. For minor injuries, for example, light scratches, there may not be blood, but you should contact a specialist in any case.
Is it scary if you scratch a mole badly?
Security measures
On the body of every person there are dark spots, to damage which it is not necessary to put a lot of effort, it is enough to accidentally cut them with a razor or catch them with a long nail. But if you follow certain tips, you will be able to maintain the integrity of the growths and thereby prevent the development of a serious disease - melanoma.
It is important to monitor your health, not to let the recovery of damaged moles take its course and not to self-treat at home. Deformed benign formations can instantly turn into malignant tumors and lead to irreversible consequences for humans.
Everyone has moles. Sometimes people hurt them. This usually does not pose a health risk. But sometimes such injuries can cause serious problems. From this article you will learn how dangerous mole cuts are when shaving. You will also learn what to do if injury cannot be avoided.
Many men have moles on their faces. Should I worry about this when shaving?
First, a little background. About 10 years ago, I injured a mole on my face while shaving. At medical school, during lectures on surgery and dermatovenereology, teachers often scared students about melanoma. Lecturers named nevus injuries as one of the risk factors for the development of this malignant tumor.
I remembered all the scary stories and ran to work in a panic. On duty, I then worked in the same office with two doctors. One of them is a former military doctor, the second is a psychiatrist. Both doctors looked at the cut. The military doctor said that you can forget and not fool yourself. The psychiatrist said the same thing. I really calmed down and forgot about the problem. Was it worth worrying? Let's figure it out.
Is a mole injury dangerous?
Clinical studies have confirmed that in almost 50% of cases, the formation of melanoma is preceded by trauma to pigmented nevi (moles). Some doctors consider these statements controversial, but it is too early to consider the discussion closed. There are many cases where, after a scratch or other injury to a mole, such disorders went away without a trace, and almost every person has injured a nevus at least once in their life. People also complain that the cat scratched a mole. However, statistics are difficult to dispute, so you need to be vigilant.
Symptoms of violation of the integrity of a mole
If painful sensations or a feeling of discomfort appear, it is necessary to urgently take measures aimed at establishing the causes and further treatment of the phenomenon on the epidermal surface. Several of the most common symptoms of general nevus disorders:
- the skin has uneven edges around the formation;
- signs of asymmetry in the shape of the mole appeared;
- the color of the nevus has changed;
- increase in size of formation;
- the occurrence of pain or discomfort.
When should you be wary?
In some cases, after damage to a mole, you should be wary. This applies to situations where:
- the mole has changed color, shape, texture;
- the growth has become painful;
- the skin around the mole begins to itch or there is a burning sensation;
- the color of the skin around the nevus has changed;
- the damaged area does not heal.
These symptoms may indicate the transformation of a benign tumor into a malignant one. By contacting the clinic in time, you can prevent the development of a serious disease.
Usually damaged moles heal quickly if transformation has not occurred. Even if a mole is torn off, the area can heal. Although there is a possibility that the nevus will appear again, because it is almost impossible to remove it in this way. The mole is located in the deep layers of the skin, and only a doctor can completely remove it.
Self-medication is unacceptable
When a child scratches a mole, trying to treat it yourself is highly inadvisable, since such procedures can cause serious harm by introducing infection into the damaged area. The main complication in this case is the development of malignant processes, which are caused by pathological transformation of the cellular structures of the nevus.
It is for this reason that every person, if possible, should visit a doctor who will carry out the necessary diagnostic measures to examine the mole, which will help identify the presence of certain diseases.
Treatment
When a person scratches a mole until it bleeds, in modern clinical medicine these problems are solved in several available ways:
- electricity;
- laser removal;
- cauterization.
Together with any of the methods described above, the patient can get rid of nevus on the skin and eliminate the pain that is often observed with injuries and diseases of moles.
So, I scratched the mole until it bled. The doctor will tell you what to do.
Why you shouldn't panic
According to recent studies, the risk factors for developing melanoma, in descending order of danger, include the following: fair skin, a history of sunburn, prolonged exposure to the open sun without protection, living close to the equator (for us, the further south, the higher the risk), or high in the mountains, the presence of more than 50 pigment formations on the skin, heredity, immune disorders. As you can see, having fair skin and overdoing it on the beach or going to the solarium is more dangerous than injuring a nevus when shaving.
But you should not neglect a visit to the doctor. Firstly, consulting with a specialist is safer than ignoring the problem. Secondly, only a doctor can make a diagnosis and suggest further actions appropriate to the situation. Be healthy!
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Removal techniques
If the doctor decides to remove a mole, this can be done using the following modern techniques:
- surgical removal;
- removal with nitrogen (cryodestruction);
- electrocoagulation;
- laser therapy;
- radio wave excision – getting rid of a mole using high-frequency waves.
Surgical removal is considered the most reliable method for removing damaged moles. The surgeon cuts off the formation with a scalpel and cauterizes the wound. Then an antibiotic and a special bandage are applied to the surface. Sometimes the mole and its surrounding surface are removed. The size of this area affects the possibility of developing a malignant process. After cutting out large areas, stitches are placed.
The cryodestruction method is used for small moles and papillomas in prominent places. Using an applicator, liquid nitrogen is applied to the mole, where a bubble appears. It subsequently shrinks and forms a crust, which then falls off and new skin remains in place. Dermatologists confirm this. What to do if you scratch a mole, you should first check with them.
Electrocoagulation fights annoying moles, warts, HPV, acne and many other ailments. When removing a mole with an electric coagulator, the specialist selects the power of the device and, using a loop-tip, begins to influence the mole through an electric current.
Laser therapy is suitable for removing small tumors. Today, this procedure is recognized as the most effective method for removing a mole on the face. Its essence is the complete elimination of education. To remove a mole without damaging surrounding areas of the skin, a beam with a certain wavelength is selected. Its effect is aimed at melanin, which is contained in moles.
Should I shave or not? - that is the question
If the female half of the population is concerned that moles on the face spoil the appearance, then the male part is more interested in the question - how to shave if there are moles on the face? There is a clear answer to this question - as carefully as possible, trying not to touch the mole itself. Under no circumstances should you shave with a straight razor, as there is a risk of cutting and infection. For such a case, it is best to use an electric razor - it causes the least trauma to the skin.
It should be remembered that the danger of any mole lies in the possibility of its degeneration into a malignant melanoma. Particular attention should be paid to large dark-colored moles with an uneven surface and edges. The appearance of peeling, pain and bleeding is also a signal to visit the doctor's office.
A common question among men: how to shave if there are moles on your face? Surely many people know that these benign formations on the skin can be either absolutely safe or, conversely, pose a threat to human health. It happens that the growth is located in places that are constantly exposed. Then you can accidentally scratch the mole or cut it off altogether, which often happens during shaving. Quitting using a razor is not an option. You need to get used to shaving in such a way as to prevent damage to the growths as much as possible.
Injury to moles: consequences
First of all, it should be noted that the development of the oncological process is not always associated with scratches or other damage to pigmented nevi, and melanoma will not necessarily be a consequence of such a phenomenon. At the same time, scientists have proven that for moles that are initially classified as melanoma-hazardous, trauma to the surface can lead to an acceleration of the onset of a pathological malignant process. This is one of the main reasons why it is necessary to protect any nevi from all kinds of aggressive influences that damage their structure.
In addition to malignant transformation, there are several other dangerous consequences that may result from torn or scratched moles:
- Development of severe bleeding. The body of the nevus is equipped with many blood vessels that saturate the cells of this formation with oxygen and nutrients. Some nevi, such as hemangiomas and angiomas, are composed entirely of a plexus of blood channels. In this regard, if such a formation is damaged, severe bleeding can occur, which can only be stopped through medical care. After visual healing, such a mole often bleeds for a long period of time, which is a consequence of injury.
- Attachment of infections. The open wound surface that forms at the site of the damaged nevus provides rapid access for various infectious agents to the skin, and, accordingly, to the entire human body. As a result, a local infectious process or a generalized pathological condition may develop, which is accompanied by suppuration of the areas of contamination.
- Inflammatory processes. Often after mechanical trauma to a nevus, people notice swelling of the area around the mole and hyperemia of the skin. This, along with pain during touching, may indicate the development of an inflammation process. This reaction is often accompanied by spasm of the blood vessels, which is manifested by the appearance of a white spot around the injured mole. If left untreated, this process can lead to suppuration of the wound surface.
- Formation of scars and scars. This aspect especially worries women when she scratches a mole on her face with some accessory or manicure. The consequence of such a careless attitude can be an aesthetic defect that forms against the background of excessive growth of connective tissue. Subsequently, such scars can only be removed using special cosmetic techniques.
To avoid the unpleasant phenomena described above, it is necessary to treat moles with care and attention and, best of all, remove the formation located in the high-risk area in advance.
What happens when you cut off a mole?
It is impossible to specifically answer the question of what will happen if a person cuts off a mole while shaving. Doctors assure that even the safest nevi, when injured, can transform into malignant neoplasms .
Moreover, the larger the diameter of the injured nevus, the higher the risk of degeneration. Also, in the event of a breakdown or cut, the possibility of blood poisoning cannot be ruled out. The greatest danger lies in melanocyte cells. In most cases, they do not manifest themselves in any way until a person injures the nevus.
But if the cells are cut during shaving and enter the bloodstream, due to their overly aggressive behavior, a malignant tumor can form. As medical practice shows, damage to a nevus does not always provoke the development of cancer. Typically, inaccurate shaving leads to deformation and partial breakdown of the growth.
In this case, prolonged bleeding and moderate pain may occur (especially if the nevus in the intimate area is damaged).
Usually the wound heals within 4-7 days. During this period, it is necessary to observe how the growth behaves.
Important! If the birthmark has increased in diameter, darkened, or new growths have appeared near it, you need to visit a doctor.
