The cat scratched a mole until it bled, what should I do?

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.

What is the danger of nevi

A mole (nevus) is a hemato-like malformation of the skin or mucous membranes.
These are skin neoplasms with the presence of pigment cells (melanocytes), consisting of the dermis or epidermis.

A nevus can be located on the body both before the birth of a child and appear throughout life.

• Their size varies from a millimeter to 10 centimeters.
• In some cases, a pigment spot can cover the entire limb, or a large part of the skin anywhere - on the back, stomach or face. Normally, a person has up to 30 benign neoplasms.
• If their number is much higher, the moles are large and dark, this should alert you.

Factors of occurrence

The exact reasons for the appearance of a mole on the human body are not fully understood, but a number of main factors are identified:

• genetic predisposition;
• primary damage to the central nervous system;
• ultraviolet radiation;
• hormonal fluctuations.

The spot may be black, light or dark brown, red (cluster of blood vessels) or blue.

As long as nevi are benign, they are not a cause for concern.

Therefore, doctors do not recommend touching them.

• The greatest danger is injury to nevi. As a result of damage, melanocytes can degenerate into cancer cells, which begin to actively multiply. If you pick off a mole, you can provoke its growth and the development of melanoma (skin cancer).
• If a mole has enlarged, filled with blood, or changed shape or color, you should definitely consult a doctor. This is especially true for moles, which are often injured and bleed.

Effective treatment of melanoma is possible only in the early stages of the disease.

Injury factors

There are several types of nevi, each of which has an individual degree of risk of injury:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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?

Complications

Often, ignorance of the consequences of transforming a mole leads to ignoring the problem and neglecting basic safety measures.

Every skin tumor, even benign, is a tumor.

In the vast majority of cases, nevi are safe; people live with them “peacefully” all their lives, without knowing any problems.

But there are exceptions that are provoked, including if a mole is scratched. Damaged melanocytes begin to grow uncontrollably, the mole increases in size and changes.

Are there any

hanging moles in newborns

?

What types of moles are there? Read here.

Laser mole removal, reviews, consequences, photos. Read and watch here.

What you should be wary of:

• any damage to the mole - from strong compression to complete tearing off;
• location in potentially dangerous places, often touched by clothing, jewelry, and similar places;
• modification - size, color and shape must remain constant. If changes occur, this is the first sign of rebirth;
• pain, itching, burning sensation;
• the appearance of a light halo around or dots on the surface of the nevus;
• discharge of blood or other fluid (pus, lymph).

If you let melanoma take its course, a quick death is inevitable.

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.

What will happen to the mole next?

After trauma, as in any other place, the mole will hurt a little and turn slightly red - this is normal. Gradually, after 2-3 weeks, these phenomena should go away on their own.

The only situation in which medical intervention may be required is the suppuration of a mole after a severe injury.

This means that if after a few days a viscous white (not yellow) liquid begins to emerge from the site of injury, you need to be examined by a surgeon. After 1-2 days, a crust will appear at the site of the injury, which will fall off on its own after 1-2 weeks.

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.

What to do if a mole is torn off or cut off

1. If there is bleeding, apply a piece of cotton wool (preferably) gauze moistened with hydrogen peroxide to the wound.

   Treat the wound with a solution of any antiseptic except iodine. I can recommend chlorhexidine - it costs little money and is available in any pharmacy.

2. If there is bleeding, apply a piece of cotton wool (preferably) gauze moistened with hydrogen peroxide to the wound.
3. If the bleeding does not stop for a long time, press gauze or cotton wool with peroxide firmly onto the mole.
4. After the bleeding has stopped, you can fix the gauze on the mole with a plaster.

Causes of mole injuries

There can be several reasons for injury to a mole:

1. If a person accidentally tears off a mole completely or partially.
2. Scratches of moles.
3. Friction of the location of the mole.
4. 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?

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.

Risk of degeneration into malignant formation

Traumatization of a nevus in itself does not cause cancer. And in those clinical cases when, after damage to a mole in a patient, the process of melanoma development occurs rapidly, doctors claim that this pigment element has already previously been malignant. This means that oncopathology developed long before the injury, which only served as a catalyst for atypical processes in the body.

If the mole does not have atypical cells, then in this case the risk of degeneration of the formation is minimal. Taking this into account, after any minor damage to the nevus, you should not panic and paint gloomy pictures of the future.

But such injuries should not be ignored, since the risk of malignancy always exists.

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.

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.

Prevention measures

Regardless of whether a mole appears on the skin or mucous membranes, this concentration of pigment must be constantly monitored.

There are several precautions that can be taken to minimize the risk of damage to birthmarks:

• regular examination (including by a dermatologist), if there are changes, immediately consult a doctor;
• neat manicure without sharp ends;
• soft sponges for taking water procedures, without hard massage additions;
• take care of your clothes - they should not rub or catch, especially hanging nevi;
• conduct educational conversations with children about the dangers of damaged moles, so that in the event of such, they immediately turn to adults for help.

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.

Risk of damage to moles

Flat moles are a cluster of cells that contain the pigment melanin; they are less susceptible to injury. Convex warts are benign formations that do not threaten human health. They are easy to catch and injure during shaving, especially when they are located on the face. If a nevus is touched, the necessary measures should be immediately taken to prevent degeneration.

Malignancy is not the only scenario. In many cases, after scratching or cutting a nevus, there are no negative consequences. The injury healed successfully.

It is worth knowing how to properly treat a wound. This is especially true for parents of young children. A child can pick, comb the nevus, or try to squeeze it out. If you do not pay attention to your baby, blood clots on the affected area can become baked, increasing the likelihood of infection.

If a large area of ​​skin has been injured, there is a risk of blood infection when it flows from the wound for a long time and does not want to stop, despite the medications used. The healing process will be long. Pain cannot be avoided, especially when a razor hits a nevus in the intimate area. Scratching the wound is strictly prohibited.

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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.

Doctors' advice: what to do if you rip off a mole

After carrying out the initial measures, the torn mole must be shown to a doctor, who will determine the need for removal or further control of the damaged area

Most people, due to many myths and lack of awareness, not knowing what to do if they scratch a mole, fall into panic. In fact, most undesirable consequences can be avoided by correctly and timely responding to such damage to the surface of the nevus. Here are the recommendations of experts on what to do if you rip off a mole:

1. Stop the bleeding. This point is not always easy to complete, due to the localization of many blood vessels in the area of ​​moles. The best way to deal with bleeding is to apply a cotton swab soaked in hydrogen peroxide to the wound surface for 10-15 minutes. All this time it is necessary to press such a bandage to the injured mole.
2. We disinfect the wound. To eliminate the risk of concomitant infections, you should treat the wound surface with alcohol or a solution of brilliant green as quickly as possible.
3. Consultation with a specialist. After carrying out the initial measures, the torn mole must be shown to a doctor, who will determine the need for removal or further control of the damaged area.
4. Save the torn part of the mole. If the torn nevus tissues have separated from the skin, they must be preserved and submitted for histological analysis, which will significantly simplify the doctor’s work from a diagnostic point of view.