So, a painful mole is not always a sign of danger. And cancerous moles are often not at all painful. But some moles that become cancerous, which, in the case of a pigmented mole, means melanoma, can be accompanied by pain or unusual sensitivity different from the surrounding skin.
However, it is not always possible to see if a mole is normal or not. When a mole is painful, it could indicate a (pre-)cancerous skin spot, but the pain could also be triggered by something else. For example, when you have an itching mole, you might scratch the surface of a mole.
Also, when melanoma develops in an existing mole, the texture of the mole may change and become hard or lumpy. The skin lesion may feel different and may itch, ooze, or bleed, but a melanoma skin lesion usually does not cause pain.
If you notice a change in colour or shape, or the mole becomes itchy, painful or starts to bleed, see a doctor immediately.
Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:
you have a mole that's painful or itchy. you have a mole that's inflamed, bleeding or crusty. you have a new or unusual mark on your skin that has not gone away after a few weeks. you have a dark area under a nail that has not been caused by an injury.
Border that is irregular: The edges are often ragged, notched, or blurred in outline. The pigment may spread into the surrounding skin. Color that is uneven: Shades of black, brown, and tan may be present. Areas of white, gray, red, pink, or blue may also be seen.
Melanomas are usually brown or black, but some can appear pink, tan, or even white. Some melanomas have areas with different colors, and they might not be round like normal moles. They might grow quickly or even spread into the surrounding skin.
Often melanoma has no symptoms, however, the first sign is generally a change in an existing mole or the appearance of a new spot. These changes can include: colour - a mole may change in colour, have different colour shades or become blotchy. size - a mole may appear to get bigger.
A mole can sometimes be painful, but this does not necessarily mean it is cancerous. There are several reasons your mole can be painful, such as: Friction - With elevated or raised moles, there is a risk of injury. Jewelry and clothing can rub against the mole and cause irritation.
A mole may be a sign of skin cancer if it has irregular borders or an asymmetrical shape or if it changes in color, shape, size or height.
Melanoma can be painful and tender to the touch, but you can also have melanoma without feeling any pain or discomfort.
Melanomas might change in size, shape or colour. Or you might notice other changes such as a mole bleeding, itching or becoming crusty. Normal moles usually stay the same size, shape, and colour.
That's why it is essential to get your mole removal and examination by a dermatologist (a skin specialist doctor). You should opt to remove a mole that looks suspicious or cause burning, as this is a crucial step to treat melanoma (a skin cancer) early.
Spread of pigment from the border of a spot into surrounding skin. Redness or a new swelling beyond the border of the mole. Change in sensation, such as itchiness, tenderness, or pain. Change in the surface of a mole – scaliness, oozing, bleeding, or the appearance of a lump or bump.
The most common type of melanoma usually appears as a flat or barely raised lesion with irregular edges and different colours. Fifty per cent of these melanomas occur in preexisting moles.
How long can you have melanoma and not know it? It depends on the type of melanoma. For example, nodular melanoma grows rapidly over a matter of weeks, while a radial melanoma can slowly spread over the span of a decade. Like a cavity, a melanoma may grow for years before producing any significant symptoms.
Does melanoma hurt? You can have melanoma without feeling any pain or discomfort. For many people, the only sign of this skin cancer is a spot that has some of the ABCDEs of melanoma or a line beneath a nail. Sometimes, melanoma causes discomfort.
Melanoma can grow very quickly. It can become life-threatening in as little as 6 weeks and, if untreated, it can spread to other parts of the body. Melanoma can appear on skin not normally exposed to the sun. Nodular melanoma is a highly dangerous form of melanoma that looks different from common melanomas.
The procedure that your dermatologist uses to remove the spot is called a skin biopsy. Having a skin biopsy is essential. It's the only way to know whether you have skin cancer. There's no other way to know for sure.
Border that is irregular: The edges of suspicious moles are ragged, notched or blurred in outline, while healthy moles tend to have more even borders. The pigment of the mole may also spread into the surrounding skin. Color that is uneven: The mole may have various colors present, including black, brown and tan.
Moles show up on the skin where pigment cells grow in clusters. Most adults have some common moles, but they often fade by the age of 40. Changing moles or growing a new mole after age 60 can be a sign of skin cancer.
Multiple colors are a warning sign. While benign moles are usually a single shade of brown, a melanoma may have different shades of brown, tan or black. As it grows, the colors red, white or blue may also appear.
Melanoma comes from skin cells called melanocytes. These cells produce melanin, the dark pigment that gives skin its color. Most melanomas are black or brown in color, but some are pink, red, purple or skin-colored. About 30% of melanomas begin in existing moles, but the rest start in normal skin.
Although many physicians treat melanoma surgically three to four weeks after diagnosis, there is no official recommendation on time to treatment.