A red mark turning to brown overnight?

On Monday night my wife noticed a red (slightly raised blotch) on the middle of my back - it was about 18mm wide and about 35mm in length. It hadn't been there before and seemed to appear that size immediately and not in an area where any previous marks were.

I was of course worried and immediately paranoid.

By the morning it was no longer raised and had gone brown.

It seems non blanchable and seems to be fading after two days.

Having been well educated on HIV symptoms (due to a family member being positive) I have surfed the web and the only information I can find to this type of mark is to due with Kaposi's Sarnoma. The pictures I have found look different to my mark and there are no other marks on my body.

Am I being paranoid? What else could it be?

I have no other symptoms of HIV apart from occasional fatique but am now convinced that this mark is HIV related.

My main question is this (and I will be seeing a doctor soon but need some advice to clam my nerves).

Would a cancer or indeed a KS growth appear that size overnight? and would it change in appearance the following morning?

Any help from this excellent forum would be greatly appreciated.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

A general rule of thumb is this: the faster something changes, the less serious it is.  Kaposi's sarcoma doesn't appear overnight (and you and your wife could hardly have overlooked a red spot of that size very long.)  Most likely, the spot is an insect bite or rubbed follicle.  By all means, show a doctor.  But why are you so worried about HIV?  Is it just because of you family member, or have you engaged in risky behavior?  If the latter, you and your wife should have HIV tests.  If the former, consider counseling.  Paranoia isn't good for you.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff

[Pumpkinpye]

Just an update, it is still fading although still evident, looks more like a fading lovebit/hickey now. Am I right in saying this would strange behaviour for a KS or other cancer legion?

[Pumpkinpye]

Many thanks, yes the paranois is due to the family member testing positive only a couple of months ago. This seems like a false alarm and yes, the mark is changing appearance quickly.

Once again many thanks

[kate_alli]

A related discussion, worried was started.