Changing moles

A few years ago, I noticed a raised hard bump on my upper arm. It was not painful, red or inflamed. It was the size of my pinky fingertip and the same color of my flesh. After a few weeks of the bump not going away, I went to the doctor and he said it was nothing to be worried about. I now have three of the bumps on my upper arms, in various stages of evolution. The first one I noticed is flat, semi round, and unevenly brown. The second one is pinkish brown and still quite raised. A third is somewhere between the two. Melanoma runs in my family; my maternal great-grandmother lived to be 86 and was still having moles removed until her death. I am fair-skinned, have blue eyes and of course was exposed to the sun quite a lot as a child. I am a 26 year old female. I have had numerous sunburns, including a bad one 2 years ago, due to a sunblock malfunction. I was burned so bad, I have freckles on my shoulders now, that I didn't have before.  Should I seek a second opinion, or asked to be referred to a dermatologist? Or better yet, is this something I shouldn't even be worried about? I have asked numerous people and no one can recall having ever had new moles growing the way I have. I cannot recall the exact date, but it was probably four years ago when I noticed the first one. Thank you in advance for your response.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

New spots and moles of various sizes and shapes can grown on people till age 40 and beyond.  The ones you describe sound like nothing significant.  Most primary doctors can recognize spots that look suspicious enough to refer to a dermatologist.  If you're still worried, you should see a dermatologist.

By the way, melanomas don't come in threes--if all three bumps look the same, it's almost inconceivable that they are all skin cancers.

Take care.

Dr. Rockoff

[MariAAB]

Good to know.  I have two similar pumps on my left forearm.  They are skin colored, slightly raised, and hard.  I had a doctor look at them yesterday and she seemed unconcerned.  It's always best to have a professional check these things out.

Interesting comment that "melanomas don't come in threes".