Dr. Smita-advice please

[distressed29]

I know that I have written about this lesion before, but I really am in need of some advice.  One month ago I was taking a shower and felt a bump on the back of my upper thigh.  What I saw was a raised dark bump.  My first reaction was it's raised and dark  it must be melanoma.  I began to pick at it and it bled.  A day later there was a scab.  After one week, I picked off the scab.  I was then left with a white circle with red irritation around it.  I wrote in to Dr. Rockoff on the Dr. forum and he suggested to wait a month to see how it heals.  He felt it sounded like a picked hair follicle.  After one month,  much of the redness was gone (just some redness that blanched).  There was just a white circle with a little skin discoloration around the circle.  However, inside the circle was a very dark brown dot about the size of sharpened pencil.  Well, I let it be for a week thought it was the healing process.  However, I began to pick at it again and picked off the brown dot.  Now I am back to the beginning with a scab and red irritation.  I have an appointment with my family dr. in a couple weeks and do plan on showing it to him then.  But, does anyone think this could be melanoma? I keep on telling myself that I just haven't given it a chance to heal by picking and picking. I am scared to death and could really use a peace of mind until I see the dr.  PLEASE HELP!!!!!!

[Dr_Smita_S]

Hi

How are you doing?

It is not possible to comment whether the dark bump was a melanoma or some other lesion. Whenever any new moles develop, or there is any change in the color or size or bleeding in an existing mole, it may indicate some precancerous changes. However, many a times moles develop due to changes in skin pigmentation and do not have any clinical significance.
Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer which can spread to several parts of the body. Melanoma occurs due to changes in the melanin-producing cells (melanocytes) of skin. Excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation and presence of a family history is a leading factor in the development of melanoma. UVB light causes harmful changes in skin cell DNA, including the activation of oncogenes and UVA light may be more likely to damage melanocytes, leading to melanoma. If any abnormal cells are seen, the entire mole and a margin of normal tissue around it need to be removed. Usually once a mole has been removed, chances of recurrence are minimal.
In any case, you should not attempt to remove a mole yourself by cutting, tearing, picking, or any other method. I feel that dermatologist would be best able to decide whether a biopsy is required or not.

Hope it helps.  Do write in if you have any additional queries.