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Dermatology (Expert Forum)
Followup to mole or herpes
Answered by
Alan Rockoff, MD - dermatology, Child Skin Problems
The Rockoff Dermatology Center
Brookline - MA
This forum is for questions regarding Dermatology issues, such as: skin rashes, acne, birthmarks, skin infections, rosacea, and general skin care.
Followup to mole or herpes
by q1w2e3r4t5, Nov 27, 2006 12:00AM
Dr. Rockoff,
Thank you very much for your earlier response. I must admit though that I am still very concerned. Please bear with me as I'm having a really bad time here.
What scares me is that the spot NOW just looks like a tiny red mark with no suggestive characteristics of a mole ever being there. I thought it would look more like it did before once the scab came off but it doesn't at all. So that's why I am confused and alarmed.
1. Is it really likely to have basically obliterated what I thought was probably a mole there just by superficially picking and scratching it like I did? (It's not like I excised it with a blade or anything.)
2. Would a biopsy right now by a dermatologist be able to tell me that a mole had been there before I obliterated it. I don't think I can go weeks like this. And a blood test won't help because the last possible exposure could have been as recently as 3 weeks ago. What can I do?
I'm sorry for the additional questions but I don't know what else to do and I'm very concerned. Thank you.
Thank you very much for your earlier response. I must admit though that I am still very concerned. Please bear with me as I'm having a really bad time here.
What scares me is that the spot NOW just looks like a tiny red mark with no suggestive characteristics of a mole ever being there. I thought it would look more like it did before once the scab came off but it doesn't at all. So that's why I am confused and alarmed.
1. Is it really likely to have basically obliterated what I thought was probably a mole there just by superficially picking and scratching it like I did? (It's not like I excised it with a blade or anything.)
2. Would a biopsy right now by a dermatologist be able to tell me that a mole had been there before I obliterated it. I don't think I can go weeks like this. And a blood test won't help because the last possible exposure could have been as recently as 3 weeks ago. What can I do?
I'm sorry for the additional questions but I don't know what else to do and I'm very concerned. Thank you.
Doctor's Answer
by Alan Rockoff, MD, Nov 28, 2006 12:00AM
, Nov 28, 2006 12:00AM
I repeat--you have nothing to be concerned about. Maybe it was a small mole to begin with, but you can't scratch off a melanoma to the extent that you seem to have done. I also don't know what you think a blood test could tell you, even theoretically. I don't know for sure what it was, but it seems most unlikely that a biopsy would even be worth considering. Please get hold of yourself, leave the spot alone, and keep your appointment as soon as you can get one, so you can get the reassurance you need and move on.
Take care.
Dr. Rockoff
Take care.
Dr. Rockoff
Dr. Rockoff