New 5mm uniformly tan mole, rough surface, bleeds when picked at.

I am a 30 year old fair skinned caucasian female who rarely tans and has few freckles. I have tanned slowly at a local tanning salon the last two months  preparing for my honeymoon in Cancun. 2 weeks ago I noticed a slightly raised, slighty rough, uniformly tan elevation aprox 5mm in diameter on my abdomen, laying on an old stretch mark.  Although the color is even, the edges are not. Although it looks like a small pale mole, the roughness made me pick at the edges, which lifted relatively easily, but then it bleed more than I would have expected. The little bit I did pick off made a tiny scab which eventually came off, with smooth pale skin underneath. My stomach has never seen the light of day before, and I have tried to tan slowly so that I wouldn't burn. My question is: what does this sound like to you?  The bleeding and rough edges sound like solar keratosis, but I dont think I am nearly old enough nor sun-exposed enough. I have looked at hundreds of pictures of melanoma on the net, but it doesnr't resemble any of these either. Your help is greatly appriciated.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Caren:

Several comments:

1.  Skin cancers do not necessarily appear where the sun has shone.
2.  On the other hand, not every change (new appearance, change in size or texture) means cancerous transformation.  To the contrary, most such changes are either natural evolution, or trauma (such as picking from anxiety . . . )
3.  The description you give of the spot in question is consistent with any number of things, most benign: a seborrheic keratosis, wart, traumatized mole, and so forth.  You are correct that your age and location militate against a solar keratosis.
4.  I wish I could convince people that you don't need a "base coat" of tan before a sun-drenched vacation, since the most protection that gives you is equivalent to an SPF of 6, and if you're smart, you'll use a 15 or 25 anyway.
5.  Nobody can diagnose themselves, even using pictures.
6.  My advice is this: leave the spot alone and forget about it for a month.  Make an appointment with a dermatologist when you get back.  Do not worry that he or she will be mad at you for going to Cancun--allowances are made for brides!  That way you'll find out about all your spots, you'll know what to look for, and whether you need annual surveillance

Best.  And congratulations.  And don't drink the water!

Dr. Rockoff

[lilsister]

I have a growth that started about a month ago on the top of my head.  Although it isn't black or particularly dark colored, it is scaly and itches.  It seems to have popped up quickly and is now about the size of the tip of my little finger.
Is this something to worry about

[Lgshine]

A related discussion, 5mm Mole was started.