paranoid about melanoma

[1217]

I am 31 years old.  When I turned 30 I started doing skin checks each month.  I had really never paid much attention to my moles and blemishes till then.  I have black hair, fairly olive skin and I use sunscreen each time I am in the sun.  I do not have many moles (less than 25).  A year ago, during my first self skin check I noticed a little, flat, brown spot on the underside of my forearm near my wrist.  It is completely flat and brown. It is not perfectly round or oval.  On one side it has a angled notch.  It is only 2mm long and 1mm wide.  I went to a dermatologist 6 months ago.  He did a full body check and did not notice anything suspicious.  I pointed out the small mole (my husband says it looks like a freckle).  Actually, it is so small that I have to hold my arm very close to the mirror to see it's reflecton.  He was not concerned about it at all.  My questions are.  Could it be just a solitary freckle?  Could it just be a mole with one little notch in it's border?  If it were melanoma, would it have changed since it was seen by a dermatologist 6 months ago?  I take things quite literally and when I read the ABCD's of Melanoma I think the very slightest variation is a huge concern.  Could you please help me with this.  Thank you

[1217]

Thank you very much.  I am going to relax a little now and understand that it's CHANGES in moles that I am looking for and if one has remained the same for over a year it's normal (unless a change occurs) Does that sound like a good plan?

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Yes, it certainly would be expected to grow.  But check it out just the same.

Dr. Rockoff

[1217]

I guess my main question is....if the spot has remained unchanged for over a year is it melanoma?  Would Melanoma have grown in that time frame?

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Given all the public concern about moles and melanoma, I hardly blame you for being paranoid.  In all likelihood, this spot is indeed just a freckle or small mole.  Nothing in nature is a perfect circle--that's why the ABCD's can be a bit misleading, but there's no other real choice in terms of public education.  If the doctor looked and found everything to be OK, then you have nothing to worry about.  If you are still concerned, I advise you to go back and ask that he give another look at that specific spot.  That will relieve your anxiety.  Otherwise, you'll sit there and stew for months until your next regular check.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff