Itchy Mole
Don't Ignore An Itchy Mole
An itchy mole isn't something that one should just put up with in hopes that it will eventually go away. Maybe it will and maybe it won't. Maybe an itchy mole is a sign of something serious, and maybe it's simply an itchy mole and nothing more. Even if that's the case, it's probably best to have it removed, if for no other reason than to relive the itching, Constant itching can lead to constant scratching, which in turn can lead to an open wound and infection.
In the worst case scenario, an itchy mole could be malignant. A malignant mole can lead to skin cancer or melanoma. Melanoma is an easy cancer to treat when caught in its early stages, one of the easiest in fact. If not caught in the early stages however, treatment becomes far more difficult and the cancer can become deadly.
An itchy mole sometimes becomes that way because it has been scratched or scraped and infected. But it's not always easy to tell if one is merely suffering from some localized irritation and inflammation, or if something more serious is afoot. The bottom line is not to take anything for granted. If you have an itchy more or a mole that appears to be undergoing changes in size, shape, feel, or color, see a doctor or dermatologist at the earliest opportunity. That person will easily be able to determine just what the situation is, and can easily remove the mole if deemed warranted.
Most of us have a mole or two, although not everyone does. Some are born with a mole, which stays with them throughout their lifetime, never changing much, if at all. Such a mole is almost always benign, and is normally removed only for cosmetic purposes. If you have such a mole, don't immediately start worrying about it. You could become obsessed with something that really doesn't warrant any attention whatsoever. It won't hurt however to take stock of your mole or moles at times, just so see if there are any changes. Just don't start imagining changes. If significant changes to a mole occur, those changes will usually be quite apparent. Our mind can play tricks on us, and sometimes we will see or feel what we want to see or feel, or don't want to. Start worrying about a mole itching and it may start to, or at least seem to in your mind. That's not the same as an itchy mole.
Shape And Edges - As a rule of thumb, a mole requires some attention if one or more of the following takes place. Usually a mole has regular edges, edges that are not jagged or scalloped. Most moles are circular in shape or very nearly so. Don't get the calipers out to see if your mole is perfectly circular. It should resemble a circle but not necessarily a perfect one. If the mole starts taking on an asymmetrical shape, in other words it starts looking like a blob instead of a circle, it should be checked out.
Color And Size - Most moles are black though not all are. The color is not so important as a change in color is, and if a mole is malignant it will often exhibit more than one color. Normal moles usually are one solid color and one color only. Finally, if you've had a mole for years, it should be the same size this year as it was last year and the year before. If moles grow in size or diminish in size at all, it would be extremely slowly. If the mole is noticeably larger than the last time you looked at it, or larger than it was a year ago, get it checked out. Growth of a mole is not necessarily a danger but is abnormal.
If your mole has increased in size, become irregular in shape, with ragged edges, changed in color, and to cap it all off is an itchy mole, you really should have visited your dermatologist by now. If not, please don't wait any longer.