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What to Do About Infected Mole?
I have what I think is a white mole on my shoulder. I don't remember it. Now it is raised with a red circle of inflamation around it. Very painful. My GP blithely said "maybe a little skin cancer - not the kind that spreads". Not to worry. Then gave me Amoxicillin for the infection. I'm terrified. I thought it was a boil and punctured it (I know). No pus - a little blood. I don't think the antibiotic is doing anything. Advice?
Asked 31 months ago by
Pritzy in usa
+3
Moles rarely get infected
+2
+1
There is an answer
Prtizy, go to a dermatologist and get this spot evaluated, and most likely, removed. The initial removal of it will require a simple injection to numb it, and then a piece will be sent to the pathologist to determine exactly what it is. And, then, once the answer is known, the next step will be to plan treatment, IF it is needed. Skin cancer is a possibility, but so is an irritated wart or other benign growth.
+1
Is this an infected mole?
While starting treament with an antibiotic is reasonable, I think the next step would be to evaluate this changing "mole." It's impossible in a forum like this to determine what you have. Your best option is to see a dermatologist to fully evaluate this lesion. It could be a traumatized mole or nevus; it could be a different type of benign lesion called a seborrheic keratosis; it could be a basal cell carinoma (the most common type of skin cancer), and it could...
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+1
Possible skin cancer deserves actual attention
Your instinct that this new, painful growth on your shoulder needs attention is correct. All skin cancers "spread", this what make sthem "cancer". Basal Cell cancer , the most common, does not spread beyond it's immediate area, but the lesion itself can grow larger, and people do lose parts of their bodies, and occasionally their lives, when this is not appropriately treated. See a Plastic Surgeon.
+1
Infected "mole"
The term "mole" is used interchangeably by patients to describe different types of growths on the skin surface. Dermatologists are the experts in diagnosing skin growths. Once the infection is cleared by appropriate treatment, a diagnosis can be made by visual examination or biopsy if necessary.
+1
Procede as Your physician Directs
The "white mole", in your physician's eyes is probably a basal cell carcinoma which is easily treated, especially on the trunk.
You, as you know, unwisely infected the lesion. Your physician is doing the appropriate thing by treating the infection before proceding. It is not good judgment to biopsy or remove an infected lesion unless you are pressed to do so. Surgery on an infected wound is likely to spread the infection.
After the infection has cleared, a biopsy can be...
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