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What to Do About Infected Mole?

asked 2 years ago by Pritzy in usa
Latest answer by Tobi B. Richman-Steinhardt, MD
Question viewed 13,074 times
Tags: infection

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?

8 answers to What to Do About Infected Mole?

+3

Moles rarely get infected

Moles rarely get infected. If it does it is typically superficial and can be treated with topical antibiotic ointment. However, this could be a more serious issue such as a skin cancer and should be checked by a dermatologist who can advise you.
Scott Trimas, MD

Jacksonville Facial Plastic Surgeon
+2

Moles rarely get infected

It sounds more like you have an infected sebaceous cyst.  Use the antibiotics to calm the infection, then have it removed.  If it were an ulcerated infected skin cancer, you need to have that removed also.  Go to a plastic surgeon for an evaluation.  They will know what to do!
Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS

Seattle Plastic Surgeon
+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.
Tobi B. Richman-Steinhardt, MD

Boca Raton Dermatologic Surgeon
+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... more
Andrew Kaufman, MD

Los Angeles Dermatologic Surgeon
+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.
Debra Irizarry, MD

Crestone 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.
Robert A. Weiss, MD

Baltimore Dermatologic Surgeon
+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... more
Arnold R. Oppenheim, MD

Virginia Beach Dermatologist
+1

Infected lesion or mole.

It is generally not wise to operate on an infected lesion. Allow the lesion to heal from your injury to it and respond to the adntibiotics. After waiting a period of 2-3 weeks, you can consider having the lesion excised and biopsied.
Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

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