Article: If you haven't scraped or scratched a mole and it begins to bleed, call your general practitioner and make an appointment. Moles that spontaneously start bleeding can be a sign of melanoma or other types of skin cancer. Also make an appointment if your mole looks like an open sore, whether or not it's bleeding, or if a scratched mole continues to bleed after you've applied first aid. Fortunately, if they're spotted early, it's easy to remove bleeding moles and all cancerous cells. Malignant moles tend to evolve over time. This means that their shape, color, and height will change. Along with bleeding, malignant moles often turn black. Tell your doctor how long your mole has bled for, whether or not it's painful, and whether the mole has felt itchy or uncomfortable. If your mole started bleeding without any accompanying evolution, mention this to your doctor as well. If your doctor suspects that a bleeding mole may be cancerousor if the mole is causing you pain and discomfortthey may suggest that the mole be surgically removed. Samples of the mole tissue will be sent to a laboratory and tested for malignant tissue. Since removing a mole is a relatively minor surgery, you'll only be given a local anesthetic. The removal will likely be performed by your general practitioner. Even if the mole is cancerous, it's very likely that surgery will remove 100% of the malignancy and leave you free of skin cancer. Even if you suspect that a mole may be cancerous, never try to remove it at home. Although moles are small, removing one is technically a surgical procedure and should only be done by a doctor. You could unintentionally scar your skin or cause an infection by trying to cut a mole off of your own body. An at-home mole removal is also likely to leave cancerous cells behind in your skin.
What is a summary of what this article is about?
Visit your doctor if a mole starts bleeding without provocation. Describe the mole and related symptoms to your doctor. Ask your doctor if they recommend surgery to test the mole. Never attempt to remove your own mole at home.