Strange mark on my girlfriends back has her freaked out...
February 23, 2012 9:11 PM Subscribe
Help me identify a blotchy red spot I noticed on my girlfriend's back which now has her freaked out.
So my girlfriend was doing dishes this evening wearing a tank top and I noticed a kind of mole on her left shoulder that I hadn't seen before. It looked quite irritated and it has her pretty freaked out right now. We've called Alberta Healthlink and they've stated that it doesn't sound like anything serious but she should go and get it checked out at a Medicentre.
To me it almost looks like a tick though it looks like it's completely under the skin as opposed to half in half out. It looks sort of puffy, almost like a blood clot or blood blister. Like it's ready to be popped.
Also, we've confirmed from photo's that this wasn't there a year ago. Do moles form that fast?
Here's a photo!
If anybody has any ideas it would be greatly appreciated.
So my girlfriend was doing dishes this evening wearing a tank top and I noticed a kind of mole on her left shoulder that I hadn't seen before. It looked quite irritated and it has her pretty freaked out right now. We've called Alberta Healthlink and they've stated that it doesn't sound like anything serious but she should go and get it checked out at a Medicentre.
To me it almost looks like a tick though it looks like it's completely under the skin as opposed to half in half out. It looks sort of puffy, almost like a blood clot or blood blister. Like it's ready to be popped.
Also, we've confirmed from photo's that this wasn't there a year ago. Do moles form that fast?
Here's a photo!
If anybody has any ideas it would be greatly appreciated.
Response by poster: Nope, nothing to our knowledge has happened that might have caused this.
It's strange, at first when I saw it I could almost swear that she's always had a mole there though as I said we confirmed (by photo's) that there was nothing there a year ago.
So it's possible it's formed over the last few months.
posted by cassini at 9:17 PM on February 23, 2012
It's strange, at first when I saw it I could almost swear that she's always had a mole there though as I said we confirmed (by photo's) that there was nothing there a year ago.
So it's possible it's formed over the last few months.
posted by cassini at 9:17 PM on February 23, 2012
cherry hemangioma? if so, it can be quickly taken care of in a dermatologist's office.
posted by sweet Annie Rich at 9:29 PM on February 23, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by sweet Annie Rich at 9:29 PM on February 23, 2012 [2 favorites]
Also, we've confirmed from photo's that this wasn't there a year ago. Do moles form that fast?
Sometimes, yeah. I've had a couple pop up seemingly overnight. Best to get it examined by a dermatologist just in case. If he or she finds it suspicious, they'll biopsy it (cut it off) and send it in for testing. I've had several moles biopsied. It's no biggie.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 9:30 PM on February 23, 2012
Sometimes, yeah. I've had a couple pop up seemingly overnight. Best to get it examined by a dermatologist just in case. If he or she finds it suspicious, they'll biopsy it (cut it off) and send it in for testing. I've had several moles biopsied. It's no biggie.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 9:30 PM on February 23, 2012
I was going to snark about how you were "an American" and whatnot.
MSP will definitely cover getting that checked out. Go make an appointment with your family GP or go find yourself a family GP (general practictioner) and get that checked out. It shouldn't cost you anything out of pocket.
posted by porpoise at 9:33 PM on February 23, 2012
MSP will definitely cover getting that checked out. Go make an appointment with your family GP or go find yourself a family GP (general practictioner) and get that checked out. It shouldn't cost you anything out of pocket.
posted by porpoise at 9:33 PM on February 23, 2012
That looks like a mole to me (not a doctor). I knew someone who had a mole with a red ring around it- her doctor recommened having it removed. Melanoma is nothing to mess with- don't risk anything, have it checked out!
posted by biograd08 at 9:37 PM on February 23, 2012
posted by biograd08 at 9:37 PM on February 23, 2012
Probably nothing but, given that it has grown recently (and may be growing quickly) and exhibits most of the symptoms of a Melanoma (asymmetrical, irregular border, multiple colours, enlarging), get it checked out as soon as possible. Like, tomorrow.
posted by dg at 9:39 PM on February 23, 2012
posted by dg at 9:39 PM on February 23, 2012
Thinking on this- It could be a spider bite or the body's reaction to a bite of some type. Maybe give it a little time tof see if it changes, but if not have it checked. That's what I would suggest if you were my friend.
posted by biograd08 at 9:40 PM on February 23, 2012
posted by biograd08 at 9:40 PM on February 23, 2012
I think sweet Annie Rich might be onto something. That said, it's probably worth checking out for peace of mind.
posted by Chutzler at 9:48 PM on February 23, 2012
posted by Chutzler at 9:48 PM on February 23, 2012
Just agreeing--I would definitely see if you can get it checked ASAP--if only for peace of mind.
posted by anonnymoose at 10:55 PM on February 23, 2012
posted by anonnymoose at 10:55 PM on February 23, 2012
It looks like one of the moles to be careful about. But then again, I'm Australian (and not a doctor) and we tend to be paranoid about anything that could possibly be skin cancer. I would get it checked out ASAP, if only for peace of mind.
posted by Jubey at 11:09 PM on February 23, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by Jubey at 11:09 PM on February 23, 2012 [3 favorites]
Looks a little wonky to me. Hard to tell from the pic, but if that's a mole and not a hemangioma, I think she needs to have it eyeballed sooner than later.
You don't want to screw around with melanomas. Go to the doctor.
posted by Countess Sandwich at 11:59 PM on February 23, 2012
You don't want to screw around with melanomas. Go to the doctor.
posted by Countess Sandwich at 11:59 PM on February 23, 2012
As a fair-skinned redhead living in Australia who is terrified of skin cancer/melanoma, I implore you to insist she gets to a doctor pronto. Us Aussies are taught that anything like a mole or freckle which changes colour or grows quickly needs to be checked out.
It may be something innocuous, but where melanoma is concerned, it is far far FAR better to be safe than sorry.
posted by malibustacey9999 at 2:05 AM on February 24, 2012
It may be something innocuous, but where melanoma is concerned, it is far far FAR better to be safe than sorry.
posted by malibustacey9999 at 2:05 AM on February 24, 2012
Agree with getting it checked out ASAP. Figure out where it fits on the ABCDE spectrum for describing moles. Avoid picking, rubbing, scratching, and anything tight that would rub on it; you want to know that any change in coloration, texture, or bleeding is the mole itself.
Maybe it isn't anything to worry about... but let a doctor decide.
posted by variella at 2:09 AM on February 24, 2012
Maybe it isn't anything to worry about... but let a doctor decide.
posted by variella at 2:09 AM on February 24, 2012
A similar-looking mole appeared on me once, and was biopsied. It was fine, but the doctors were quite glad I had come in. Please get her to the dermatologist.
posted by Coatlicue at 5:35 AM on February 24, 2012
posted by Coatlicue at 5:35 AM on February 24, 2012
Definitely a dermatologist sooner rather than later. Good on you for spotting that.
posted by pintapicasso at 5:15 AM on February 25, 2012
posted by pintapicasso at 5:15 AM on February 25, 2012
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posted by facetious at 9:12 PM on February 23, 2012