I have a couple of moles on my side that I’m concerned are melanoma because they’re scaly, have tiny black spots and bleed. I had melanoma on my arm removed 2 yrs ago so I have a history of it. Today I saw my dermatologist at Kaiser and she gave me a steroid creme called Triamcinolone Acetonide because she thinks chances are it’s not melanoma. She wants me to put this steroid creme on them for 2 weeks to see if they get smaller. Steroid creme to get a mole smaller???

For some reason, she flatly REFUSES to cut off any mole unless she’s 100% positive it’s cancer. She said in 2 weeks she’ll know more if it’s cancerous or not. The problem is I’m 6 months pregnant (she knew this) and after I picked up this steroid creme I looked it up online and it’s not supposed to be used while pregnant or breastfeeding because it hasn’t been tested and it’s full of hormones.

Does anyone else think my dermatologist is a moron??? Anyone heard of a treatment like this before a dermatologist will remove a mole?? I mean it takes what, maybe 10 minutes total to remove??? I’m not about to risk hurting my baby from this creme and am very upset.
Hopefully someone will answer besides the spammer…

I have had the cold sore virus (not the genital one) for a many years (diagnosed during a blood test) but have never, not once, had a cold sore. Yesterday, after a run, I got in the shower, turned my back to the water and felt what I thought was a bee sting! It was a huge painful welt, the minute it hit the water. I was looking around for a bee because I seriously thought I had one on my back. I put some first aide cream on it and this morning it had an abrasion look to it and is still intermitently painful. My dermatologist looked at it today (I was in there for a mole) and said "Do you get cold sores?" I told him no, but I have the virus and he told me that’s what it was. A cold sore, on my lower back! I feel like a total weirdo. Has anyone else experienced this?

So, as long as I can remember, I’ve had dozens and dozens of moles. Some of them smaller as pencil points, some a little bit bigger, light ones, dark ones, on my arms and legs and chest, and one that’s particularly dark in the very center of my neck. I’ve always had really pale, fair, easily burnt skin. Lately I’ve been worried about a few in particular. One that’s about half the size of my pinky nail, and its really dark, a lot darker than the others, and one that’s very small and light, but it has dark spots in it.

I’ve looked on a few heath websites, and one said that having a hair in a mole is supposed to mean that its not cancerous (which the big/dark one does) but the others don’t mention it so I’m not convinced.

And also, they say that having multiple colors in a mole is bad, really bad. I’ve been checking up on it, and it hasn’t grown in size or changed in any significant way at all. But I’m still worried.

So, is there anything that l can do at home for now to make sure that it’s not cancerous?
(Because, I’ve been to the dermatologist before (And gotten a mole removed) and would rather not repeat the experience… because it wasn’t cancerous, and it was such horrible pain for nothing.)

So, please don’t tell me to go to the dermatologist

or would it be considered gay? cus I have about 20 small little black dots on my face(moles) and I wanted to go see a dermatologist to get them removed. (at least like 5 to 7 of them) I am wondering if guys do this as well and not just girls. Also How much would it cost to remove the small tiny moles because I heard that If you visit a dermatologist they can help you get rid of it in one visit.

FYI: i will schedule an appointment with a dermatologist, but wanted to hear public opinion first.

First off, i have a LOT of moles, and i’m pale skinned so they stand out. 25 years old. The ones on my face are spreading. A friend said that’s due to shaving. But i must shave for work!

I’ll point out the weird looking moles:

- i have one that is circular brown, but white in the middle with a hair coming out.

- i have a few huge dark round moles, ranging from mahogany brown to Dark chocolate brown (almost black).

- i have a purple-ish bruse? That is under my left pec/breast. And it seems to not go away (1 month +).

- same spot near the heart, are 2 new moles, both very different. One is protruding and looks more like a wart (brown). The other is flat but lighter in color and not symetrical.

- i noticed 2 bright red dots appear near the center of my chest, 2 weeks ago, still there.

Should i be worried? Or am i overreacting?