tgeorge1

That's what I have read before as well. I guess the concerning part is that I had a Board certified derm look at it with a dermascope over the weekend that I happened to come upon at a free spot screening. She commented that she saw "a lot of blood vessels" and recommended I have it biopsied which led to me scheduling one with my regular derm for this week.  I go for skin checks every 6 months so hopefully if it were to be something, it will be caught very early on. Who knows, maybe it will end up just being a hemangioma although I would have thought this derm would have mentioned as much which she didn't.

Anyway, I know I won't have any reassurance until I get the biopsy and then it's results but the responses here have been helpful! 

That's what I have read before as well. I guess the concerning part is that I had a Board certified derm look at it with a dermascope over the weekend that I happened to come upon at a free spot screening. She commented that she saw "a lot of blood vessels" and recommended I have it biopsied which led to me scheduling one with my regular derm for this week.  I go for skin checks every 6 months so hopefully if it were to be something, it will be caught very early on. Who knows, maybe it will end up just being a hemangioma although I would have thought this derm would have mentioned as much which she didn't.

Anyway, I know I won't have any reassurance until I get the biopsy and then it's results but the responses here have been helpful! 

That's what I have read before as well. I guess the concerning part is that I had a Board certified derm look at it with a dermascope over the weekend that I happened to come upon at a free spot screening. She commented that she saw "a lot of blood vessels" and recommended I have it biopsied which led to me scheduling one with my regular derm for this week.  I go for skin checks every 6 months so hopefully if it were to be something, it will be caught very early on. Who knows, maybe it will end up just being a hemangioma although I would have thought this derm would have mentioned as much which she didn't.

Anyway, I know I won't have any reassurance until I get the biopsy and then it's results but the responses here have been helpful! 

This makes me feel much better, thanks for taking the time to respond.  This particular mole was already large, close to 10mm but it's been that large since I've been a child. Over the last couple of months it's started to grow outward from the top end of it.  The new pigment area blanches too so I'm not sure what that means.  The biopsy can't come soon enough.

This makes me feel much better, thanks for taking the time to respond.  This particular mole was already large, close to 10mm but it's been that large since I've been a child. Over the last couple of months it's started to grow outward from the top end of it.  The new pigment area blanches too so I'm not sure what that means.  The biopsy can't come soon enough.

This makes me feel much better, thanks for taking the time to respond.  This particular mole was already large, close to 10mm but it's been that large since I've been a child. Over the last couple of months it's started to grow outward from the top end of it.  The new pigment area blanches too so I'm not sure what that means.  The biopsy can't come soon enough.

Thank you! So the ones you had removed that came back still dysplastic has been growing?  How much growth before you noticed if you don't mind me asking?

Thank you! So the ones you had removed that came back still dysplastic has been growing?  How much growth before you noticed if you don't mind me asking?

Thank you! So the ones you had removed that came back still dysplastic has been growing?  How much growth before you noticed if you don't mind me asking?

So today I happened to be at a large big box retailer that happened to be doing free skin and spot checks through the American academy of dermatology with a board certified dermatogist. I figured I'd take advantage of the opportunity and have them look at the aforementioned mole. The derm doing the checks was using a dermoscope and commented that there were a "a lot of blood vessels" she could see.  She seemed concerned and didn't think I should wait until my next regular appt if I didn't have to. I asked what they meant and she said either nothing or that they were trying to do something they shouldn't be. She recommended I follow up with my regular derm for a biopsy which I plan to do asap.  Has anyone heard of this with regards to the blood vessels?  The portion of the mole that seems to maybe be growing blanches which I always thought was a positive sign. It's on a mole and I don't think it's a BCC which I've had one of. Obviously the biopsy will be conclusive but is the appearance of blood vessels in a dysastic Nevis through such a lense a sign of melanoma? Or no way to tell just based on that? Or if it was melanoma would it be very early stage? She didn't seem to want to say either way , which I guess i understand but obviously doesn't make me feel great either about this mole.  Also given I have been stretching my skin and pinching it to try to get a better look at it quite a bit lately, could I have caused the irritation and messed with the vascular network myself causing more blood vessels to be seen in that area?

So today I happened to be at a large big box retailer that happened to be doing free skin and spot checks through the American academy of dermatology with a board certified dermatogist. I figured I'd take advantage of the opportunity and have them look at the aforementioned mole. The derm doing the checks was using a dermoscope and commented that there were a "a lot of blood vessels" she could see.  She seemed concerned and didn't think I should wait until my next regular appt if I didn't have to. I asked what they meant and she said either nothing or that they were trying to do something they shouldn't be. She recommended I follow up with my regular derm for a biopsy which I plan to do asap.  Has anyone heard of this with regards to the blood vessels?  The portion of the mole that seems to maybe be growing blanches which I always thought was a positive sign. It's on a mole and I don't think it's a BCC which I've had one of. Obviously the biopsy will be conclusive but is the appearance of blood vessels in a dysastic Nevis through such a lense a sign of melanoma? Or no way to tell just based on that? Or if it was melanoma would it be very early stage? She didn't seem to want to say either way , which I guess i understand but obviously doesn't make me feel great either about this mole.  Also given I have been stretching my skin and pinching it to try to get a better look at it quite a bit lately, could I have caused the irritation and messed with the vascular network myself causing more blood vessels to be seen in that area?

So today I happened to be at a large big box retailer that happened to be doing free skin and spot checks through the American academy of dermatology with a board certified dermatogist. I figured I'd take advantage of the opportunity and have them look at the aforementioned mole. The derm doing the checks was using a dermoscope and commented that there were a "a lot of blood vessels" she could see.  She seemed concerned and didn't think I should wait until my next regular appt if I didn't have to. I asked what they meant and she said either nothing or that they were trying to do something they shouldn't be. She recommended I follow up with my regular derm for a biopsy which I plan to do asap.  Has anyone heard of this with regards to the blood vessels?  The portion of the mole that seems to maybe be growing blanches which I always thought was a positive sign. It's on a mole and I don't think it's a BCC which I've had one of. Obviously the biopsy will be conclusive but is the appearance of blood vessels in a dysastic Nevis through such a lense a sign of melanoma? Or no way to tell just based on that? Or if it was melanoma would it be very early stage? She didn't seem to want to say either way , which I guess i understand but obviously doesn't make me feel great either about this mole.  Also given I have been stretching my skin and pinching it to try to get a better look at it quite a bit lately, could I have caused the irritation and messed with the vascular network myself causing more blood vessels to be seen in that area?

Thank you very much for your thoughts!  I agree, having common sense is important.  While I'm sure my derm would have no issue seeing me as often as I'd like, the reality is that it isn't practical to go more than every six months unless something is dramatically changing. I just have to get comfortable with this and I think the picture taking and evaluation beyond all the self-checks I am doing, will help!

One more question, as I mentioned in my first post, my mother and father have not had any skin cancers however my mom's mom had a melanoma removed and my fathers bother, sister and mother have all had at least one with his mother dying from one. Family history seems to clearly be a factor in having melanoma and I'm curious if there is a difference whether it's a direct parent or as in my case, a grandparent, uncle and aunt.  Are there any studies out there that have looked into this and the degree of separation within a family and risk factor?

Thank you very much for your thoughts!  I agree, having common sense is important.  While I'm sure my derm would have no issue seeing me as often as I'd like, the reality is that it isn't practical to go more than every six months unless something is dramatically changing. I just have to get comfortable with this and I think the picture taking and evaluation beyond all the self-checks I am doing, will help!

One more question, as I mentioned in my first post, my mother and father have not had any skin cancers however my mom's mom had a melanoma removed and my fathers bother, sister and mother have all had at least one with his mother dying from one. Family history seems to clearly be a factor in having melanoma and I'm curious if there is a difference whether it's a direct parent or as in my case, a grandparent, uncle and aunt.  Are there any studies out there that have looked into this and the degree of separation within a family and risk factor?

Thank you very much for your thoughts!  I agree, having common sense is important.  While I'm sure my derm would have no issue seeing me as often as I'd like, the reality is that it isn't practical to go more than every six months unless something is dramatically changing. I just have to get comfortable with this and I think the picture taking and evaluation beyond all the self-checks I am doing, will help!

One more question, as I mentioned in my first post, my mother and father have not had any skin cancers however my mom's mom had a melanoma removed and my fathers bother, sister and mother have all had at least one with his mother dying from one. Family history seems to clearly be a factor in having melanoma and I'm curious if there is a difference whether it's a direct parent or as in my case, a grandparent, uncle and aunt.  Are there any studies out there that have looked into this and the degree of separation within a family and risk factor?