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Is A Flesh Colored Bump On The Back Suggestive Of Melanoma?
Question: I have a pink to flesh colored bump about 1/2 an inch across on my back that has peeled and bled. It has healed over but is still raised and shows no signs of shrinking or disappearing. What could it be? It has grown back as a raised bump since peeling and seems to be changing/growing a bit. My father died of a level 4 melanoma. Should I be concerned??
Brief Answer:
is it possible that it is a wart
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
Warts are normally flesh colored and can be present for a long period of time, so this is a possibility.
They can occur anywhere any where on the body.
It is understandable, based on family history, to be concerned regarding the possibility of melanoma but this would not be as common as a wart.
The only way to definitively determine the exact nature of the lesion would be an assessment by your doctor.
The lesion would need to examined- site , size, consistency (hard, soft, firm) tenderness, warmth, redness, surface (smooth or irregular).
If it is a wart, a topical medication such as salicylic acid can be applied to treat it.
If it does not appear to a be wart, the doctor may consider a biopsy to get a conclusive idea.
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
is it possible that it is a wart
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
Warts are normally flesh colored and can be present for a long period of time, so this is a possibility.
They can occur anywhere any where on the body.
It is understandable, based on family history, to be concerned regarding the possibility of melanoma but this would not be as common as a wart.
The only way to definitively determine the exact nature of the lesion would be an assessment by your doctor.
The lesion would need to examined- site , size, consistency (hard, soft, firm) tenderness, warmth, redness, surface (smooth or irregular).
If it is a wart, a topical medication such as salicylic acid can be applied to treat it.
If it does not appear to a be wart, the doctor may consider a biopsy to get a conclusive idea.
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
No it is not a wart and that is an absolutely ridiculous answer. I know what a wart looks like
Brief Answer:
ok
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Sorry, did not mean to imply otherwise, no image was provided.
Dermatology usually requires seeing a lesion and noting the various aspects of it.
The suggestion was based on the fact that you stated it was flesh colored which is typical for a wart.
As mentioned, this is only one possibility and the risk of a more serious cause was mentioned but cancer is usually the least common cause of skin lesions though it would naturally be the one that worries you the most. it would anyone.
There are a number of different causes of skin colored lesions but the list can be extensive .
Includes the melanoma and basal cell cancer.
Other causes are molluscum contagiosum , seborrheic keratosis, foreign body reaction
Melanoma- this may be what worries the most but you need to look at the ABCDE of it.
A- asymmetry- if it is symmetrical, all sides appear similar- then unlikely
B- border- if you can clearly see the border of it, again unlikely
C-color- if most of it has the same color- cancer unlikely
D-diameter- you mentioned that is half an inch already
E-evolving or changing
Though you mentioned diameter of half inch and possible changes to it, if it conforms to the others, then cancer risk is still not high but like for ALL skin lesions, they need to be seen, they need to be touched and prodded.
Hope this information helps, apologize if it doesn't.
Please feel free to ask anything else
ok
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Sorry, did not mean to imply otherwise, no image was provided.
Dermatology usually requires seeing a lesion and noting the various aspects of it.
The suggestion was based on the fact that you stated it was flesh colored which is typical for a wart.
As mentioned, this is only one possibility and the risk of a more serious cause was mentioned but cancer is usually the least common cause of skin lesions though it would naturally be the one that worries you the most. it would anyone.
There are a number of different causes of skin colored lesions but the list can be extensive .
Includes the melanoma and basal cell cancer.
Other causes are molluscum contagiosum , seborrheic keratosis, foreign body reaction
Melanoma- this may be what worries the most but you need to look at the ABCDE of it.
A- asymmetry- if it is symmetrical, all sides appear similar- then unlikely
B- border- if you can clearly see the border of it, again unlikely
C-color- if most of it has the same color- cancer unlikely
D-diameter- you mentioned that is half an inch already
E-evolving or changing
Though you mentioned diameter of half inch and possible changes to it, if it conforms to the others, then cancer risk is still not high but like for ALL skin lesions, they need to be seen, they need to be touched and prodded.
Hope this information helps, apologize if it doesn't.
Please feel free to ask anything else
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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