Could this be melanoma?

[Worryinglife]

Getting it checked out privately next week but in the meantime my health anxiety is in full force. Does this look bad?

It's on my back I felt it yesterday and thought it was a scab so I picked at it and made it bleed slightly...

Just looks like a regular mole 🤷‍♀️

If you're worried, contact your GP. I did when I wasn't sure and I'm getting it removed in two weeks and others checked. X

Do they remove them then see if something's wrong with them? Does yours look similar?

I have 3 I'm worried about currently, but probably just because I'm obsessing

The dermatologist will look at the moles you’re concerned about using a dermascope.

If they have the slightest suspicion they’re not benign they’ll arrange for you to have them removed, after which they’re biopsied to confirm whether or not they’re malignant; & if they should be, the type of cancer is identified & staged so a further treatment plan can be made if necessary (excision is usually all that’s required).

I’m not a dermatologist but I have had to go through the 2-week track to the skin cancer clinic a couple of times - luckily both times all was well. So as someone who has to check their skin for various things including “do I need to ask the cancer!dermatologists to look at this? 🤔” I think it looks like a normal mole that’s bled because it got a serious scratching, rather than anything more sinister; & hopefully you’ll soon be feeling massively reassured after you see the dermatologist.

In the future your GP can either see you in person or, if your practice does that, decide based on images submitted whether or not you need a referral to dermatology.

Have you ever had any treatment for your health anxiety? It must be absolutely dreadful to be so [di]stressed about this; & to worry about your health at such a level.