What should you know about blood moles on chest?

Clothing, jewellery, scratching or shaving can break the surface of a raised mole. Bleeding can also occur when a mole is inflamed or changing, so the cause cannot be judged from blood alone.

A small cut is more likely when there is an obvious trigger and the spot settles normally. A clinician will still want to know whether the mole has altered in size, shape, border, colour or surface, and whether it now itches, hurts, crusts or forms a sore that does not heal.

Not every dark or raised spot is a mole. A skin examination can distinguish a mole from another growth and may include dermoscopy, which magnifies surface patterns.

Press clean gauze firmly against the area until bleeding stops. Rinse gently with clean water, pat dry and cover it with a non-stick dressing if clothing rubs the site. Do not cut, burn, tie off or pick at the mole.

Once bleeding has stopped, photograph the mole in good light and note the date, any injury and recent changes. Arrange a routine dermatology visit if the bleeding was unexplained, returns, or the mole looks different from your other moles.

Get urgent help if firm continuous pressure does not control the bleeding, or if you feel faint or unwell. Seek prompt assessment for spreading redness, warmth, swelling, pus or fever, which can accompany infection.

Book a dermatologist promptly for spontaneous bleeding, repeated crusting, a persistent open sore, rapid enlargement, an irregular outline, several colours or a distinctly new appearance. These features require examination; they do not establish a diagnosis by themselves.

Ask whether dermoscopy is sufficient or whether the whole lesion should be removed for laboratory examination. Also discuss scar placement on the chest, wound care and whether other moles need a baseline check.