Does melanoma cause a bleeding mole?

A mole may bleed after rubbing against clothing, scratching, shaving, or catching on jewellery. Melanoma can also become fragile, crusted, or prone to bleeding as the lesion changes. The appearance around the bleeding matters: notice whether the mole has become darker, developed uneven colours, lost a clear border, enlarged, or changed in texture. A photograph beside a ruler can help you describe change, but it cannot diagnose the cause.

If the skin is actively bleeding, apply gentle, steady pressure with clean gauze until it stops. Do not pick the crust or try to remove the mole. Record when the bleeding started, what may have irritated it, and whether it has happened before. Arrange a dermatology appointment for a mole that bleeds without a clear injury, bleeds again, or looks different from your other moles. A clinician may examine it with magnification and decide whether testing is needed.

Seek prompt medical care if bleeding does not settle with sustained pressure, the area becomes increasingly painful or inflamed, or you feel unwell. Arrange a timely skin check for new bleeding, repeated bleeding, rapid change, marked asymmetry, or a dark streak extending beyond the mole. Do not wait for bleeding to recur before having a changing lesion examined.

Ask whether the mole needs dermoscopic examination, whether its border or pigment pattern is concerning, and whether a biopsy is appropriate. You can also ask what changes to photograph, how soon to return, and how to protect the area while it heals.