Differential Diagnosis for a Bleeding Mole on the Inner Thigh
- Single most likely diagnosis:
- Trauma: The most common reason for a mole to suddenly bleed is minor trauma, such as scratching, rubbing, or accidental injury, which can cause damage to the skin and lead to bleeding.
- Other Likely diagnoses:
- Ingrown hair or folliculitis: If the mole is near a hair follicle, an ingrown hair or folliculitis (inflammation of the hair follicle) could cause irritation and bleeding.
- Skin infection: A localized skin infection, such as impetigo or cellulitis, could cause redness, swelling, and bleeding around the mole.
- Mole irritation from clothing or shaving: Friction from tight clothing or shaving can irritate the mole, leading to bleeding.
- Do Not Miss (ddxs that may not be likely, but would be deadly if missed.):
- Melanoma: Although less likely, it's crucial to consider the possibility of melanoma, a type of skin cancer that can cause bleeding from a mole. Any changes in a mole's appearance, including bleeding, should be evaluated by a healthcare professional.
- Vascular malformation: A vascular malformation, such as a hemangioma, could cause bleeding if it becomes damaged or erodes through the skin.
- Rare diagnoses:
- Pyogenic granuloma: A rare, benign skin growth that can bleed easily due to its rich blood supply.
- Kaposi's sarcoma: A rare type of cancer that can cause skin lesions, including bleeding moles, especially in immunocompromised individuals.
- Angiosarcoma: A rare, aggressive type of cancer that can cause bleeding skin lesions, although this is extremely uncommon.