Is it true or a myth that picking moles can cause skin cancer?

When I was a kid I scratched several small moles off my arms and legs I just didn't like them :rolleyes:

Anyway there are 4 that have kept trying to grow back since but they sort of grow on top of the scars (the scars arn't noticable at all) so Ive quickly kept scratching them off before they have chance to grow again.

Some of you will be like 'omg don't touch them' but I wondered if anyone who knows about this can clear things up do I have an higher risk of them turning cancerous because ive picked them so many times? Sometimes they take months to grow back and other times years but they don't grow back irregular or anything.

Reply 1

JellyBean123

11

No, its a myth. Don't worry, I accidentally scratched a flat mole off once, and got all panicky but my doctor said it is not true - there's a lot of misinformation about cancer out there that people have probably read and repeated to you. So don't stress.

Reply 2

Anonymous #1

OP

JellyBean123

No, its a myth. Don't worry, I accidentally scratched a flat mole off once, and got all panicky but my doctor said it is not true - there's a lot of misinformation about cancer out there that people have probably read and repeated to you. So don't stress.

Ah ok, I guess its easy to believe because when you keep picking them the skin and the mole get damaged, have to keep repairing themselves and growing back which would seem like it would give the cells more chances to turn cancerous.mutate too much..I don't know.

Reply 3

maxPP

2

Anonymous

Ah ok, I guess its easy to believe because when you keep picking them the skin and the mole get damaged, have to keep repairing themselves and growing back which would seem like it would give the cells more chances to turn cancerous.mutate too much..I don't know.

It doesn't increase risk but it may hinder the detection of any developing skin caner.
Edit: (if you keep scratching them off that is)

Reply 4

Anonymous #2

I have this flat mole on my nose that looked like a blackhead. Thinking it was one I squeezed and scratched at it. I got this red scar in the middle of my nose, which was embarassing and when the scare healed the mole came back double in size...luckily it was tiny to begin with so it's still really small lol

Reply 5

Elynnor1811

16

no it won't increase your risk - don't worry.

Reply 6

imhiya

15

Isn't skin cancer a mutation of the skin so i guess large skin growth has a higher chance? Correct me if im wrong.

Reply 7

martin101

10

thing about moles is they have a maximum size they can grow to based on their nutrient supply. If you lop one off then its only able to grow back to the size it was +/- a bit of scarring.

Reply 8

Anonymous #3

i was told it can by a nurse

Reply 9

maxPP

2

All cells undergo continuous regeneration (ie. growth), skin cells are amongst the fastest, so the regrowth of the cells is irrelevant.

Again, no link has been found eg. see http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/119032983/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0

despite what some nurses say.