Is It An Ingrown Hair Or Melanoma?

A friend of our family recently had surgery for Stage 2 Melanoma.  She did not need radiation or chemo, but she was completely freaked out and scared to death.  My 10 year-old niece brought the " black magic  marker" on her back to her attention.  It was not a mole and was not raised in any way.  It looked just like a magic marker dot.  She showed it to her PCP the next week (just out of curiosity).  It was indeed melanoma. 

Now, I am so freaked out, because I have had basal cell carcinoma on my back about 10 years ago.  Last year, I noticed a black spot on the front of my leg.  It seemed to just appear.  I chalked it up to an ingrown hair.  But now I am thinking that this would have healded itself by now.  It has not gotten any bigger.  It is about half of the size of a pencil eraser.  It is very dark in color.The few times I have picked at it, it seemed like it was bleeding underneath.  I have a doctor's appointment on Monday, but I am scared to death.  I know he will refer me to a dermatologist, which is even more scary.  Could this be an ingrown hair that never healed or should I be prepared for something else?

On 1/19/2008 Beth461 wrote:

A friend of our family recently had surgery for Stage 2 Melanoma.  She did not need radiation or chemo, but she was completely freaked out and scared to death.  My 10 year-old niece brought the " black magic  marker" on her back to her attention.  It was not a mole and was not raised in any way.  It looked just like a magic marker dot.  She showed it to her PCP the next week (just out of curiosity).  It was indeed melanoma. 

Now, I am so freaked out, because I have had basal cell carcinoma on my back about 10 years ago.  Last year, I noticed a black spot on the front of my leg.  It seemed to just appear.  I chalked it up to an ingrown hair.  But now I am thinking that this would have healded itself by now.  It has not gotten any bigger.  It is about half of the size of a pencil eraser.  It is very dark in color.The few times I have picked at it, it seemed like it was bleeding underneath.  I have a doctor's appointment on Monday, but I am scared to death.  I know he will refer me to a dermatologist, which is even more scary.  Could this be an ingrown hair that never healed or should I be prepared for something else?

I just had what appeared to be a black spot on my leg that like you appeared out of nowhere.  Mine has been there for at least 6 months, maybe longer.   I just had it removed on Jan.4 and it came back malignant melanoma, stage 1.  I wouldn't even bother with a regular doctor, get to a Dermatologist and tell them when you call, you think you have melanoma and need to have this removed asap.

Good Luck