Liver spot scratched
If a mole has been scratched open, it usually bleeds and encrustations occur which can look very threatening at first. Most of the time these are protruding liver spots, which have been accidentally injured by mechanical stress. This is usually not dangerous and will heal by itself with a little care of this skin area.
However, if the injury causes anxiety in the affected person, it is advisable to consult a dermatologist. The situation is different with liver spots that itch constantly or are located on parts of the body that are exposed to increased friction, such as the soles of the feet. If these liver spots are scratched up more often, their removal should be considered in any case, as inflammation can occur under chronic stress. This, in turn, could promote further degeneration of these liver spots and, in the worst case, lead to malignant skin cancer. These liver spots should therefore be clarified immediately by a physician in any case.
Liver spot in the eye
Liver spots can occur on and in the eye as well as anywhere on the body. If they are located on the eyelid or in the iris, they can also be visible from the outside, whereas liver spots in the choroid of the eye, i.e. inside the eye, can only be diagnosed by an ophthalmologist. However, liver spots in the eye are not uncommon and, as long as they do not degenerate, are just as harmless as anywhere else on the body.
They should only be checked by an ophthalmologist at regular intervals and if malignant changes occur, they should be removed. This can be done by means of surgery, radiation or laser procedures, which should be discussed with the treating physician in each case. However, liver spots on the eye can also be operated on for cosmetic reasons, for example if they are very large, are perceived as disturbing or even restrict the field of vision.
These operations are usually performed under general anesthesia and a short inpatient stay is therefore recommended. A mole can also bleed and become inflamed if it is exposed to constant irritation due to its anatomical position. This is the case, for example, on the sole of the foot.
Due to constant pressure, the mole can bleed and form crusts. A liver spot on unfavorable body parts should be removed. In general, a liver spot could turn into black skin cancer.
The black skin cancer can be cured well, but only if it is detected early, so one should go to the dermatologist regularly and have a skin cancer screening done. It is recommended to go for screening every two years. In between the visits to the doctor you should look for your own liver spots, with the ABCD rule you can quickly see whether the liver spot is benign or malignant: if there are signs of melanoma according to this rule, you should go to the dermatologist promptly and have a screening done.
The dermatologist will cut out the suspicious liver spot. If it turns out to be a melanoma, further therapies will be initiated depending on the size and nature of the mole. In addition to regular skin cancer screening, melanoma can be prevented by protecting oneself sufficiently from the UV radiation of the sun.
Here it is important to use sun protection cream with a high sun protection factor, especially for light skin. Children’s skin in particular should be protected; small children in their first year of life should not be exposed to the blazing sun at all. In addition to these factors that can be influenced, there seems to be a genetic component for the degeneration of liver spots, melanomas are more common in certain families. If close relatives are already suffering from melanoma, one should be particularly careful and consult a dermatologist.
- A= Asymmetry, the melanoma grows asymmetrically, not round or oval
- B= Boundary, melanomas grow fringed, blurred and jagged.
- C= Coloration, different colors within the mole indicate melanoma.
- D= diameter, conspicuous growth is a sign of malignancy.
