What to Do With a Mole in an Inconvenient Place
Welcome back to Burning Questions. The author of today’s letter just wants to take care of their skin health, but one of their moles is in a very secluded area.
It follows from my family medical history that I check for moles from time to time. I think I have one of them in my buttocks, but I CANNOT bring myself to show it in the dermatological office. May I assume that everything is okay?
Okay, bad news first. The doctors I contacted have confirmed that you cannot check a mole if, in fact, you know, you don’t check your mole. The American Cancer Society recommends regular skin exams by a dermatologist for people with a family history of melanoma, and there really is no alternative that matches. You probably already do monthly self-tests with the mirror, and you will probably snap a very uncomfortable selfie to get some idea of what’s down there. But in the end, you have to visit your document and reveal everything.
Dr. Michael Reitano , a physician at Roman’s Men’s Health Unit, has a solution that he thinks could reduce embarrassment, although personally I think asking this attitude will make me more self-conscious? But this must be taken into account. He says people often feel better about exposing a part of their body if they can cover up everything else. So ask your doctor or office staff if they can give you a dress to change into (ideally one that closes at the front and back).
Then, to maintain confidentiality, the nurse may ask you to lie down on the examination table “using a carefully draped cloth” and simply show the area to be examined when the doctor needs to examine it. “One to two inches of bare skin revealing a mole is enough for a dermatologist to see, evaluate, and even biopsy it.” Hopefully after this you will feel comfortable enough to carry out the rest of the exam as usual.
Whether you ask for it or not, it can also be helpful to ask your partner or family member to come with you. Obviously it must be someone whose presence while you have the butt is exposed will make you less embarrassed, no more. I recommend someone with a good sense of humor.
That’s all for today, but you can ask me any weird health questions you have at elizabeth.skwarecki@lifehacker.com or leave them anonymously at bethskw.sarahah.com . I wish you a healthy anus in the new year.