Hello everyone, 

i am writing because I am very concerned about a recent change in a mole that I’ve had for a very long time. 

For context, I’m 25 and I am from the south of Italy originally, I moved to the uk when I was 18 but I grew up in the sun and got my fair share of sunburns in my life sadly. I have fair skin and over 100 moles on my body, I go back home every summer and I got a

sunburn again last summer even though I was being super careful, which I’m so frustrated about. 

When I got back I booked a mole check at a private clinic and they said all my moles look fine which was reassuring. 

Sadly, two weeks ago I noticed that a mole I have on my right shoulder (the one I’ve been most worried about all my life) has started peeling. The peeling went away by itself after a couple of days but it came back this weekend and this time I also feel a lot of pain in my shoulder, similar to the feeling of a sunburn. 

I will call my gp tomorrow to try and get referred but I’m so terrified that I will most likely have skin cancer. When looking online, the only option for moles that peel or hurt seem to be skin cancer. I haven’t found any sources that give any other options for what it could be other than cancer. Is it really the only option? Does anybody know what else could cause peeling on a mole? I’m so terrified.  

I have a chronic illnesses that was diagnosed two and a half years ago, I barely leave my house because of it and now the idea I might have skin cancer feels like another major change in my life I’m not sure I could handle. 

I should mention the mole has irregular borders, is 5mm and now has two shades of brown in it. 

Thank you for anyone that will take time to read this, it’s really appreciated. 

Paola