--- description: A painful mole is not always dangerous, but sometimes cancerous moles are sensitive. Our expert explains what to do if a mole is painful. title: "Ask the Expert: Painful Moles - The Skin Cancer Foundation" image: https://www.skincancer.org/wp-content/uploads/painful-mole.jpg --- ![Sun \& Skin News]() # Ask the Expert: Painful Moles By Skin Cancer Foundation • Published On: January 24, 2018 • Last Updated: June 13, 2023 ![](https://www.skincancer.org/wp-content/uploads/painful-mole.jpg) #### **Q:** Can a cancerous mole cause pain below the skin? **A: **The answer to this is a bit tricky. Moles, or melanocytic nevi, can sometimes be painful even if nothing is wrong. In some cases, a normal benign mole will have a pimple forming directly beneath it, which can get temporarily stuck. This can cause more pain and take longer to clear up than a normal pimple because it can’t easily travel to the surface. Moles may get accidentally scratched and can become sore and inflamed. So, a painful mole is not always a sign of danger. And cancerous moles are often not at all painful. But some moles that become cancerous, which, in the case of a pigmented mole, means melanoma, can be accompanied by pain or unusual sensitivity different from the surrounding skin. So the best bet is, if a mole becomes painful and doesn’t get better in a few days or a week, see your dermatologist for an evaluation just to make extra sure. It’s always nice to get good news if everything is fine. --- ![Dr Jessica Krant]() ##### About the Expert: **Jessica Krant, MD**, *is a board-certified dermatologist who practices in New York City. She is an assistant clinical professor in dermatology at SUNY Downstate Medical Center and is highly involved in public health education. Dr. Krant also serves as the sole delegate to the American Medical Association representing dermatologic surgeons and their patients nationwide.*   ##### Categories - [Ask the Expert](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/category/ask-the-expert/) - [Child Sun Safety](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/category/child-sun-safety/) - [Destination Healthy Skin](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/category/destination-healthy-skin/) - [Healthy Lifestyle](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/category/healthy-lifestyle/) - [Inside The Skin Cancer Foundation](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/category/inside-the-skin-cancer-foundation/) - [Monthly Newsletter](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/category/enews/) - [News & Research](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/category/news-research/) - [Skin Cancer Awareness Month](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/category/skin-cancer-awareness-month/) - [Skin Cancer Information](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/category/skin-cancer-information/) - [Skin Cancer Myths & Misinformation](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/category/skin-cancer-myths-misinformation/) - [Skin of Color](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/category/skin-of-color/) - [Tanning](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/category/tanning/) - [The Big See](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/category/the-big-see/) - [The Skin Cancer Foundation Journal](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/category/the-skin-cancer-foundation-journal/) - [This Is Skin Cancer](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/category/true-stories/) - [Why We Give](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/category/why-we-give/) ##### Follow Us [Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/skincancerfoundation) [![x logo]()](http://twitter.com/SkinCancerOrg) [Linkedin](https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-skin-cancer-foundation/) [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/skincancerorg/) [Pinterest](https://www.pinterest.com/skincancerorg/) [Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/user/SkinCancerFoundation) ##### [Sign up for newsletter](https://www.skincancer.org/newsletter-sign-up/)   ##### Popular Posts - [Ask the Expert: Does a High SPF Protect My Skin Better?](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/ask-the-expert-does-a-high-spf-protect-my-skin-better/) - [Why Does My Skin Peel When I Get Sunburned, and What Should I Do About It?](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/why-does-my-skin-peel-when-i-get-sunburned/) - [DIY Don’ts: Why At-Home Mole Removal Is a Bad Idea](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/diy-donts-why-at-home-mole-removal-is-a-bad-idea/) - [Amelanotic Melanoma: It Doesn’t Look Like Other Melanomas](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/amelanotic-melanoma-it-doesnt-look-like-other-melanomas/) - [Ask the Expert: Painful Moles](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/ask-expert-painful-moles/) - [How Dangerous is Melanoma? It’s All a Matter of Timing](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/dangerous-melanoma-matter-timing/) - [Sun Protection and Vitamin D](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/sun-protection-and-vitamin-d/) ![]() [![candid logo]()](https://www.guidestar.org/profile/shared/248c6aa7-9ca9-4489-81b8-69bd7ed2f3d5) Open menu Menu Close menu SearchSearch ```json {"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/blog\/ask-expert-painful-moles\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/blog\/ask-expert-painful-moles\/"},"author":{"name":"Skin Cancer Foundation","@id":"https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/#\/schema\/person\/77f1ad8cb112be1b1ac2c792401b18b4"},"headline":"Ask the Expert: Painful Moles","datePublished":"2018-01-24T11:47:26+00:00","dateModified":"2023-06-13T18:17:52+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/blog\/ask-expert-painful-moles\/"},"wordCount":244,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/blog\/ask-expert-painful-moles\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/painful-mole.jpg","keywords":["moles"],"articleSection":["Ask the Expert","Skin Cancer Information"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/blog\/ask-expert-painful-moles\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/blog\/ask-expert-painful-moles\/","url":"https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/blog\/ask-expert-painful-moles\/","name":"Ask the Expert: Painful Moles - The Skin Cancer Foundation","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/blog\/ask-expert-painful-moles\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/blog\/ask-expert-painful-moles\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/painful-mole.jpg","datePublished":"2018-01-24T11:47:26+00:00","dateModified":"2023-06-13T18:17:52+00:00","description":"A painful mole is not always dangerous, but sometimes cancerous moles are sensitive. 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