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Mole punch biopsy pigmentation in lower layers of the skin?

I have a punch biopsy coming up. I had a benign precancerous melanoma tumor in the intradermal layer, removed from my ear canal about a month ago. The tumor itself they showed me after my surgery was dark pigmented leaning toward reddish but obviously at the skin surface was skin colored. This immediately made me get a mole checked by my primary that has been acting peculiar for for the last 2 or so years; a 3.5 week wait for biopsy once my doc took a look at it and agreed it doesn't look right and is doing things a mole shouldn't do, I still have 2 weeks to go.

What my question is, forgive me if it sounds stupid but there is nothing that states if you can see how far it has spread down when punch biopsied: when I have the punch biopsy done will I be able to see it's depth? I understand that the margins may have a play in this with surrounding tissues; it is approximately 9mm×13mm when the skin is flat, it's location is in another place the sun doesn't shine, the top layer in the middle is slightly broken (I wouldn't say ulcerated but.. I guess that also means the skin is breaking down), the surrounding border is reddish/pink and loosing its differentiated border with the surrounding tissue. But will I be able to see the pigment of the mole if it is melanoma and has spread further into the skin.

Thank you very much and please bear with me on this question. I'm doing my best to keep my mind in check on this one because I know I will not know for sure till it gets to a pathologist's lab. For those that have had a troublesome mole punch biopsied, could you see the depth?

  1. I think I found my answer. Would need to be extensive invasion to visually see the depth; but yes pigmentation would show.

    1. Thank you for reporting back, ! I'm curious where you found the answer, and if it's shareable feel free to link to it in reply. Have you had any results yet? Wishing you well! - Nina, SkinCancer.net Team

    2. @ninahua,
      I had to search for biopsies of internal organs...... gruesome. But the melanoma pigment shows; it is the closest I could get without calling up a health professional on the matter haha. I can only assume with a mole size lesion it could possibly be more noticable in more area and yet more dispersed in others making it not visible to the eye. My biopsy is tomorrow morning. Thank you! I will update here regardless of results.

  2. Wow , definitely an intense search but it seems like a good strategy! Fingers crossed for as painless an experience as possible today. - Nina, SkinCancer.net Team

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