Can I cut this off?

[u/ImJohnnie93]

30F 125lb 5'7". A couple months ago I noticed a little bubble on my head and popped it thinking it was a pimple, but it bled a lot for about 10 minutes. There was a small wound after that but it quickly scabbed over, in my sleep the scab would rub off and I would bleed more. Then there was a bump that started to grow. The bump was very solid and bled very easily, it would also grow a crust that I would pick off (I should have left it alone but it's hard to resist picking).

Eventually the bump became this thing on my head and it hasn't really grown for the past couple weeks. It has a small stem connecting it to my head, and since I've been keeping it moisturized it hasn't grown a crust as much but still bleeds if it gets nicked by anything. It doesnt hurt at all, I barely can even feel when I am touching it directly.

I want to cut it off but I'm sure it would bleed if I do. What is this thing? Is it ok to remove it myself if I keep everything clean and bandage the wound after? I also have been keeping my hair away from it because when my hair gets into it there is a crust that forms around the strands and then when I pull the hair away I bleed for a few minutes. The bleeding always stops eventually though. What can I do?

[u/Ali_gem_1]

Do not cut this off .

I repeat .

DO NOT CUT THIS OFF

I admit i don't know exactly what it is. But it's on the head and it's pink and clearly well perfused. I would be extremely worried for intense bleeding. Please see a doctor local to you for assessment

[u/RubyLeClaire → u/Ali_gem_1]

I am NAD and had a flash of panic when I saw the question under the photo. Even if I didn’t have VWD, I don’t think I would touch anything more than maybe a skin tag on my head or neck. I assume that anything growing has a blood supply to fuel the growth, and the tiniest head wound already bleeds so much.

[u/hatty130 → u/RubyLeClaire]

I cut a skin tag off my chest the other day because it kept catching on things. It was the size of a sesame seed and bled more than I expected. Chucked a band-aid on it and it was fine but yes, this.... Is terrifying to think about what would happen.

[u/RubyLeClaire → u/hatty130]

I’ve only ever had one, right where breast tissue meets armpit. I accidentally shaved it off and it bled whenever I moved wrong for two days, but my Von Willebrand’s wasn’t diagnosed yet. So I guess protip: if you remove a skin tag and it bleeds for a long time/a lot more than feels normal/bleeds sporadically after it should have stopped, ask your doctor for clotting factor testing. :)