I have this bump on my back. It's the size of a pea and feels like it is right under the skin. The skin around it is darker than the rest of my skin, but the bump doesn't hurt at all.

Any kind of pesky bump can be upsetting! But first off, take a deep breath and calm down! I did a little bit of research on these types of intruders.

This situation is definitely tricky, and it sounds like you might have a mole, beauty mark or maybe something totally nonthreatening like a skin tag. Believe it or not, most people have between 10 and 40 moles. These little guys can be pink, tan, brown or flesh-colored. Good news! Many moles can start off as pretty small and hardly noticeable. On a positive note, this could be perfectly normal! When to be worried? If the mole is irregular in shape (asymmetrical), changes shape, size or color, or gets crusty or red around it, there might be a serious prob. Since you said it's getting a li'l bigger, I would get it checked out.

So, you're not being overdramatic by being concerned. Why don't you point the bump out to your mama and see what she thinks? You don't have to make it a big to-do, either—just say "Hey, does this bump look weird to you? I've been getting worried about it lately, and I'd like to have it checked out by a doctor just to be safe." Ask her to help you find a dermatologist (a skin pro!) just to make sure everything is a-OK. If your mom can't bring you to a doc, head on down to the school nurse and ask what she thinks. When it comes to your health, always play it safe! If nothing else, it'll give ya peace of mind to see what someone else says.

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3/7/2010 7:00:00 AM