Mole Removal

Moles are dark patches of the skin caused by cells that produce a pigment. They can be in a variety of forms to start off with such as flat or raised and smooth or rough.

A skin mole can also be brownish, reddish or skin colored and some have hair follicles like normal. Traditionally, moles present from birth are known as congenital melanonaevi but you may be more familiar with the term “Beauty Spot”. Most moles develop during the first 20 years of life and will normally appear on areas that catch the most sunlight. If you’re considering mole removal you can try a home mole removal cream before seeing your doctor. This method can also cause some scarring depending on the cream and the mole and does take a long time to complete treatment.

There are a variety of options you can choose to take to remove moles. It may be that your mole causes you a lot of emotional distress, or you are worried it will turn cancerous with time. Perhaps the mole is on the facial region and becomes regularly damaged or irritated by shaving. Either way you can see your doctor today for more information about mole removal and what you can do. Many mole removal methods will use a local anesthetic to numb the area where the mole is prior to removal. The following is a brief list of the different ways in which you can get rid of that stubborn mole for good.

• Freeze the mole with liquid gas to be simply picked off afterwards.
• Punch Biopsy – This uses a tool that looks rather like an apple corer.
• Shaving the mole with a surgical blade.
• Surgery – Here they remove some skin around the mole as well to avoid it spreading.
• Using chemicals to burn the mole off such as salicylic acid.

Naturally the larger the mole is that needs to be removed; the harder removing a mole is. Some moles may leave scars when removed so they are treated very carefully especially if on the face. When you have a mole removed you should ensure you practice the proper after care for it. Use sun blockers that have an SPF of at least 30 on the area revealed by the mole removal. The sun can be highly damaging to this new exposed sun so make sure you are well protected before going out in the sunshine.

If your mole is changing it may be a sign that it has turned cancerous and it will have to be removed. If your mole is changing shape, size or color then please consult your doctor immediately for a medical examination of the mole. In these cases surgery will be the most likely option in order to prevent the risk of the melanoma (skin cancer) spreading. You may also notice your mole is itchy or bleeds a little; this is also a warning sign that your mole is cancerous and should be looked at.