All You Need To Know About Mole Removal

Did you know that most people have at least 10 moles somewhere on their skin? Moles are one of the most common growths that occur on skin. In most cases, they are harmless (non-cancerous), but in some rare cases, they can be a source of concern (cancerous). Whether moles are harmful or not, many people prefer to conceal or remove them for aesthetic purposes.

So, what is a Mole?

A mole is a small dark or brown spot on the skin caused by clustering of pigmented skin cells. Many people commonly describe moles as the dark spots that occur on the skin. Even with this generalization, it is worth mentioning that moles come in a variety of colors (pink, black, red, blue and tan), shapes (round or oval), surfaces (smooth or wrinkled) and sizes (most are up to 6mm diameter).

You may be born with moles, or the moles may develop in your childhood and adolescent age. Certain factors such as sun exposure and inborn/ hereditary elements may play a part in the development of moles.

Types of moles

There are three types of skin moles, common nevi, congenital and dysplastic. Let’s explore each at a time.

1. Benign nevi

These are normal and harmless moles that occur naturally on the skin. Most skin moles are under this category. They are not a sign of skin cancer and have a very low chance of becoming cancerous.

2. Dysplastic nevi

Dysplastic nevi or atypical nevi irregularly shaped, uneven colored and large moles that are generally inherited. Dysplastic moles might be a concern if a new mole appears and if you notice abnormal features on the. If you have doubt or concern whether you are having a harmful mole, you should seek for medical consultation early and get them removed professionally.

3. Congenital nevi

These are moles you are born with, commonly appearing as round or oval patches. In some cases, congenital nevi moles might have hair growing out of them. They may grow over time, becoming raised, smaller or more hairy. These moles might sometimes be itchy and need to be checked often as they have a higher risk of turning into skin cancer. As a preventive measure, you might want to get them removed through a mole removal treatment.

Which is more dangerous and when you should be worried

Moles can also be benign or malignant. Benign moles are symmetrical, non-growing and do not change in shape, size and color. They are also referred to as healthy moles. On the other hand, malignant moles are asymmetrical, growing moles, usually more than 8mm in diameter with a mix of colors and shapes.

 

Benign moles are generally harmless and non-cancerous and will, with time, fade away or fall off. These are easy to conceal with make-up since they have are not large and their colors are not shouting. Malignant moles are contrastingly harmful and cancerous and need to be removed. Common skin cancers related to malignant moles include Melanoma, Basal Cell Carcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Types of mole removal treatment

A skin specialist should examine your moles to determine whether they need to be removed and if yes, suggest the most suitable mole removal treatment. Factors such as type, size, and location will determine what mole removal method is suitable for you. Here are the most commonly used mole removal methods:

Excision

A skin specialist should examine your moles to determine whether they need to be removed and if yes, suggest the most suitable mole removal treatment. Factors such as type, size, and location will determine what mole removal method is suitable for you. Here are the most commonly used mole removal methods:

Shaving

This is also an invasive method where a scalpel is used to shave off layers of moles until they are entirely eliminated. This process is completely painless as local anesthesia is also used to numb the area before the shaving begins. A small pink patch may be left after mole shave removal.

Cauterization or plasma skin technology

In this treatment, high-frequency energy waves are passed to the skin as the tip of an electrode touches the mole. This process generates heat within the cells, causing them to divide and die. This mole removal process has minimal scarring and there is no carbonization of tissues.

Laser

For small, flat and non-cancerous moles, this is the removal method that will be used. In this treatment, a burst of light radiation is shone on the mole to eliminate it. Laser removal works for moles that are in hard-to-reach places like the ears or sensitive parts such as the face. It is also the most practical method of removing a large number of moles at the same time.

Healing After Mole Removal

Skin Moles Facts

  1. Most moles on the skin are harmless and rarely develop into skin cancer.
  2. The majority of moles do not need treatment and eventually fade away.
  3. Intense sun exposure during childhood may increase the number of moles.
  4. Most moles are inherited and can be present even in a newborn baby.
  5. The moles you are born with are more likely to develop to become cancerous.
  6. Moles may be mistaken for sunspots, freckles and other types of skin growths.
  7. People with relatively fair skin generally have more moles than people with darker skin.

Causes of alarm

  1. Asymmetrical moles where both sides of a given mole are not similar
  2. Uneven mole border edges
  3.  A single mole having more than one color
  4. Moles that is growing rapidly
  5. A mole that changes in color, shape and size with time 
  6. Abnormal signs and symptoms such as bleeding, itching, scaling


Moles are common skin growths that are, in most cases, harmless. However, since there is a possibility of these growths developing into cancerous cells, it would help if you had them checked by a doctor regularly. If you have moles that look suspicious, your skin specialist should suggest a suitable mole removal treatment to prevent occurrence of serious conditions such as skin cancer.

 

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