Moles are growths on the skin that can form anywhere on the body. Some moles tend to form in groups and they are usually brown or black in colour.
Most moles appear in early childhood and during the first twenty years of a person's life. Some moles may not appear until later in life. It is normal to have developed between ten to forty moles by the time you are an adult.
The appearance of moles can change over the years. The mole could rise; change color and hairs can develop on the mole too. Some moles may not change their appearance and some may even disappear over time.
Moles occur when cells in the skin grow together instead of being distributed evenly throughout the skin. These cells are known as melanocytes, and they make the pigment that gives skin its natural color. Moles may darken after exposure to the sun, during the teen years, and during pregnancy.
Congenital Nevi: A mole that is present at or develops shortly after birth. These moles occur in about one in one hundred people. The chances of melanoma (cancer) are higher than that of moles which appear after birth. To be on the safe side a dermatologist should check a mole frequently.
Dysplastic Nevi: A mole that appears different to common moles. These moles are usually larger than an average size mole and irregular in shape. The color of the mole is usually not the same throughout. For example, a mole that has a dark brown center can have a lighter edge. These moles tend to be hereditary. People with dysplastic nevi may have a greater chance of developing melanoma, a serious form of skin cancer. To make sure it is not skin cancer a dermatologist should check any changes to the mole regularly.
Removing moles is a common procedure. Methods include:
Excision: Excision is a surgical procedure to remove unwanted moles or nevi. This is one of the most effective skin procedures especially when a person is diagnosed with skin cancer. Excision involves removing the entire mole along with a piece of skin bordered around the mole using stitches to close up the excision. This technique is done by the Dermatologist or Plastic Surgeon if the mole is a specific size or may have other issues that the doctor has concerns about. This procedure causes the mole to have a scar that is longer than the original mole size.
Shave Excision: The doctor will offer the patient a local anaesthetic injection before shaving off the mole with a small blade and flatten the mole area so it is in line with the surrounding skin. The wound will develop into a scab, which will fall off within a week. The area will be pink and will become lighter as time passes.
Excision with Cauterization: This is when the dermatologist uses a tool to burn the mole away. After the mole is burnt off the doctor will use an antibiotic with a bandage to cover the area. This is a seemingly quick and painless procedure and the patient can leave the doctor's office shortly after.
Laser: This is where laser pulses are directed at the mole to destroy the affected area. This method is usually performed in the doctor's surgery and is less invasive and results in less scarring than excision. This type of removal is not suitable for everyone. Dermatologists have tried laser to remove moles, but they prefer not to use this form of treatment because the laser light does not penetrate deeply enough to remove the mole completely.
Cryosurgery: This is the removal of a mole through freezing. With this procedure liquid nitrogen is applied to the mole to destroy the cells. This procedure is also usually done in the doctor's surgery and also results in less scarring.
More often than not, the dermatologist will use the excision method to remove the mole. The surgeon or dermatologist may not need to use stitches depending on the depth of the mole and the type of cosmetic outcome the patient desires.
Simple mole removals rarely require the need for a follow up appointment, but this may vary depending on the type of mole that has been removed. After a mole removal the treated skin may be slightly raised or slightly lower than the surrounding area. Eventually, the skin will blend in with the other skin. If the root of the mole has not been removed completely the mole can reoccur. If the mole reoccurs, the doctor can easily retreat the mole. There is a possibility that pigmented moles can re-pigment after treatment. The treated area may leave a scar and will be sensitive to the sun for the first few months. It is advised to wear a high factor sun cream or to cover the scar when in direct sunlight.
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