How to Remove a Mole

What is a Mole?

You probably have moles, but do you know what they are? Non cancerous moles are simply clusters of pigment-forming cells (melanocytes). Most moles are round or oval shaped and may be smooth, wrinkled, flat or raised. As we mentioned, they are usually harmless, although a small percentage may become cancerous.

Skin tags are often confused with moles, but there is a key difference. Moles are rooted deeper in this skin, while skin tags are not. In addition, skin tags rarely—if ever—become cancerous.

At What Point Should a Mole be Removed?

You may choose to have benign moles removed if you feel it has a negative impact on your appearance or is irritating, or you can leave it. If there is no risk of it becoming cancerous, there’s no risk in leaving it alone.

Cancerous moles—or lesions that your dermatologist suspects may become cancerous—should be removed immediately.

How to Know if a Mole is Cancerous

Melanoma, the most dangerous skin cancer, starts as a mole. Medical professionals use the ABCDE rule to help patients understand when a mole is potentially harmful. That rule is as follows:

• Asymmetry – when one half of the skin lesion is a different shape than the other.
• Border – when the edges of the mole are ragged or uneven.
• Color – when the mole is shades of black, brown and/or tan. There may also be areas of white, gray, pink, red or blue.
• Diameter – when the mole is larger than .25 inches (6mm) or has grown in size.
• Evolving – when the mole has been changing in appearance or growing in an area of previously normal skin.

When present in a mole, melanoma is not painful, so it’s important to be diligent when checking atypical moles, especially if you have risk factors. Annual visits to your dermatologist for a skin exam are one of the best ways to catch melanoma before it spreads.

What Should I Do if I Have an Atypical Mole?

Start by scheduling an appointment with your primary care physician. They will perform a visual skin exam and determine whether the mole needs to be seen by a dermatologist. If so, they will make a referral. At your dermatologist appointment, the doctor will perform another skin exam and may take a sample to be biopsied. If the biopsy shows signs of cancer, they’ll schedule an appointment to have the mole removed as soon as possible. If no signs of cancer are present, the dermatologist will leave the decision to remove it up to you.

How Are Moles Removed?

Dermatologists and cosmetic surgeons use a variety of mole removal methods depending on the type of mole present. Here are the most common:

• Freezing by using a small amount of liquid nitrogen. This technique is used for non cancerous moles.
• Burning, sometimes called electrocautery. This procedure uses an electric current to burn off the upper layers of a noncancerous mole. It is painful and may take more than one session to fully remove the mole.
• Shave excisions, which uses a surgical blade to shave the mole off the skin’s surface.
• Laser removal, which uses bursts of light radiation to destroy the mole tissue. This method usually requires more than one treatment, and is reserved for non cancerous moles.
• Excision, which removes the entire mole, including anything beneath the skin. In the case of cancerous moles, this type of removal will be used.

No matter which method your doctor uses, mole removal is an outpatient, low risk procedure.

Will Mole Removal Cause a Permanent Scar?

Scarring depends on several factors, including your age, skin health, mole location and chosen removal method. Younger patients tend to have less scarring, and laser removal often results in a less noticeable scar. Over-the-counter scar creams can help reduce the appearance of scars once the wound has fully healed.

Mole Removal Risks

Removing a mole is a simple process with little risk. Mild pain, swelling and discomfort at the excision site are the most common side effects and will subside within days.

In rarer, more extreme cases, a patient may experience an infection at the surgical site, mild scarring or an allergic reaction to the effects of the anesthetic applied at the excision site. It is important to notify your doctor of allergies at your consultation to avoid reactions. In cases where deep tissues are excised, minor nerve damage is possible.

Can I Remove a Mole Myself?

While there are a variety of home remedies and products on the market that claim to remove moles, we do not recommend using them or attempting at-home mole removal. Creams are not proven to be effective and can even cause scarring, while other methods—such as shaving with a razor blade—are extremely dangerous when attempted without proper medical training. The risks include infection and the inability to test for cancer, both of which can end up being life threatening.

If you are having a mole removed, you should seek care from a medical professional in a clinic or hospital. Non cancerous moles can be removed by your dermatologist, primary care provider or a cosmetic surgeon.

Seeking Mole Removal in Beverly Hills? Dr. Ardesh is Here to Help.

Dr. Ardesh, a dual-board certified facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon, is equipped with the experience necessary to remove moles with little to no scarring or downtime. Schedule your consultation at our Newport Beach or Beverly Hills office online, or give us a call at (424) 242-8608.