The majority of moles and other blemishes are benign (not-cancerous). They are not a threat to your health. Spots or blemishes that warrant medical concern are those that do something out of the ordinary -- those that act differently from other existing moles. This includes any spot that changes in size, shape color, bleeds, itches, becomes painful, or moles that appear when a person is past twenty.
If you notice a mole that does not follow the normal pattern, a dermatologist may be able to assure you that the mole is harmless, or confirm that it is cancerous. He or she may remove the mole or part of it (biopsy) to study it under a microscope.
This is a simple and harmless procedure. If the growth was only partially removed and it is found to be cancerous, then the entire lesion and an extra margin of safety will need to be removed.
A person may wish to get rid of moles that are irritating them, or simply because they are unattractive. The most common methods of removal include numbing and shaving the mole off, or cutting out the entire lesion and stitching the area closed. Stitches are removed after 7-14 days, depending where on the body the mole was removed.
Most procedures used to remove moles take only a short time and are performed in our office. Sometimes a mole will recur after it is removed. If a mole has been removed and begins to reappear, the patient should return to the dermatologist.
Courtesy of www.aad.org
For more information contact our office at 704-333-9113
