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Skin Mole Removal
Moles, those colored patches of skin that
are raised or flat, can appear anywhere on
your body. Whether you are born with them
or get them later in life, they usually are
harmless and are more a nuisance than a health
risk. If a mole becomes irritated from clothing
or shaving, you consider it unsightly, or
you are concerned it may become cancerous,
you may want to consider a procedure to remove
it.
Some over-the-counter treatments are available
to remove moles yourself, but these should
only be tried if you are certain the mole
is not cancerous. If you prefer having a
doctor remove a mole so that it can be checked
for cancer, the medical options are:
- Shaving. Raised moles can be treated by shave
excision where the mole is cut off to be
level with the surrounding skin. Used primarily
where the mole is irritated from the rubbing
of clothes or movement, it may reappear if
the entire mole is not removed.
- Excision. Raised or flat moles, including
the roots, are cut out of the skin and the
skin is sutured together for healing. Done
for both non-cancerous and cancerous moles,
either a scalpel or electro-surgery is used
- Laser. Used only when there is no concern
of the mole being cancerous, lasers can fade
flat moles, flatten raised moles and remove
moles on and below the skin. Sutures are
not needed for this procedure.
All methods of removing moles have some risk
of scarring. Usually the risk is minimal
and any scarring fades with time, but discuss
this with your doctor to find the best option
for you. |
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