What you should know about Moles:
– A type of skin cancer, melanoma, can grow in or near a mole.
– Caught early and treated, melanoma can be cured.
– The first sign of melanoma is often a change to a mole — or a new mole on your skin.
– Checking your skin once a month — or more often if your doctor says — can help you find melanoma early.
How do dermatologists treat moles?
Most moles do not require treatment. A dermatologist will remove a mole that:
– Bothers a patient (rubs against clothing, etc.)
– A patient finds unattractive
– Could be skin cancer
A dermatologist can remove a mole during an office visit. A few moles will require a second visit. Whether 1 or 2 visits, a dermatologist can safely and easily remove a mole. A dermatologist will use 1 of these procedures:
Surgical excision: The dermatologist cuts out the entire mole and stitches the skin closed. If the dermatologist suspects that the mole contains cancer, the dermatologist will send the mole to a lab. It will be examined under a microscope. This is called a biopsy.
Surgical shave: The dermatologist uses a surgical blade to remove the mole.
