Moles are a very common type of skin growth and most people have at least one. They often appear as small, round, dark brown spots on the skin and are simply clusters of pigment-producing cells called melanocytes. The technical name for a mole is nevus which comes from the Latin word for birthmark. Some moles, depending on where they are, are referred to as beauty marks. In sixteenth century France, people applied artificial moles to their bodies with makeup. Artificial moles also hid scares.
Should I have my mole removed?
As we said before, moles are common. Sometimes though, they can become a nuisance or a sign of a more serious skin condition, like melanoma. It’s important to know what skin cancer looks like and if you are concerned, see a dermatologist.
Benefits of Mole Removal
Enhance your appearance
Make your skin clearer
Boost your self-esteem
Help detect skin cancer early
Protect you against the mole becoming cancerous
Moles & Skin Growth Procedure
Skin growths can take many forms, including warts, cysts, and skin tags. They can be benign or precancerous, and are caused by a variety of factors such as genetics, sun exposure, and HPV.
There are a variety of treatment options available for moles and skin growths, including excision, curettage, and cryotherapy.
Excision is a procedure that involves cutting out the mole or growth, and then closing the wound with sutures. Curettage involves scraping away the mole or growth with a curette. Cryotherapy is a procedure that involves freezing the mole or growth with liquid nitrogen.
Moles & Skin Growths
Love Them or Remove Them?
Are There Any Treatments for Moles & Skin Growths?
Our dermatologists are happy to check your moles and spots to make sure they are normal. For moles or growths that bother you and that you would like removed, we have several different methods depending on the type, size, and placement. Some must be surgically removed. Others can be removed with Plexr or by freezing them.
Frequently Asked Questions About
Moles & Skin Growth
In ancient days, moleomancy was a common practice of divination or fortune-telling via the number and location of moles on the body. But the scientific truth is that moles, far from mystical, are incredibly banal and common — and serve no biological purpose whatsoever.
They can be anywhere on your body, alone or in groups. Almost all moles are benign (noncancerous). But new moles in an adult are more likely to become cancerous than old moles. If a new mole appears when you’re older, or if a mole changes in appearance, you should see a dermatologist to make sure it’s not cancerous.
Healthy moles do not change in size, shape or color. If you notice a mole is getting bigger, changing shapes or getting darker than normal, this could be a sign of a malignant mole.
Moles are usually harmless. They may contain hairs or become raised or wrinkled. Talk to your doctor about any change in the color or size of a mole or if itching, pain, bleeding or inflammation develops. Moles (nevi) are a common type of skin growth.
A mole on your skin is also known as a nevus, or a beauty mark. It is very common to have moles and most are harmless. They’re not contagious and they shouldn’t hurt, itch, or bleed. A mole can last as long as 50 years.
Mole, in dermatology, pigmented, flat or fleshy skin lesion, composed for the most part of an aggregation of melanocytes, the cells of the skin that synthesize the pigment melanin. In thicker moles, nerve elements and connective tissue are also present.
