Many people have moles somewhere on their skin, and while most are not health concerns, some can indicate a serious medical problem, including skin cancer. Some people also choose to remove benign moles because they find them unattractive.
At Florida’s Dermatology and Skin Cancer Center in Windermere, we help patients determine if moles are cancerous and offer treatment if necessary. We also can remove non-cancerous moles that patients find unappealing.
If you have questions about mole treatment, or want to schedule an appointment to have moles examined by one of our medical team members, contact Dermatology and Skin Cancer Center today.
What Are Moles?
Moles are round or oval growths on the skim and typically are brown or black in appearance. They can appear anywhere on the body.
Moles have different textures, can be smooth or rough, flat or with a raised appearance. Moles emerge when the cells that determine skin pigmentation grow together, rather than being spread farther apart on the skin.
Moles can be removed if:
- They are bothersome and rub against your clothing.
- You find them unattractive and want them removed for aesthetic reasons.
- They are cancerous.
At Dermatology and Skin Cancer Center, Dr. Hudgens and our team will examine your moles to determine if they need to be removed for medical reasons. Most can be removed during a single visit to our office.
Procedures involving moles can include:
- Surgical excision: We can remove an entire mole, using stitches to close the skin where removal occurs. If skin cancer is suspected, we can have the mole examined and determine if further treatment is necessary.
- Surgical shave: The doctor can employ a surgical blade to remove moles.
Remember, do not try to remove a mole at home. Only a doctor or trained medical professional should perform this procedure. If the mole is cancerous, the cancer cells can remain in your skin and spread. Trying to remove a mole at home also can lead to permanent scarring or infection.
After your mole is removed by our team at Dermatology and Skin Cancer Center, your skin should heal and the mole should not return. If the mole returns, contact us immediately. This can be a sign of melanoma, the skin cancer that is most deadly.
While most moles are not a health threat, you should check your moles for any changes in color, shape, size or texture. These changes could mean cancer is present and you should contact us immediately for an appointment.
Moles that have an increased chance of becoming cancerous can include:
- Moles you have had since birth. The larger these moles are, the higher the risk is of developing skin cancer.
- Moles that have an irregular shape and are larger in size. These moles often are dark brown in the center, but with lighter and uneven borders.
Also, people with more than 50 moles are more likely to develop skin cancer.
If you have moles that you are concerned might be signs of skin cancer, or if you have unsightly moles that you would prefer to live without, contact Dermatology and Skin Cancer Center today to schedule an appointment.