The more you know about skin moles, the better off you’ll be, from both a health and a cosmetic perspective. I’ve written this post to help you understand just what a skin mole is and the best course of action to take if you decide that a skin mole on your body needs to go.
Skin Mole: Blemish or Beauty Mark?
Skin moles are growths that generally result from a high concentration of natural skin pigment.At different periods in history, skin moles have been seen as blemishes, but also as “beauty marks.”
Rays from the sun in Australia are some of the harshest in the world however, which means that we have one of the highest rates of skin cancer. It’s important you know all the moles on your body very well.
The answer is not always simple though.
Whether you see them as blemishes or beauty marks, skin moles are often a precursor to cancer. Therefore the more you know about skin moles, the more informed your decision making will be, from both a cosmetic and health perspective.
I hope the next few paragraphs will prove helpful when you need to decide whether a skin mole on your body should be removed.
What Is a Skin Mole?
Medically speaking, a mole is a growth on the skin. It develops when melanocytes (what you may know as pigment cells) in the skin grow in clusters. Some skin moles are present at birth, but most appear later in childhood.
Moles are usually found on areas of the body above the waist most likely to be exposed to natural sunlight. These include the face, arms, chest and waist area.
6 Reasons to Consult Your Doctor About A Skin Mole
Although skin moles are common, they need to be monitored; in fact you really need to have your skin checked by a specialist dermatologist at least once a year. You should immediately consult a dermatologist or other health professional who specialises in the skin when
- You find a new mole
- You notice a change in a mole’s diameter or thickness
- You notice an irregular outline
- There has been a change of colour
- Your skin mole feels itchy or scaly
- Your mole is bleeding
Please do NOT ask friends, family, or a non-specialist for an opinion as to whether or not your skin mole may be cancerous. Time is of the essence, and only a trained professional will have the skill to diagnose a melanoma.
When Your Doctor Recommends Skin Mole Removal On Your Face
During your examination, your doctor will make the decision whether or not to remove the mole based on its current size, appearance and any changes that may have occurred. If the doctor thinks any of these factors suggest malignant melanoma, the mole will need to be removed for further examination.
Not all molesare removed for this reason. Skin moles may be removed for purely cosmetic reasons or if they are causing discomfort.This is often the case with skin moles on the face. It’s important that you see someone who really knows what they’re doing when having a mole removed on your face. This is one reason that I get a lot of referrals from other doctors and dermatologists.
An excision biopsy (the medical term for a mole removal) can be performed in a matter of minutes. Only a local anaesthetic is required, and scarring is minimal.
If the skin mole is found to be malignant, your doctor is likely to enlarge the incision around the original biopsy to ensure that the cancerous cells are completely removed.
Recovery after Skin Mole Removal Surgery
The face, unlike other parts of the body, has a powerful ability to regenerate. Often all that is needed after skin mole removal on the face is for the incision and suture to be covered with a spot Band-Aid for 5 to 7 days.
Most facial scars and scars on other parts of the body after mole removal will practically disappear. The time frame can range from few weeks to as long as a year for total healing. In the event that the scar has not healed to a patient’s satisfaction, lasers can be used to smooth irregularities.
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