Changes in any of your moles or a new mole can potentially signify the mole is cancerous or melanoma. To help keep your skin healthy, we recommend the following:
Have a yearly skin examination by a dermatologist so your moles can be evaluated
Checking your own skin once a month – or more often if your doctor says – can help you find melanoma early
If a mole starts to grow, itch, or bleed, make an appointment to see a dermatologist
Treatment Options
A dermatologist can remove a mole during an office visit for a biopsy to have it checked by a pathologist under a microscope for signs of cell abnormality.
Surgical Excision: The dermatologist cuts out the entire mole and stitches the skin closed.
Shave Removal: The dermatologist uses a surgical razor blade to remove the mole and no stitches are required.
Excel V Laser: The Excel V Laser can be used for the cosmetic treatment of brown spots that do not need a biopsy, such as freckles, sun spots and age spots.
“Moles are the most common benign growth that occurs on the skin, but they can also lead to the most deadliest type of skin cancer called melanoma. Melanoma can be treated successfully when it is caught early so frequently checking your own skin, and having a periodic skin exam with a board certified dermatologist, is an important part of a person’s preventive health care.”