When to Consider Mole Removal

When to Consider Mole Removal

Most moles are normal and are fine left alone. Other moles may be bothersome due to their appearance and location, and you may want them removed. Some moles can develop abnormal characteristics and need to be removed. Your dermatologist is an expert at evaluating moles and removing them. The dermatologists at Aesthetic Dermatology provide a wide range of medical and cosmetic dermatology services, including mole removal. They have two convenient office locations in Media, and Paoli, PA to help you and your skin look your best.

What You Need To Know About Moles and Mole Removal

Many people have moles removed for cosmetic reasons. Some of the most common reasons to have a mole removed include if the mole is:

• In a prominent place on your face or body
• Large, dark, and it is affecting your appearance
• Affecting your self-esteem and self-confidence

Moles are frequently removed for medical reasons too. Abnormal moles may an early sign of skin cancer. You should consider having a mole removed if the mole is:

• Poorly defined with ragged borders
• Asymmetrical with an irregular shape
• Changing in color, shape, or size
• Large, with a diameter greater than 6 millimeters
• Painful, itchy, or bleeding
• Growing back after previous removal

If you need or want a mole removed, your dermatologist offers several methods to remove it. Consider:

• Cutting or shaving underneath and around the mole if you have a small mole, which doesn’t require sutures
• Using a punching instrument to remove the entire mole, which may require a few sutures
• Excision where a football-shaped excision is made around the mole enclosed with sutures into a line.

Our dermatologist may want to send the mole for a biopsy, to determine if cancerous cells are present. It’s important to consider mole removal, especially if you are at high risk of developing skin cancer.

Want To Know More?

To find out more about when to consider having a mole removed, talk with the experts. Call the dermatologists at Aesthetic Dermatology. You can reach them in Media, PA by calling (610) 566-7300, or in Paoli, PA by calling (610) 647-4161, so call today.