Got Moles And Don't Like Them? You May Need To Get Them Removed
It is normal to have moles on your body, and usually they are not a problem. If you have a lot, however, they may bother you for cosmetic reasons. Moles can also cause problems. For example, if they are in an area where clothing rubs against them, this would likely irritate your skin. Also, moles can lead to skin cancer. Below is some information about this that you should find helpful.
Dermatological Treatment Options
A dermatologist can remove your moles in many ways. One way is to freeze the moles with liquid nitrogen. The doctor will first numb your skin, as this can be a little painful. Once your skin is numb, they spray or swab a small amount of liquid nitrogen on your moles. The liquid nitrogen is very cold, which is why it can cause pain. This will likely cause a little irritation, such as a small blister, but it will heal in about a week or two on its own.
The dermatologist may also decide to burn the moles off. Again, this procedure is painful so your dermatologist will numb the areas. They use a tool that passes an electric current through a wire that is placed on the moles. It then burns off a few layers of skin to remove the moles. If you have a lot of moles on your body, the dermatologist may not be able to remove all of them in one appointment.
The dermatologist will bandage the burned areas if they start to bleed.
Dangerous Moles
Statistics show that one in five Americans will have some type of skin cancer over their lifetime. For this reason, make sure you keep a good eye on your moles. For example, one half of the mole may be larger than the other or the border of the mole may look ragged or irregular. The mole may turn black or brown and start growing larger.
If you have any of these symptoms, you need to have the moles checked out by a dermatologist immediately. They can take a biopsy of the mole to determine if it is cancerous, and if so, remove them. Getting the moles removed quickly prevents the cancer from spreading. If you do not get them removed, over time the cancer can spread throughout your body.
Your dermatologist can give you much more information about the type of treatment options they can offer to you as well as information on skin cancer.