Mole Treatment

Most moles are completely harmless, but some can resemble melanoma or other forms of skin cancer. Regular skin examinations are the best way to identify lesions that may require closer evaluation. While the majority of atypical (unusual-looking) moles never become cancerous, certain features may warrant a biopsy or removal to rule out skin cancer.

We encourage patients to have any new, changing, bleeding, painful, or otherwise concerning mole or skin lesion evaluated by one of our dermatology providers. Early evaluation allows us to determine whether a lesion is benign, should simply be monitored, or requires removal.

Although some cosmetic treatments can improve the appearance of certain skin lesions, they should never be used on a mole or pigmented lesion without first being examined by a dermatologist. When a mole is suspicious or repeatedly irritated, removal may be recommended to establish a diagnosis, relieve symptoms, or eliminate a lesion that has the potential to become problematic. Mole removal is typically a quick, in-office procedure performed under local anesthesia with minimal downtime.

Generally, three types of moles grow on your skin. By learning the difference between the different types of moles, identifying which ones need immediate medical attention can be a lot easier.

1) Regular moles

A regular mole usually has a uniform color, shape, and elevation. It’s the size of your average pencil eraser. Think of them as a small dot on your skin, not unlike something you’d get from quickly poking it with a marker: generally harmless.

2) Atypical moles

An atypical mole is a little messier than a regular mole, especially with its color, shape, and overall size. While they’re still generally nothing to worry about, they should still be screened by a medical expert. Most of the time, nothing is of major concern.

3) Cancerous moles

A cancerous mole (or a melanoma) can develop from an irregular mole, or sometimes just appear on its own. These moles typically don’t behave like normal moles: growing in size, changing in color, and spreading on your skin.

Most moles are benign and never require treatment. However, some moles can develop concerning features over time or resemble melanoma, making regular skin examinations and self-checks an important part of skin cancer prevention.

You should have a mole evaluated if it is new, changing, or noticeably different from your other moles. Changes in size, shape, color, or symptoms such as itching, bleeding, crusting, tenderness, or persistent irritation should also prompt an examination by a dermatologist. While many new moles that develop in adulthood are harmless, they deserve professional evaluation to determine whether further testing or removal is needed.

When examining your skin, remember the ABCDEs of melanoma:

* A – Asymmetry: One half of the mole does not match the other.
* B – Border: The edges are irregular, scalloped, blurred, or poorly defined.
* C – Color: The mole contains multiple colors or has uneven pigmentation, including shades of brown, black, tan, blue, gray, white, or red.
* D – Diameter: The mole is larger than approximately 6 mm (about the size of a pencil eraser), although melanomas can be smaller.
* E – Evolution: The mole is changing in size, shape, color, or symptoms, or simply looks different from how it did before.

If you notice any of these warning signs, or if a mole simply looks different from your other moles (the “ugly duckling” sign), schedule an evaluation with a dermatologist. We also see many patients who wish to have benign moles removed for cosmetic reasons or because they are frequently irritated by clothing, shaving, or jewelry.

In addition to professional skin examinations, perform regular self-checks at home. Use a full-length mirror and a hand mirror—or ask someone to help examine hard-to-see areas such as your scalp, back, and the backs of your legs. Pay particular attention to areas that receive frequent sun exposure, including the face, ears, neck, chest, arms, and hands.