For one, it could be related to genetics. Some families have dysplastic moles which means they have a higher amount of melanoma in their skin. As a result, they may have multiple moles. Sun exposure can also cause cancerous moles to appear and can lead to the development of atypical or dysplastic moles.
While most are harmless, new or changing moles could potentially be a sign of cancer. This is especially true if you have a close relative with a history of melanoma. If you see a new mole and it looks different than other existing moles, then that is of medical concern.
The only way you can find out if a mole is cancerous is by making an appointment with your dermatologist. If the results are positive, that means the mole is cancerous. As a result, the entire mole and some of the surrounding areas will have to be removed to reduce the number of cancerous cells in your body.
Mole removal can be done in one of five ways, which include laser, punch removal, shave removal, surgical excision, and freezing. For laser mole removal, a burst of light is used to absorb the cells and destroy the mole tissue. This procedure is better for hard to reach or sensitive areas. During a surgical excision procedure, one of our BHSkin dermatologists will cut off the mole and the subcutaneous fat layer.
If a noncancerous mole lies right on the surface of the skin, we may decide that the best procedure is to freeze it off. We would use liquid nitrogen to perform this procedure. Overall, most moles can be removed during a single office visit. However, if the cause for removal was due to medical concern, a follow-up appointment may be necessary. Some procedures are more likely to leave scars than others and aftercare may vary.
The mole and surrounding areas will be cleaned using alcohol, Betadine, or another substance, before removal. Formal ellipse excision takes a little longer, because a larger area of skin needs to be numbed, and a formal excision setup needs to be done by the doctor or nurse.
The mole needs to be removed as an ellipse of skin boat shaped piece of skin removed and the wound sutured, usually in two layers, closing both deep and superficial parts of the skin, minimising the risk of scar stretching and tram track marks being left behind from the sutures. A typical mole removal using this technique takes about fifteen minutes to perform when assisted by a nurse, or 25 minutes without the assistance of a nurse. Keloid scars tend to be much larger than hypertrophic scars.
They may need laser treatments, corticosteroid injections, or other treatments to reduce their size or stop their growth. Unlike hypertrophic scars, keloids grow and extend beyond the boundary of the originally wounded skin area. Healing time after a mole removal depends on the individual. Young people tend to heal faster than older adults. And, not surprisingly, a larger incision will take longer to close up than a smaller one. In general, expect a mole removal scar to take at least two to three weeks to heal.
Some methods to reduce scarring should be started once the wound is healed. But initial care for the wound is essential for preventing infection and giving you the best chance at minimal scarring. Taking steps to avoid a noticeable scar, or at least reduce the size of a scar, may be done with a variety of treatments and preventive measures. Before trying any of these strategies, check with your doctor first. A fresh wound is more likely to darken and become discolored if exposed regularly to UV light.
When outside, be sure your scar is covered with a stronger sunscreen at least SPF If possible, cover the scar with sun-protective clothing. Try to do this for at least six months after the procedure.
If your scar is on the back of your hand, for example, a lot of movement and stretching of the skin could lead to a longer healing time and a bigger scar. A moisturizing ointment, such as petroleum jelly under a bandage may be enough to reduce scar formation while the wound is still healing. Once the scar tissue has formed, talk with your doctor about a silicone gel Nivea, Aveeno or silicone strips that you wear several hours a day.
Using an antibiotic ointment unnecessarily could lead to complications, such as contact dermatitis or bacterial resistance. About two weeks after mole surgery, once your sutures are gone and the scab has disappeared, you may be able to start massaging the scar.
If the scab is taking longer than two weeks to fall off, continue to wait until it vanishes naturally. To massage a scar, use two fingers to rub circles on the scar and the skin around it. Regardless of the type of mole removal you had, your doctor should instruct you on how to keep the area as clean and soothed as possible. For patients without stitches, Dr. Goldenberg recommends running a mixture of water and gentle soap over the wound at least once a day, gently patting it dry, then applying a thick ointment like petroleum jelly or an anti-bacterial cream before putting on a fresh adhesive bandage.
If you had stitches, your doctor will recommend that for a few days you keep the area as dry as possible and avoid doing any heavy exercise, Dr. The size of the scar ultimately depends on the size of your mole and the type of procedure you had done, but this almost always happens with mole removal, Dr. And if you got the mole removed in order for it to be biopsied, you should have your results within a week so that you can either put the entire thing behind you or move forward with a treatment plan if necessary.
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