Moles: Removing them without causing any scars

Moles has often been seen as a symbol of beauty and sensuality. They exist in both men and women, in all parts of the body. These tiny brown or brown spots emerge during childhood and never stop developing in the course of a lifetime. Also known as nevi, moles are harmless for the skin when their diameter does not exceed six millimeters. They are usually circular or oval in shape and have a solid color with regular contours. They can remain smooth on the skin or increase in volume.

If the mole changes quickly and asymmetrically, there could be a chance of skin cancer. Melanoma is a disease of melanocytes, pigment cells in the skin. You should do a self-examination using this reminder before you make an appointment with a medical practitioner to have it checked. It’s a method of ABCD: Asymmetric; Border is irregular, Colour is different or Diameter changes in size.

Moles: what are the causes?

Typically, moles appear on the face, arms, back and legs. These are the main places which are exposed to the sun. In fact, moles are caused by a high concentration of melanin, a pigment present in the skin. This hyperpigmentation creates a brown spot. Melanin is a natural sun shield to avoid the burning of the epidermis. But when the skin is over-exposed to the sun, the melanocytes are abnormally activated and form a mole.

When a someone is overly exposed to the sun without protection, moles may transform into melanoma. About 95% of these skin cancers account for prolonged exposure to sunlight. People with phototype 1 have genetic factors that are more prone to the development of melanomas.

Moles: what treatments are available?

People who want to remove a mole should see a dermatologist.

If the nevi is harmless

They can be removed using a CO2 laser that essentially atomizes the spots without leaving any scars.

Treatment is done under local anesthesia. Four to five moles can be extracted per session on the basis of their diameter and width. There is a crust for 8 to 10 days and a mild redness for 2 to 4 weeks. It is advised to protect your skin from sunlight with a full screen block for four to six weeks.

Generally a session is enough. If the mole has deep pigmentation, you will need to rework it slightly to fully remove it.

If the nevi is suspect

If there is a threat of skin cancer, minor surgery may be required. The mole can be removed in its entirety by surgical excision under local anesthesia for laboratory examination. There may be a difference in the extent of the scar in this situation.