Almost everyone has one or more moles.  In fact, it’s normal to have 10 to 40 moles on your skin by adulthood. Cells called melanocytes, can grow in clusters instead of spreading throughout the skin which creates a mole. They can cause moles to darken during teenage years, after sun exposure or during pregnancy.  Moles can appear anywhere on your body and they’re typically harmless. However, some moles can be cancerous.

Most moles appear brown or black in color and are smaller than the size of a pencil eraser.  If you have a mole that doesn’t fit this description, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s cancerous. However, if your mole is asymmetrical, has an irregular border, is different colors or changes shape, you may want to see a dermatologist.  Most moles are benign, but a professional Beverly Hills dermatologist will be able to remove the mole and test it to determine if it’s cancerous.

A cancerous mole certainly needs to be removed, however many people elect to get rid of moles because they simply don’t like the way they look. If you have an unsightly mole, you don’t have to live with it. There are several mole removal procedures available; however some are more effective than others.

Whether you’re removing your mole for cosmetic purposes or for health reasons, there are two main methods of mole removal.  Both of these mole-removal methods are considered surgical procedures, so anesthetic will be used to numb the area around the mole

• Excision with stitches – Involves a slightly deeper cut where the surgeon will determine how much skin surrounding the mole must also be removed and then draw an outline around it. The surgeon cuts the entire area out of the body and uses stitches are used to close the wound.
• Excision with cauterization involves using a scalpel to shave a mole down to skin level or just below it. This will inevitably cause bleeding, which the doctor will stop using either an electrical instrument or a solution to cauterize the affected area.

Following a mole-removal procedure, you should clean the area twice a day with water or diluted hydrogen peroxide, apply an antibiotic cream and a clean bandage. Avoid using any topical vitamin E ointment until the wound heals completely. Applying vitamin E too soon can slow the healing process and possibly make scarring even worse.

Dr. Kopelson and Dr. Feldman have the expertise and skills necessary to safely to remove skin tags, moles, warts, cysts, fatty growths, and other bumps and marks.  There are a myriad of tools and procedures available at The Kopelson Clinic; thus, benign skin growths can be removed yielding elegant results.

Click here or contact The Kopelson Clinic to schedule an appointment.