Do you have many moles? Anything special with a different shape or color that worries you? If so, do not hesitate to consult your family doctor so that he or the specialist can clear up your doubts. Determine if necessary remove a mole and how to do it safely is in your hands.
What are moles?
A mole is a neoformation that appears on the skin caused by groups of cells responsible for pigmentation. They usually have a rounded shape and have a dark brown color, and most of them are harmless.
Some known as congenital nevus, are in our body from birth or are formed in the first weeks. Others appear during childhood and adolescence, up to 30-40 years. It is estimated that most of us have between 10 and 40 moles of this type that can change their appearance over time.
Reasons to remove them
There are those who seek to remove a mole for cosmetic reasons, although most do. for health reasons, given that like others pigmented spots of the skin can be malignant. In rare cases, they become cancerous but it is advisable to be vigilant and have them checked.
If there are no risk factors, it will suffice to check them every two months to see if there have been any changes in these. But, when does a mole have to alarm us? What do we have to observe in these to talk to our dermatologist? You should do it in case...
- present asymmetries, since the two halves have to be practically the same in terms of color and shape.
- Its edges are irregular
- Take on a strange coloration.
- Tenga more than 6 millimeters.
- It has grown, changed color, bled... In other words, when there is a evolution or change in the mole.
Melanoma is the main complication of moles. And some people are at higher risk so they need to be more closely monitored. Having a personal or family history of melanoma and/or having many moles are some of the factors that increase the risk.
How to remove a mole?
There are up to three methods to remove a mole, but not all are recommended for all cases. Two, surgical excision and shave excision, allow tissue to be analyzed later. But this is not the case with the laser technique. Know briefly the differences between one and the other so that if the time comes to talk about it you are not at zero:
- Surgery: Whenever there are doubts about the possibility that it is malignant, surgery is presented as the best option to remove a mole. It is a very common technique that does not require admission and is performed under local anesthesia. Once the area is numbed, the mole is separated from the skin to ensure removal of all atypical cells and the wound is closed. The extracted piece is then analyzed to confirm the diagnosis.
- Shaved off: Shave excision is often the procedure of choice when lesions protrude from the skin. As in surgery, it is performed under local anesthesia, but here it is not necessary to give stitches, and the scar is smaller. That is if moles removed using this technique are more likely to come back than moles removed surgically.
- To be: It allows moles to be removed more quickly and comfortably, without anesthesia, but it does not allow analysis of the tissue afterwards, so it is only recommended when you are sure that the mole you want to remove is benign.
Do you have an unusual mole or one that has recently changed? Make an appointment with the doctor and leave doubts! And of course whether you have them or not protect your skin! Take care of your skin to protect it from ultraviolet radiation and also protect that of the little ones, don't forget about them! Avoid the sun during its strongest hours, use sunscreen year-round, and avoid tanning lamps and tanning beds.