Mole Removal/Skin Lesions
Dr. Charles Hutchins in Gastonia, NC, removes moles and performs MOHS skin closures (for removals done by other physicians). Moles are growths on the skin that are usually brown or black. Moles can appear anywhere on the skin, alone or in groups. Most moles appear in early childhood and during the first 20 years of a person’s life. Some moles may not appear until later in life. Moles are growths on the skin that are usually brown or black and are usually benign but that can be pre-cancerous. As the years pass, moles usually change slowly, becoming raised and/or changing color. Often, hairs develop on the mole. Some moles may not change at all, while others may slowly disappear over time. Laser Skin Care, P.L.L.C. in Gastonia, NC, offers free skin cancer screening to help fight skin cancer.
There are several skin lesions that are very common and almost always benign (non-cancerous). These conditions include moles, freckles, skin tags, benign lentigines, and seborrheic keratoses.
Skin cancer, which is becoming more and more common, often begins in a mole. If you have moles, especially any that are enlarging or changing in appearance, please come in to have them checked and removed before a problem develops. We offer free skin cancer screening for all patients. Dr. Hutchins has developed a technique for removing moles without stitches or scars. For pre-malignant moles and skin cancers that do require stitches, Dr. Hutchins has developed special suture techniques that minimize scarring.
What Causes a Mole?
Moles occur when cells in the skin grow in a cluster instead of being spread throughout the skin. These cells are called melanocytes, and they make the pigment that gives skin its natural color. Moles may darken after exposure to the sun, during the teen years, and during pregnancy.
Types of Moles
Congenital nevi are moles that appear at birth. Congenital nevi occur in about one in 100 people. These moles may be more likely to develop into melanoma (cancer) than are moles that appear after birth. A mole or freckle should be checked if it has a diameter of more than 7 mm or any characteristics of the ABCDs of melanoma.
Dysplastic nevi are moles that are larger than average (larger than a pencil eraser) and irregular in shape. They tend to have uneven color with dark brown centers and lighter, uneven edges. These moles tend to be hereditary (passed on from parent to child through genes). People with dysplastic nevi often have more than 100 moles on their body and have a greater chance of developing melanoma, a serious form of skin cancer. Any changes in a mole should be checked by a doctor to detect skin cancer.
How Do I Know if a Mole Is Cancer?
Most moles are not dangerous. The only moles that are of medical concern are those that look different than other existing moles or those that first appear after age 20. If you notice changes in a mole’s color, height, size or shape, you should have a doctor evaluate it. You also should have moles checked if they bleed, ooze, itch, appear scaly, or become tender or painful.
If your moles do not change over time, there is little reason for concern. If you see any signs of change in an existing mole, if you have a new mole, or if you want a mole to be removed for cosmetic reasons, talk to your dermatologist.
Examine your skin with a mirror or ask someone to help you. Pay special attention to areas of your skin that are often exposed to the sun, such as the hands, arms, chest, neck, face, and ears. If you have moles, especially any that have changed in size or appearance, please come in to have them checked and removed before a problem develops. Since early detection of skin cancers is often crucial, Laser Skin Care offers free screening consultations.
Treatment of precancerous skin lesions usually leaves no scar, and early excision of any skin cancer minimizes the defect to be repaired. Dr. Hutchins has developed a shave excision technique for completely removing moles without stitches or scars. When deeper excision is required, as for skin cancers or scar revision, Dr. Hutchins uses special, scar-minimizing suture techniques that he developed. His techniques have been published in cosmetic surgery journals and textbooks.