Moles: What To Look For
posted: Oct. 03, 2022.
How your dermatologists in Sandy Springs, Roswell, Alpharetta, and Cumming, GA, can help when you have moles
Moles are common, and most moles are normal. However, moles can also be abnormal and an early sign of skin cancer. You can identify a potentially abnormal mole, but you must know what to look for. Your dermatologist can help.
The dermatologists at Atlanta Center For Dermatologic Diseases provide a wide range of medical and cosmetic dermatology services, including mole removal. They have several convenient office locations in Sandy Springs, Roswell, Alpharetta, and Cumming, GA, to help you.
Most people have between 10 and 40 moles on their bodies. The moles are caused by melanocytes, the skin cells which determine skin color. Melanocytes can clump together, and when they do, a mole forms.
You should check your moles regularly, and look for any moles that:
- Are large, with a diameter over 6 millimeters
- Have an asymmetrical shape
- Have ragged, irregular borders
- Show changes in height, shape, color, or size
- Have recurred after previous removal
- Are itching, painful, bleeding, or oozing
If you have a mole with any of the characteristics listed above, you need to visit your dermatologist. Your dermatologist may recommend removing a tissue sample or the entire mole for a biopsy to determine if the mole is cancerous.
If your dermatologist recommends removing the mole, there are several methods to do this, including:
Shaving the mole, which involves numbing the area and cutting out underneath and around the mole. This procedure can be performed on small moles and doesn’t typically require sutures.
Surgically removing the mole, which involves numbing the area and using a punching instrument to extract the entire mole. The incision is closed with small sutures.
If you notice an abnormal-looking mole, don’t hesitate. Make an appointment with your dermatologist as soon as you can.
To learn more about moles and what to look for, talk with the experts. Call the dermatologists at Atlanta Center For Dermatologic Diseases. You can reach them in the Sandy Springs, GA, office by calling (404) 252-4333, or in Roswell, GA, at (770) 751-1133, Alpharetta, GA, at (770) 664-5225, or in Cumming, GA, by calling (770) 844-1902, so call today.