Mole Removal

There are three main types of moles:

1. Congenital moles are moles that are present at birth or developed within the first few years of life. Congenital moles are usually flat and vary in colour. These are usually benign moles that do result in cancer.
2. Acquired moles are moles developed later in life; most are brown and appear due to sun damage. They are also round without any significant changes over time.
3. Atypical moles pose a higher risk of becoming cancerous. Unlike congenital and acquired moles, atypical moles are slightly darker and have irregular-shaped borders.

Moles change slowly over the years, which can include becoming raised, growing in size, or change of colour.

How to Tell If My Mole is Carcinogenic?

While most moles are innocuous, several might look unsightly, and a very small percentage might pose a risk for developing melanoma, a form of skin cancer. If you have concerns about your mole being cancerous, consult your doctor for a detailed examination. . When it comes to looking out for the signs of skin cancer, here are some things you might want to look out for:

Asymmetry. One half of the mole does not match the other half.

Border. The border or edges of the mole are irregular, blurred or ragged.

Colour. The colour of the mole has different shades, ranging from tan, brown, black, red, white and blue.

Diameter. The diameter of the mole is larger than the eraser of a pencil.

Evolution. The mole is changing in shape, size or colour.

There is a chance for recurrence of moles after the first removal that will require a follow-up treatment, especially for congenital moles (moles that we are born with or acquired at an early age) that tend to extend deeper into the dermis. Dysplastic moles or atypical moles are also more likely to grow back after removal as they tend to be present in deeper layers of the skin.

Aside from the type of mole, whether a mole grows back depends on the type of mole removal procedure. In general, mole removal methods such as punch excision has a lower chance of regrowth compared to shave excision or laser mole removal as mole cells are removed more thoroughly. Studies have shown that recurrence for mole removal via shave excision is nearly 20%.

Mole removal methods such as punch excision, however, are often a trade off between a mole and a scar, which makes non-invasive mole removal methods like laser mole removal preferable to many, especially for moles on the face. For most flat moles, non ablative lasers that target the mole pigment are used. Over the next few days, the mole scabs over and falls off by itself. Often, this removal method results in zero scarring. For removal of raised moles, ablative lasers are used to target and flatten and level the mole. Any remaining pigment are then targeted with non-ablative laser. Our multi-pronged approach to mole removal at Veritas and post-treatment products help with minimising the chances of leaving a dented scar.

To choose the suitable mole removal method, consideration needs to be given to the size of the mole, the individual’s skin type, the mole type, depth, and where the mole is situated. A consultation and assessment with the doctor is thus important before your mole removal procedure. At Veritas, all of our mole removal treatments come with a complimentary touch-up session should they return within 6 months.