Mole Removal

Moles, also called nevi, are common skin growths made up of a cluster of melanocytes — pigment-forming cells. They usually appear during childhood or adolescence and may grow, darken, or lighten during this time. By the time you reach adulthood, you may have 10-40 moles.

Most moles are harmless. However, if you’re an adult and have a new mole or a mole that’s changing over time, you need to schedule a skin cancer screening at Central Utah Dermatology.

Abnormal moles are a sign of melanoma. When left untreated, melanoma quickly spreads to other areas of the body, making it harder to treat. Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer.

You may need to consider mole removal if you have a new or abnormal mole. The team at Central Utah Dermatology recommends you use the ABCDE skin-cancer acronym to identify abnormal moles.

ABCDE stands for:

• A: Asymmetry (mole is uneven)

• B: Border of the mole is irregular

• C: Color is different throughout

• D: Diameter of the mole is larger than a pencil eraser

• E: Evolving mole (changing over time)

You may also consider mole removal if you have a bothersome mole that affects your appearance or it’s in a place where it gets irritated, causing discomfort.

Your provider at Central Utah Dermatology reviews what you can expect during mole removal at your initial consultation. Mole removal is a quick, in-office procedure.

After cleaning your skin, your provider injects a local anesthetic to numb the area. Next, they remove your mole using a scalpel, separating the mole from your skin. If the team suspects melanoma, they may remove some of the surrounding healthy tissue.

In some cases, the team may shave off the mole, rather than cutting it out. This is primarily done to get a sample of the mole for analysis.

Once removed, your provider at Central Utah Dermatology applies petroleum jelly to the area and covers it with a bandage. You should continue to use the petroleum jelly at home for a few days to keep the wound moist.

You can resume your usual activities after mole removal. It may take up two weeks for your wound to heal.

Any growths removed from your skin are sent to the pathology lab for analysis.

To schedule your mole removal consultation, call the nearest Central Utah Dermatology office or book a visit online today.