With all of the talk about moles and skin cancer over the last few years it can be scary to discover that you have one. It is important to note that the majority of moles are not at risk of developing into skin cancer but nevertheless you should keep an eye on them.
Moles are groups of pigmented cells called melanocytes that collect on your skin. Most people have anywhere from 10 to 40 moles on their body. A person can develop moles throughout their life but most will be present by age 20.
It is imperative that you get to know the way the moles that you have look because they can become cancerous. By keeping an eye on any pigmented patches of skin you will be able to spot a change right away and catch the cancer before it spreads. Any changes in the looks of your moles or freckles should be reported to your doctor immediately.
If you develop a mole that could be dangerous or cancerous you will need to have it removed to minimize the chances of cancer. Most often a mole is removed by cutting or shaving it off of the skin. This is not an especially painful procedure as most moles are very tiny, but it can be uncomfortable.
Since the majority of moles are so small most will only require a small bandage after the surgery but larger moles may actually require stitches to sow up. Once the mole has been successfully removed your doctor will send it in to the laboratory to get analyzed for cancerous cells. You will get the results from this test in a few days.
Moles can also be removed in other ways. It is possible to have moles excised with cauterization, which is a method of burning it off. Laser treatment ahs also been attempted but is not commonly used because the laser does not usually penetrate deep enough into the skin.
The most common form of mole removal by far is regular excision with or without stitches.
Once you have had the mole or moles removed you will want to keep that part of the body elevated if at all possible. Keeping it above the level of the heart can minimize pain and swelling in the area. And of course proper hygiene of the area is essential in order to keep it from getting infected and scarring.
If later on in the day of the removal you begin to develop a fever or the pain gets severe contact your doctor right away. You will also want to watch out for excessive bleeding form the mole removal site and for the development of pus.
Be sure to check your moles regularly for nay changes that might occur. If you cannot see all of your warts on your own, if for example you have some on your back you may want to schedule an appointment with you doctor once a year.
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