Mole Removal: A Guide
Moles are a dark spot or an unusual part of the skin. Some people may have them from birth, while others may experience them over time. Excessive exposure to sunlight can cause moles. Some can also run in families and may indicate skin cancer.
Some people may not like moles and want to have them removed. Mole removal can be done by cutting the mole and stitching the skin or burning the mole with medical instruments to make it disappear.
Laser removal is a good option for skinny moles that sit just around the top of your skin. Deep moles cannot be treated with laser as it does not penetrate deep into the skin. The most widely used mole removal technique is mole cutting. Here stitches may or may not be required, depending on the type of mole and skin.
A highly qualified surgeon with good experience should be selected as mole removal may carry various risks including infection, allergy, nerve damage etc. this reduces most of the associated risks. Before mole removal, it should also be noted that mole removal will leave a scar that may or may not fade over time. Most surgeons can describe the type of scar and its location before removing the mole. Therefore, it must be discussed with the surgeon in advance.
The mole area, before removal, is cleaned by the doctor with alcohol or some other cleaning agent. Anesthesia is then used to number that particular area. Usually it takes around 15 minutes for it to work. However, the use of some forms of anesthesia for skin treatment is not permitted.
After removal, the mole area will be covered with an antibiotic ointment and covered with a bandage. One should not use those antibiotics that cause them skin problems. The operated area should be cleaned as many times as the doctor suggests. Cleaning can be done with water or diluted hydrogen peroxide. After cleaning is done, it should be covered again with an antibiotic ointment and a bandage until the next cleaning. Many believe that wounds heal faster when uncovered and exposed to air, this is not true as Vitamin E received from sunlight can slow down the healing process and also worsen the scar. The healing process is much better with antibiotic ointment and bandage.
When moles are detected on the body, you need to immediately show it to the doctor. This is a very serious problem as certain moles are associated with skin cancer. Therefore, it is better to avoid that risk and get immediate assistance. If your family doctor is not a surgeon, he can suggest the right one to approach. The Internet is also a very good source for locating doctors.