MOLES

moles are raised, round, usually dark brown spots on the skin that may be present at birth or develop over time. Most moles are harmless, but some may develop into skin cancer. Any mole that has an irregular edge, uneven coloring, or is larger than a pencil eraser should be evaluated by a dermatologist. Most moles are not cancerous, but they may pose cosmetic skin problems, so many people elect to have their skin moles removed.
MOLES Moles are growths on the skin that are usually brown or black. Moles can appear anywhere on the skin, alone or in groups. Most moles appear in early childhood and during the first 20 years of a person's life. Some moles may not appear until later in life. It is normal to have between 10-40 moles by adulthood. As the years pass, moles usually change slowly, becoming raised and/or changing color. Often, hairs develop on the mole. Some moles may not change at all, while others may slowly disappear over time.

What Causes a Mole?
Moles occur when cells in the skin grow in a cluster instead of being spread throughout the skin. These cells are called melanocytes, and they make the pigment that gives skin its natural color. Moles may darken after exposure to the sun, during the teen years, and during pregnancy. Types of Moles · Congenital nevi are moles that appear at birth. Congenital nevi occur in about one in 100 people. These moles may be more likely to develop into melanoma (cancer) than are moles that appear after birth. A mole or freckle should be checked if it has a diameter of more than 7 mm or any characteristics of the ABCDEs of melanoma. · Dysplastic nevi are moles that are larger than average (larger than a pencil eraser) and irregular in shape. They tend to have uneven color with dark brown centers and lighter, uneven edges. These moles tend to be hereditary (passed on from parent to child through genes). People with dysplastic nevi may have more than 100 moles and have a greater chance of developing melanoma, a serious form of skin cancer. Any changes in a mole should be checked by a dermatologist to detect skin cancer.

How Do I Know if a Mole Is Cancer?
Most moles are not dangerous. The only moles that are of medical concern are those that look different than other existing moles or those that first appear after age 20. If you notice changes in a mole's color, height, size or shape, you should have a dermatologist (skin doctor) evaluate it. You also should have moles checked if they bleed, ooze, itch, appear scaly, or become tender or painful. Examine your skin with a mirror or ask someone to help you. Pay special attention to areas of your skin that are often exposed to the sun, such as the hands, arms, chest, neck, face, and ears. If your moles do not change over time, there is little reason for concern. If you see any signs of change in an existing mole, if you have a new mole, or if you want a mole to be removed for cosmetic reasons, talk to your dermatologist The following ABCDEs are important characteristics to consider when examining your moles. If a mole displays any of the signs listed below, have it checked immediately by a dermatologist. It could be cancerous. · Asymmetry. One half of the mole does not match the other half. · Border. The border or edges of the mole are ragged, blurred, or irregular. · Color. The color of the mole is not the same throughout or has shades of tan, brown, black, blue, white, or red. · Diameter. The diameter of a mole is larger than the eraser of a pencil. · Elevation.A portion of the mole appears elevated, or raised from the skin. Melanoma is a form of skin cancer. The most common location for melanoma in men is the back and in women, it is the lower leg. Melanoma is the most common cancer in women ages 25 to 29.

How Are Moles Treated?
If a dermatologist believes a mole needs to be evaluated further or removed entirely, he or she will either remove the entire mole, or first take just a small tissue sample of the mole to examine thin sections of the tissue under a microscope (a biopsy). This is a simple procedure. (If the dermatologist thinks the mole might be cancerous, cutting through the mole will not cause the cancer to spread.) If the mole is found to be cancerous, and only a small section of tissue was taken, the dermatologist will remove the entire mole by cutting out the entire mole and a rim of normal skin around it, and stitching the wound closed. Skin Tag A skin tag is a small flap of tissue that hangs off the skin by a connecting stalk. Skin tags are not dangerous. They are usually found on the neck, chest, back, armpits, under the breasts, or in the groin area. Skin tags appear most often in women, especially with weight gain, and in elderly people. Skin tags usually don't cause any pain. However, they can become irritated if anything, such as clothing or jewelry, rubs on them. How Are Skin Tags Treated?
Your dermatologist can remove a skin tag by cutting it off with a scalpel or scissors, with cryotherapy (freezing it off), or with electrosurgery (burning it off with an electric current). Lentigo A lentigo (plural: lentigines) is a spot on the skin that is darker (usually brown) than the surrounding skin. Lentigines are more common among whites, especially those with fair skin. What Causes Lentigines? Exposure to the sun seems to be the major cause of lentigines. Lentigines most often appear on parts of the body that get the most sun, including the face and hands. Some lentigines may be caused by genetics (family history) or by medical procedures such as radiation therapy.

HOW TO GET RID OF SKIN MOLES

Technique #1 - Surgery

Depending on the type of mole, surgery may be necessary. The deciding factor here will be if the mole is benign or malignant. If the mole is malignant, it must be surgically remove. However, most moles are benign and will not require this procedure. Many would advise against surgery for a benign mole removal procedure do to the pain involved as well as the price. The average cost to have a mole surgically removed will be $150-$200. There are much better alternative available.

Technique #2 - Laser Surgery

Another form of mole removal is with laser surgery. While scaring is not usually an issue with this technique, it is important to know that this is not a method for treating deep moles. This method of removal may require several treatments (1-3) before the mole is gone. Price can range from $50-$100 per treatment per mole. This can become a very expensive form of mole removal.

Technique #3 - Herbal Products

This is by far my favorite method for skin moles removal. There are many home remedies as well as over the counter creams. Scars are rare with this method but they can happen. Herbal products are preferred by many because of their effectiveness and the lack of pain involved. Another bonus of this procedure is the fact that it can be preformed from home.