Saturday, March 17, 2012

When is mole removal needed?

By Michle Luis


There are different types of moles. Moles basically have three main categories. Knowing the features of each of these categories will help in determining whether to remove them or not.

Is mole removal mandatory?

This might seem to be an absurd question for science students. But for a layman, such doubts can arise, when they read scientific articles about moles causing cancer. The process of mole removal is no more a difficult one.

People in the past had to make do with home remedies and natural treatment methods. However, hospitals now conduct laser surgery or excision, carried out only by skin surgeons, to remove moles. Before going right ahead with any surgery or treatment, you should first determine if your mole has a possibility of becoming cancerous or not.

Of course when you know the differences among the moles, you will also know if the services of a surgeon are necessary. The most common types of moles, called nevus, are not cancerous at all. Despite being similar to common moles, however, dysplastic nevus can sometimes pose cancer risks. Melanoma, on the other hand, is sure to cause cancer.

Moles have different shapes and sizes. Others have differences in their symmetry, border line and surface texture. Common moles, once removed, have lesser possibilities of appearing again. The same is true for dysplastic nevus; they don't reappear after being removed. Melanoma, on the other hand, has possibilities of recurrence. There are some cases where melanoma has reappeared a few years after a successful excision surgery. Among the three, melanoma poses the most danger. Its effects can reach the other regions of the body and not just the area where it first appears. However, just because a mole forms in one area does not mean other areas of the body will follow suit. Normal moles have flat surfaces. They develop as smooth spots on one's skin. In other cases, they can have bumps or raised areas.

Although dysplastic nevus also have smooth surfaces, they are less pleasing to the eye. Unlike common moles, they do not have a proper shape or symmetry. Their appearance is actually pebbly. Melanoma, on the other hand, has a scraped appearance. They are also lumpy and quite hard. In some instances, blood can ooze from them.

Among the three forms of moles, nevus is round; sometimes, oval. Dysplastic nevus has no proper shape. In the same way, melanoma also has no symmetry or proper shape. Close observation of changes in mole shape is one way of figuring out, if it can have cancerous tendencies.

You should consider removing your mole if it does not have a well-define size or shape. Nevus is well separated from the skin and has a distinct contour. Meanwhile, melanoma's edges are blurred. You won't be able to tell where the mole ends and the skin starts because the mole's notched contour basically meshes well into the skin. This can also be seen in the contour of dysplastic nevus.

Last but not the least; not all moles are dangerous. In certain cultures, they are regarded as beauty spots, if found on certain parts of the body.

I hope this article helps you to understand various aspects of different types of moles and their characteristics.




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