Moles in Minutes: A Quick-fire Guide To Moles & Mole Removal

If you are reading this guide, there's a pretty good chance that you have a mole or moles somewhere on your body: but what, if anything, should you do about it? The majority of moles are benign; however, in rare cases they may be malignant and a warning sign for melanoma. The following guide should help you to distinguish between harmless and potentially harmful moles on your body and to decide how best to proceed from there. So, you are probably wondering...

What Should I Look For?

Moles on your body should be monitored for alterations in size, shape and colour. Benign (non-cancerous) moles will generally remain consistent in appearance, so if any of your moles begin to appear different, it is worth taking the time to visit a doctor who can more expertly examine your skin for signs of melanoma. Other warning signs include itching and bleeding. Australia has the highest incidence rate of melanoma in the world, and it is important to catch it as early as possible. If you have any doubts in your mind at all, consult a dermatologist as soon as possible.

It's benign...what next?

If your mole or moles are found to be non-cancerous, you may still wish to consider having them removed. Whilst in some cases moles can be seen to accentuate a person's natural beauty (consider Cindy Crawford, or Marilyn Monroe for example, where moles become beauty spots), often they may simply be regarded as an unwanted blemish, which may even become a source of self-consciousness for the individual. Similarly, benign moles can be a nuisance when shaving and may get caught on clothing, or become otherwise irritated through friction over the course of a normal day.

So what about removal?

You will be glad to discover that mole removal is a very straightforward procedure, with very little risk, and requires only a local anaesthetic. Depending on the size of the growth to be removed, there is some chance that you will be left with a small scar; however, a good cosmetic surgeon will be able to minimise this if you are willing to pay a little more. Failing this, you can always have your mole removed by a GP for a fraction of the cost, and simply ensure that you take good care of your healing skin in the aftermath of the procedure. An over-the-counter cream for reducing scarring, applied daily, will help your skin to look its best.

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