Surgical Dermatology

Moles

Moles are harmless skin growths that usually appear during childhood or adolescence and fade over time. However, for some people, moles are bothersome or concerning because of their aesthetics or their connection to skin cancer. At Downtown Dermatology in Orlando, Florida, Ronald Knipe, MD, and Samantha Marrone, MD, are skin care experts. They examine and monitor moles and provide treatment when needed. To schedule a mole evaluation, call the office for an appointment today.

What are moles?

Moles are common skin growths. They develop when your pigmented cells, melanocytes, grow in a cluster. The cluster of pigmented cells then creates dark brown spots on your skin.

You may develop moles anywhere on your body, and most people have 10 to 40 moles. These moles may change or fade over time.

When should I be concerned about moles?

Moles are harmless skin growths and rarely turn cancerous. However, melanoma is a fast-growing skin cancer that begins in melanocytes.

Melanoma may develop as a new mole or occur in an existing mole. You should be concerned about a mole if it has characteristics that indicate an abnormality.

The skin care experts at Downtown Dermatology recommend you use the ABCDE system when evaluating your moles. The concerning characteristics to look for in a mole include:

  • Asymmetry
  • Border that’s irregular or scalloped
  • Change in color of your mole or the color is uneven
  • Diameter of your mole is larger than a pencil eraser
  • Evolving mole, meaning your mole is changing shape, color, or structure over time

The appearance of a cancerous mole varies. If you have concerns about a mole, Downtown Dermatology can examine the mole and provide the answers you need.

What happens during an evaluation for moles?

When you come in with concerns about moles or a routine skin cancer evaluation, you can expect your provider at Downtown Dermatology to conduct an in-depth exam.

Though the focus may be on one or two moles you have concerns about, your provider at Downtown Dermatology conducts a full examination of your skin from head-to-toe. When evaluating your skin, they look for any growths or abnormalities that may be of concern.

Your provider also reviews your medical history and family history and asks about sun exposure and sunburn history.

How are moles treated?

If your moles look normal and don’t bother you, you don’t need any treatment.

However, if your provider at Downtown Dermatology has concerns your mole may be cancerous, they remove the lesion and send it out for testing. Your provider may also remove any mole that you find bothersome.

During the in-office procedure, your provider numbs the skin around your mole and removes the pigmented skin, along with some of the surrounding healthy skin.

If your mole grows back after removal, contact Downtown Dermatology right away.

Moles are generally harmless skin growths. However, if you have concerns about moles, call Downtown Dermatology, or book an appointment online to schedule an evaluation.