Monday, June 21, 2010

Flat Mole Removal

Flat Mole Removal


Moles, also known as nevi, are pigmented cells on your skin. Flat moles are dark spots that are not raised on the skin. They can develop anywhere on the body. There are several methods for removing flat moles for those who find them unappealing.


Surgery


In some cases, you can have your flat mole removed by excisional surgery. The doctor will cut out the mole and stitch the skin together. This is an effective removal method, but it is also the most painful option and it has the longest healing time. It will leave a thin line as a scar where the skin has been stitched. The size of the mole will determine the number of stitches needed and the size of the scar.


Laser surgery is the most common form of flat mole removal. An average of three laser treatments are required to fully remove the mole. Your physician or dermatologist will use a local anesthetic to numb the area before using a laser to remove the mole. There is no incision in laser surgery, so you are less likely to scar. This is not a painful process. Most patients will experience only a tingle during the procedure. Laser surgery works by sealing the blood vessels that are responsible for creating the mole. A scab will form in the area where the mole was removed, but it will fall off in an average of two weeks.


Creams


There are several over-the-counter mole-removing creams and pastes. Some creams contain bloodroot, an herb grown in the northern parts of the United States and Canada. It is an alternative medicine herb that has been used for years to naturally remove moles.


There are also fading creams that work to fade the color of the mole to blend in with your natural skin tone. It is best to choose creams that focus only on mole removal as opposed to blemishes. Most mole-removal creams work by burning the top layer of the mole to create new skin cells. It is important to protect the skin surrounding the mole to avoid harming healthy skin cells. You can use a doughnut-shaped bandage when applying these forms of treatment. These creams should be applied topically on the flat mole to fade away the dark tone of your mole.


Considerations


Moles may contain malignant tissues that are potentially cancerous. Although flat moles are not usually cancerous, you should consult with your doctor to determine if a biopsy is required. Mole-removal creams and over-the-counter treatments should not be used on moles with malignant tissues.








Because of the possibility of scarring from surgery, it is best to first try at-home creams.








If there is hair grown in the mole, it can be removed by shaving, electrolysis or a laser. You should not pluck any hairs in a flat mole because it may cause painful inflammation.


You should always consult with your dermatologist to determine what method is best for you.

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