Why you should check your skin moles frequently

If you have moles different from the rest of the moles on your skin, you will be tempted to remove them. However, mole removal should not be done at home as it can result in excessive blood loss and the spread of undetected skin cancer. Removing a mole and inspecting it for cancer is the first step to catching skin cancer at its budding stage and dealing with it effectively. You should find a Fort Worth moles expert who can treat your condition effectively. Before removing a mole, you should conduct a skin self-check, a dermatological exam that shows if you have skin cancer.

Conduct Self-Check Skin Routine

If you already have moles, you should check them out frequently to note any changes you can report to the dermatologist. The dermatologist will need to know the symmetry of the mole as cancerous moles are asymmetrical. You should also note the border of the mole as cancerous moles have jagged and irregular borders. Moreover, cancerous moles tend to be multi-colored with a width of more than 6 millimeters and undergo size, shape, and feeling evolution. You should note the moles that are different from the others and ask the dermatologist to check them.

Conduct a Dermatological Exam

During the first dermatologist visit, the doctor will note the moles that are different and ask you to examine them. They might go ahead and remove them for biopsy, which involves further inspection under the microscope. The exam will give the doctor a definite diagnosis by examining how the mole cells are arranged.

Remove the Mole

If the mole is cancerous, the doctor will treat it using topical methods but choose to remove the mole. During the procedure, the dermatologist will inject a numbing agent on the mole, preventing pain. The doctor will then shave the biopsy, a method that uses a razor blade to shave off the mole and the skin around the area. A punch biopsy uses a punch tool that punches out the mole from the skin. Moreover, the doctor can remove the mole using a scalpel by cutting the mole out of the skin and stitching it back.

Recovery

You might have to return to the dermatologist’s office in two weeks for a follow-up exam during the recovery process. You will return to the normal activities immediately as mole removal is a minimally non-invasive procedure. The tenderness that occurs within a week will subdue as the skin heals. If the cancerous mole required a deep excision, you might have a mild scar. However, you can reduce the scar’s appearance by avoiding stretching and touching the skin before it heals completely. Moreover, you should avoid sun exposure, and if you have to go out, it will be prudent to use sunscreen to protect the skin. A nourishing lotion might help encourage collagen production, which leads to faster healing.

The Bottom Line

If you have moles on your skin, you should check them regularly as they could result in skin cancer. Moles that are different from the rest of the skin could be the first form of skin cancer. Moreover, you should have a dermatologist check the moles through biopsy and remove the cancerous ones.