Your skin is the largest and most seen part of your body, and caring for it can go a long way in preventing potential health complications. Therefore, failing to pay attention to even the slightest changes that occur can cause the development of skin cancer. Fort Worth moles are mostly normal growths that can develop anywhere on your skin. However, as the years pass, your moles may begin to change slowly and adapt to a lighter shade. It would help if your doctor checked your moles to ensure they were not cancerous. Read on to find out more about moles.
Why Would You Have Skin Moles?
You develop a mole when your skin cells grow in a cluster instead of spreading on your skin. Moles consist of melanocytes, the pigment responsible for your skin’s natural color. While a mole may be harmless, it could develop into melanoma, a dangerous form of skin cancer. You can increase your risk of skin moles if exposed to excessive sunlight.
When Is Mole Removal Necessary?
You are a candidate for a mole evaluation if you have a mole that appears different from the rest of your surrounding moles, a mole that keeps changing, and one that rapidly grows. Your mole may also hurt, itch, burn, cause bleeding, and develop a rough texture. You should also seek an evaluation if you notice a new mole, especially if you are over 30.
All these signs may indicate a potentially cancerous mole. Your doctor will recommend mole removal to run a test and confirm if it is cancerous or precancerous. Mole removal may serve as a treatment for skin cancer that is yet to spread.
What Happens Before Your Mole Removal?
Before the procedure, your doctor will inspect your skin and may take pictures to compare them after treatment. Your doctor will then mark and clean the skin areas that need removal. You will then receive a topical numbing medication alongside a numbing injection.
What Happens During A Shave Biopsy?
Your doctor may recommend removing a mole by shaving it rather than cutting it. During the procedure, your doctor may use a razor to shave the mole growth off your skin and take a sample tissue for analysis. After checking for cancer, your doctor will also check the tissue margins to determine if they have removed all cancer.
Can You Prevent Moles?
You may be unable to prevent moles since they are natural skin growths. However, you can prevent moles from developing into skin cancer by limiting sunlight exposure, wearing sunscreen daily, and examining your moles for irregularities. Your doctor will recommend examining your skin at least once every month to increase the chances of early detection.
Most moles are normal and common and are almost always harmless. However, when you begin to notice irregularities in your moles, it could indicate precancerous growth. Once every month, your doctor advises you to examine your skin for changes like raggedness and irregular appearance. Your doctor may recommend a shave biopsy to treat your mole if you are concerned about it affecting your appearance. During a shave biopsy, your doctor shaves away the skin growths and takes them to the lab for analysis of cancer. Removing a mole can also treat skin cancer that has not yet spread.
