Moles (nevi)

What is a nevus (mole)?

A nevus is a benign growth of pigment cells within the skin. They are commonly referred to as moles. There is a genetic tendency to grow them, and they develop more in individuals who have had more sun exposure. Some may be brown, black or reddish. Once the benign nature of the mole has been determined, many patients are reassured, and treatment is not required. However, many patients seek cosmetic treatments of moles. Moles often have deep roots, especially if they have been present since childhood. 

What treatments are available for this condition?

When benign moles catch or are removed for practical purposes, one of the options to remove them is a shave excision. A shave excision is a procedure where after cleansing the skin and injecting numbing agent, a specialized blade is used to level the mole at the level of surrounding skin. It is sent to the lab to confirm its nature. It heals from the bottom, with no stitches. Aftercare requires applying ointment and a dressing. Shave excision leaves some mole cells behind, and so regrowth years later is not impossible. Like all surgical procedures, aftercare is important to minimize the risk of infection, of pigment changes on the skin, of persistent redness after the procedure, as well as to make sure the scar form the procedure looks as good as possible.

In scenarios where it is chosen to remove the full mole including its roots, a sutured excision can be performed. After cleaning the skin and injecting local anesthetic, the mole is removed with a surgical punch or with a scalpel blade, and the skin is sutured. It is sent to the lab to confirm its nature. As mentioned above, the aftercare is important to optimize the cosmetic outcome. 

In some instances, the added precision of an ablative laser may be helpful. Like with surgery, moles treated with ablative laser are cleansed and numbed with local anesthetic. Eye protection is worn during the procedure. A portion of the mole is sent to the lab for further confirmation of its benign nature. The spot is vaporized with laser energy precisely, layer by layer. The precision of ablative laser is especially useful when treating moles at cosmetically sensitive areas of the face.