Should you worry about your moles?
Mole Removal Expert Advice
As Featured in Etre Vous
Aesthetic treatment and expert website Etre Vous has published an article with input from mole removal expert Dr Ross Perry about the common issue of moles and when they should cause concern.
Moles are relatively common and anything up to 50 moles on the face and body is not abnormal. The majority are harmless, but there are times when it’s right to be concerned.
Dr Ross Perry told Etre Vous:
“Moles are overgrowths of skin cells called melanocytes which tend to appear as small, coloured brown or beige spots on the skin.
“People with fair skin tend to have more moles than someone with a darker skin tone, and although how many you have is largely down to genetics, if you spend a lot of time in the sun, you are more likely to develop more moles.”
Normal varieties of moles
“Non-cancerous moles are often termed along the lines of how they look.
“You get warty moles (seborrheic keratosis), flat moles (compound naevi), raised moles (intradermal naevi, papillomas), and flat moles with ring of white around them( halo naevi).”
Worrying moles and skin cancer
“A malignant melanoma will appear dark black, often flat and with an irregular edge.
“These are very dangerous with a high risk of spreading. Squamous cell carcinoma tends to be a reddish lump on the skin that can bleed and ulcerate. They’re high risk with a moderate risk of spreading. While basal cell carcinoma is either a flat red patch of skin that bleeds or is painful but also a reddish lump, which is moderate risk and low risk of spreading.”
Dr Perry says the most important thing is to carry out regular skin checks for any new moles or changing moles.
If there are any concerns about the mole in terms of size, shape, colour or changing or odd behaviour that is just a bit odd and different; then it’s best to get it checked via a GP or dermatologist.
Dr Perry continues:
“Your GP will do an examination and likely take a picture which will be sent to a specialist dermatologist for diagnosis.
“However, a visual check of your skin only finds moles that may be cancer and can’t tell you for sure that you have it. The only way to diagnose the condition is with a test called a biopsy. If your doctor thinks a mole is a problem, you will be given a shot of numbing medicine, then a scrape of the mole will be taken. This is virtually pain-free with the sample of the mole being sent to a lab where a pathologist will check it under a microscope for cancer cells.”
To read more, please visit https://www.etrevous.com/blogs/dermatology/advice/should-you-worry-about-your-moles.
Mole Checks
Cosmedics Skin Clinics’ doctors and surgeons offer full mole checks at their London and Bristol clinics. This is the most comprehensive review of moles and is designed to flag up anything suspicious.
A normal mole consultation is a shorter appointment to focus simply on the specific mole that a patient is concerned to have removed.
Private Mole Removal
Cosmedics’ Skin Surgery Laser Clinics offer private mole removal at a selection of clinics based in London and Bristol. Moles are removed using the latest surgical techniques including laser mole removal; with trained doctors and surgeons.
For more information about moles, see:
For more information or to book a consultation, please complete the form on this web page or call 020 7386 0464.
