Why to see a dermatologist for your mole removal?

03 Oct, 2022

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Many products and devices advertise the ability to remove moles at home or in other non-medical settings. But are these techniques truly safe?

Patients should think twice before removing a mole outside of their dermatologist's office. These mole removal methods are fraught with dangers and potential health risks, which is why dermatologists do not recommend them. A dermatologist understands skin pathology and skin depth, is trained to look for skin cancers, and is trained to obtain the best biopsy specimen to determine what the mole is and if any necessary treatment is needed.

What exactly is a mole?

A mole is a brown or black skin lesion caused by excessive skin cell growth. Moles can appear anywhere on the skin, either alone or in clusters. Moles can change over time, becoming raised or changing colour. Because some moles are cancerous, patients should notify their dermatologist if their mole changes so that the mole can be monitored, biopsied, and removed as needed.

Why should a dermatologist always be the person in charge of removing a mole?

Below are few of the reasons why patients should always see their dermatologist for mole removal:

A dermatologist can determine whether or not a mole is cancerous.

Each year, the number of patients getting diagnosed with skin cancer is increasing, making it the most common type of cancer. It happens when the DNA in skin cells is damaged, resulting in the uncontrollable growth of abnormal skin cells. Skin cancer can manifest itself on the skin in a variety of ways, such as a dark lesion, a changing mole, a new growth, or a scar.

If our dermatologists suspect a mole is cancerous, they will do biopsy for it and send it to be tested. If the biopsy reveals cancer, the management will vary depending on the type and severity of the skin cancer.

If a patient removes a mole at home or elsewhere, they will not be able to tell if the lesion is cancerous. If the mole is cancerous, microscopic cancer cells will remain in the surrounding skin even after it is removed. These cancer cells have the ability to multiply and spread to tissue beneath the skin. If the cancer is melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer, the cells can spread to other parts of the body via the bloodstream and become life-threatening.

A dermatologist can assist in reducing the risk of infection.

A mole removal, like any surgical procedure, carries the risk of infection. Knowing this, the dermatologists pay close attention to the sanitation of their instruments as well as the preoperative and postoperative care of their patients.

When a patient removes a mole at home or in a non-medical setting, the risk of infection increases, which can delay wound healing and necessitate a trip to the local emergency room.

Scarring can be reduced with the help of a dermatologist.

Scarring can and does occur, despite the fact that our dermatologists are highly trained in mole removal and strive to avoid it as much as possible. Scarring is largely determined by the patient's age, the type of procedure, and the location of the mole.

When a patient removes a mole at home or in a non-medical setting, they greatly increase their risk of scarring, which can include bumpy, chicken pox-like, or indented scars.

A dermatologist can assist in preventing movement loss caused by scarring.

If the mole is on a joint, such as the knuckles, our dermatologists take extra care to avoid scarring in the area so that joint movement is not hampered.

If a patient removes a mole on a joint at home or in a non-medical setting, they run the risk of developing a scar that will limit their joint motion.

During the procedure, a dermatologist can control blood loss.

Before removing a mole, dermatologists inquire about the patient's medical history and any medications they are taking, as certain conditions and medications increase the likelihood of blood loss. Furthermore, our dermatologists are highly trained in mole removal and work hard to cause as little damage to the site as possible.

When a patient removes a mole at home or in a non-medical setting, they increase their risk of uncontrollable blood loss, which could be caused by a current medication, condition, or an accidental injury to the site, such as nicking a blood vessel or vein.

Before attempting a DIY mole removal or attempting the latest mole removal craze, we recommend that you consult with one of our dermatologists at Vasundhara, Ghaziabad  Clinic. Here at our clinic, our expert dermatologists can determine if you are a candidate for mole removal and walk you through safe mole removal options.

 

Categories: Mole Removal

 

Tags: Mole Removal, dermatologist