In most cases, moles are harmless. But if you have concerns about your moles, Joseph Sedrak, MD, and Laura Cohen, MD, at California Dermatology Physicians in Huntington Beach, California, can perform a mole check and removal. The board-certified dermatologists specialize in diagnosing and treating all types of skin cancer, including melanoma. Call or schedule your mole check and removal online today.
Moles, also called nevi, are a common type of skin growth. These growths are made up of a cluster of melanocytes, which are your skin’s pigment cells. These growths are usually brown or black, but may also appear red, pink, or skin-colored.
Almost everyone has some moles. Most of these moles appear during childhood or adolescence and are harmless. However, new or changing moles are a concern because they may be early signs of melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer.
You should schedule a mole check and removal at California Dermatology Physicians if you have any new or suspicious-looking moles. The skin cancer experts recommend using the ABCDE acronym when evaluating whether your moles are suspicious:
You should also schedule a mole check and removal at California Dermatology Physicians if you have a personal or family history of skin cancer.
Certain types of moles also put you at an increased risk of melanoma, including atypical moles (irregular moles that appear at a young age) and acquired moles (50-100 moles that appear after birth).
The dermatologists at California Dermatology Physicians conduct a thorough skin cancer screening when you come in for mole check and removal. Though you may have concerns about one particular growth, the experts are thorough.
They evaluate your skin from head-to-toe, paying close attention to your moles. They carefully document your skin growths, making a note of any abnormalities. If they find a suspicious-looking mole, the dermatologist removes it and sends the tissue to the pathologist for an evaluation.
Depending on the size of the mole removed, your dermatologist may cover the area with a bandage or stitch the wound closed.
After your mole check and removal, the dermatologist at California Dermatology Physicians talks to you about their findings and makes recommendations for protecting your skin.
If they removed a mole, they explain when you can expect results from the pathologist and what happens next.
California Dermatology Physicians may schedule a follow-up appointment to recheck your moles to monitor for changes.
Call California Dermatology Physicians or schedule your mole check and removal online today.