You may want hundreds of moles removed all at the same time, after reading that having hundreds of moles is a risk factor for melanoma.
Or maybe you want hundreds of moles removed for cosmetic reasons.
Naturally, you’re wondering how hundreds of moles can be removed all at the same time.
“Truly this should never be done,” responds Dr. Jennifer Gordon, MD, board certified by the American Board of Dermatology and practices at Westlake Dermatology located in Austin, Texas.
“The only safe way to remove a mole is to actually cut it out with enough of a specimen to have it sent for pathological evaluation,” even if the removal is just for cosmetic concerns.
“You should never have a mole removed without having it tested,” continues Dr. Gordon.
“Because of this, each mole removal will leave a scar and is often not as cosmetically desirable as the mole itself.
“If moles need to be removed because they are worrisome for atypia or skin cancer, then they should be removed.”
Atypia refers to atypical moles.
These lesions are composed of cells that are atypical, or not quite like the surrounding normal skin cells.
The atypical nature makes them more likely, when compared to nearby typical cells, to ever evolve into melanoma.
Dr. Gordon points out that “moles should not be removed for preventative reasons. Moles are often removed for cosmetic reasons, which is fine as long as the patient is okay trading it for a scar and the mole is still tested.
“I often tell my patients to observe what they notice on other people’s skin—we are trained to see lumps/bumps and moles without really noticing them, but the smallest of scars can change light reflection and skin tension lines and actually be more noticeable.”
If you have hundreds of moles, you should examine them once a month.
This will be tedious and cause anxiety, so here’s the medical breakthrough that takes the burden off of you.
Dr. Gordon’s interests include medical dermatology, particularly the treatment and prevention of melanoma and other skin cancers in athletes. For 2016, 2017 and 2018 Texas Monthly Magazine selected her as one of the Texas Super Doctors Rising Stars.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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