Moles

If you have a mole that seems suspicious or you simply don’t like the way it looks, see the experts at Integrated Dermatology of Montrose in Montrose, Colorado. Dermatology specialists Spencer Hamner, PA-C, Christine D. Brown, MD, and their team examine moles for signs of skin cancer and can remove them using cutting-edge methods. Call the office to learn more, or use the online booking tab today.

What are moles?

Moles are skin growths that often appear darker than the rest of your skin. They may be brown, skin-colored, red, pink, tan, or black and can grow or change in appearance over time. While not all moles are dangerous, if you don’t like the way they look or feel, you can have them removed. 

Most people have about 10-40 moles that appear during childhood, the teenage years, and into adulthood. You might develop new moles or freckles over time due to aging and sun exposure. 

What are the risk factors for moles?

You can’t necessarily avoid moles if you’re prone to them. Common risk factors include having fair skin, a family history of moles, and frequent sun or tanning bed exposure. Protecting your skin from the sun may reduce the chance of developing new moles, including skin cancer. 

How does my provider diagnose moles?

Your specialist diagnoses moles after carefully examining your skin, reviewing your symptoms and medical history, and taking a skin biopsy (tissue sample) for a lab to screen for skin cancer. They develop a treatment plan to remove moles if you’d like them gone for cosmetic reasons or a lab determines the lesions are cancerous. 

How are moles treated?

Your Integrated Dermatology of Montrose provider offers numerous treatments that remove moles, skin tags, and other skin lesions. If a mole isn’t cancerous and doesn’t bother you, you might choose not to remove the mole.

Additional options for mole and skin tag removal include:

• Shaving
• Laser treatment
• Excisions
• Mohs surgery

Your provider first numbs your skin before removing a mole to ensure the procedure feels comfortable. During Mohs surgery, a common skin cancer treatment, your specialist removes cancerous tissues one layer at a time and examines each under a microscope. 

After mole removal, your provider closes any incisions. You can resume your daily routine immediately, but it’s important to keep the treatment area clean and protected from the sun.

Complete at-home skin checks regularly and report new or unusual moles to the Integrated Dermatology of Montrose team.

Call the Integrated Dermatology of Montrose office, or schedule an evaluation online today to have a specialist evaluate or remove moles.