Dermatologist tells which moles need to be removed
Almost everyone has moles. A mole, or nevus, is a skin formation made of melanocytic cells. They are laid down in the womb and manifest themselves in adulthood when hormones are restructured or under the influence of the sun.
How do you know which moles are not needed on your body and can, and sometimes should, be removed? First of all, it is necessary to undergo dermatoscopy. But, according to external factors, it is also possible to understand that the nevus requires urgent removal.
“When a familiar mole suddenly starts to change dramatically (grow, change shape, color, bleed), you should immediately consult a dermatologist, and only after consultation do we decide whether to remove the mole or not,” says Oleksandra Shafar, a dermatologist and cosmetologist at Anastasia Ignatieva Plastic Surgery Clinic.

Dr. Oleksandra Shafar: personal archive
If the doctor decides that the mole needs to be removed, you should not delay this procedure:
“If a suspicious mole is not removed in time, it can turn into a malignant skin tumor, which poses a threat to the patient’s health and life,” the dermatologist warns.
Many people have probably experienced a situation at least once in their lives when they accidentally “pulled off” a mole. And what to do in this case?
“First of all, there is no need to panic. A torn or pulled off mole is a skin injury, so treat the wound to avoid infection. You can use a wound antiseptic for treatment. Then you should make an appointment with a dermatologist.”
It is the doctor who chooses which method of mole removal will be safe for the patient. It depends on the size, type of mole and its location.
There are 5 main methods of mole removal:
- Electrocoagulation – the nevus is destroyed due to the temperature effect of high-frequency current.
- Cryodestruction is the removal of a mole with cooled nitrogen.
- Laser removal – nevus tissue is destroyed using a powerful light beam.
- Radio wave method – the mole is destroyed without contact using high-frequency radio wave radiation, heating the tissue and evaporating the nevus cells.
- Surgical excision is the most reliable method for removing large tumors, hanging moles, and suspected malignancy. The mole, along with a small area of healthy skin, is excised with a scalpel and sent for histology.
In addition, if there are healthy moles on the human body, but they do not look very aesthetically pleasing, they can also be easily removed.
“To do this, you should definitely visit a dermatologist. He or she will examine the tumors and choose the appropriate method of removal,” recommends Oleksandra Shafar.
Author: Daria Skotchenko
Photo: pexels, personal archive of Oleksandr Shafar