Moles are growths on the skin that are usually brown or black; they may be located, alone or in groups, anywhere on the body. A birthmark is a colored mark that appears soon after a baby's birth. Although many moles and birthmarks are completely benign and pose no health risk, some people choose to remove them because they consider them unattractive. Regularly using a strong sunscreen, and monitoring birthmarks and moles for changes, is highly recommended.
A mole should be examined by a physician if it is larger than 6 millimeters; itching or bleeding; rapidly changing in color, size and shape; multicolored; or located in a difficult-to-monitor area like the scalp.
Your provider at AllPhases Dermatology will tailor treatment to you. Potential treatments include:
- Taking a small tissue sample to biopsy
- Surgical removal
- Microdermabrasion