MOLES

Medical Dermatology - Moles

Moles, medically known as nevi, are clusters of pigmented cells that appear as small, dark spots on the skin, and can vary greatly in size and color. Moles typically appear on the face, arms, legs, and torso, but can develop anywhere on the body. Although most skin moles are harmless, in rare cases they can become precancerous, necessitating surgical removal. Some patients also opt to remove benign moles for cosmetic reasons using surgical, laser, or natural mole removal.

Moles are frequently removed for a variety of reasons. They can be removed by 2 surgical methods:

  • Excision (cutting) with stitches: Click here to view step-by-step photos of this type of mole removal.

  • Excision with cauterization (a tool is used to burn away the mole): Click here to view step-by-step photos of this type of mole removal.

Although laser has been tried for moles, it is not usually the method of choice for most deep moles because the laser light doesn’t penetrate deeply enough. Typically, the dermatologist may choose excision with or without stitches depending on the depth of the mole and the type of cosmetic outcome desired.