subject: How to Remove a Mole- The Top 4 Methods of Mole Removal [print this page] How to Remove a Mole- The Top 4 Methods of Mole Removal
Mole removal is a well defined medical procedure, and one you should not take lightly. You have a number of choices to make in this regard, as different medical professionals will have different opinions as to the best way to proceed.
First of all- what exactly is a mole?
There are two types of mole. The first is the kind that people are often born with. These are basically birthmarks, and can appear anywhere on the body. They tend to stay for a lifetime, and remain pretty much the same size, shape and color for the entirety of your life.
These are completely harmless.
The second kind can potentially be a source of trouble to you. Most of the time, they won't be, but if you ever have a troublesome mole, it will be of this second category.
These moles come about later in life, possibly as a result of overexposure to harsh sunlight. They may grow or shrink over time, change color, and some may even bleed a little.
If you seem to have this type of mole, do not be alarmed! Just the same, you would be well advised to seek your doctor's advice.
Removing a mole: The top four methods of mole removal are
*Cryotherapy
*Excision
*Laser treatment
*Natural remedies
Cryotherapy is where a specialist freezes the mole off of your skin. It is often done in a doctor's office as a day procedure, and is pretty quick and effective.
Essentially, liquid nitrogen is used to freeze the mole so that it dies. The frozen, dead mole is then removed with a sharp tool called a lance. There may be some pain afterwards, but it is no worse than having a small lesion on your skin.
Surgical excision is just what it says: a surgeon cuts out the mole, plus a small area of surrounding tissue. This is used for deeper, larger moles where it is important to remove as much tissue as is safely possible. The procedure finishes with small sutures.
Laser therapy: Laser energy is used to burn off the mole. This is deemed best for smaller, less deep moles. There is very little pain, and you can get a local anesthetic if you think you need it. It is a very clean process, and leaves minimal scarring. This has made it very popular.
Finally, there is a plethora of natural remedies available. Folks have been coming up with new ideas for centuries. Some of them may actually work, but many won't for the general population. Check out any good health food shop to see what is on offer.
