Moles & Tags Removal
What is Mole?
A mole also knows as a naevus is a growth that develops on the skin when melanocytes (pigment producing cells) grow in groups. They can differ in appearance from small to large, dark, or light sometimes flesh coloured and tend to be raised on your skin. Moles can grow anywhere on the body and can be any shape and size.
Types of Moles and Their Removal
- Common Nevi: This is a normal mole, a small growth on your skin that’s pink, tan, or brown and has a distinct edge. They are usually benign not a sign of melanoma, or skin cancer.
- Dysplastic nevi: these moles are mostly flat and often larger than common moles and have borders that are irregular. A dysplastic nevus can contain different colours, which can range from pink to dark brown.
- Congenital nevi: these types of moles are found when you are born also known as a birthmark. They can be found anywhere on the body and are harmless. Even though they are harmless it’s still a good idea to check them regularly for any changes.
- Melanoma: is the most serious form of skin cancer. They can be anywhere on the body and in the hair. Melanomas present in many different shapes, sizes, and colours. Checking moles regularly for any chances can prevent them from becoming melanoma.
Following the ABCDEs are important characteristics to consider when examining moles. If a mole shows any of the signs listed below, have it checked immediately by your GP.
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- Asymmetry. One half of the mole does not match the other half.
- Border. The border or edges of the mole are ragged, blurred, or irregular.
- Colour. The colour of the mole is not the same throughout or has shades of tan, brown, black, blue, white, or red.
- Diameter. The diameter of a mole is larger than the eraser of a pencil.
- Evolution. The mole is changing in size, shape, or colour.
What is skin tag and how to remove it?
Skin tags are small growths on the skin that can look a bit like a wart but unlike a wart skin tag will hang off the skin by a small bit of skin. They care harmless and usually don’t cause any pain but if they start to bother you, you can get them removed.
Skin tags are made of loose collagen fibres and blood vessels surrounded by skin. They happen when there are excessive cells growing on the top layer of the skin. They tend to develop due to friction when the skin rubs together, more commonly but not limited to people that are overweight and have more folds. Common places are the armpit, legs, chest, and neck.
They grow both in men and women and are more common in older people and people living with type 2 diabetes. Pregnant women are also more likely to develop skin tags, although they usually disappear after the baby is born.
At Rewind Skin & Laser, we use the Pellevé®, a unique non-invasive radiofrequency device that creates radio waves to make very fine and precise incisions in the skin. This allows us to remove superficial imperfections with minimal to no scarring. Always get all lesions checked by your GP prior to consideration of it being removed for aesthetical purposes.