Skin Moles--Treatment & Medication

Treatment of most moles usually isn't necessary. If your doctor thinks a mole is suspicious, he or she may take a tissue sample of it and have it tested to determine if it's cancerous.

Mole removal

If your mole is cancerous, your doctor will do a surgical procedure to remove it. If you have a mole in the beard area, you may want to have it removed by your doctor because shaving over it repeatedly may cause irritation. You may also want to have moles removed from other parts of your body that are vulnerable to trauma and friction.
Mole removal takes only a short time and is usually done on an outpatient basis. The procedure may leave a permanent scar. Options for mole removal include:

• Surgical excision. In this method, your doctor numbs the area around the mole and cuts out the mole and a surrounding margin of healthy skin with a scalpel or a sharp punch device. Then he or she closes the wound with sutures.
• Surgical shave. In this method, your doctor numbs the area around the mole and uses a small blade to cut around and beneath it. This technique is often used for smaller moles and doesn't require sutures.

If you notice that a mole has grown back, see your doctor promptly.

Cosmetic care

If you're self-conscious about a mole, these methods may help conceal it:

• Makeup. Various products are available for concealing blemishes and moles. You may need to try several before you find one that works for you.
• Hair removal. If you have a hair growing from a mole, you might try clipping it close to the skin's surface or plucking it. Or talk with your dermatologist about permanently removing the hair and the mole.

Anytime you cut or irritate a mole, keep the area clean. See your doctor if the mole doesn't heal.