What is mole removal?

Most moles don't need to be treated. But sometimes people want to remove a mole because they don't like how a mole looks or because it causes discomfort when it rubs against clothing or jewelry.

Check with your doctor if you have a mole that looks different from your other moles. The doctor may need to do a biopsy of the mole. This means removing the mole and sending it to a lab to check it for cancer.

Your doctor may remove a mole in any of these ways:

• Cutting it off. Some moles can be "shaved" off flush with the skin. Other moles may have cells that go underneath the skin. In that case, your doctor might make a deeper cut to remove the entire mole and prevent it from growing back. This cut may require stitches.
• Freezing it with liquid nitrogen. Your doctor will swab or spray a small amount of super-cold liquid nitrogen on the mole. You might have a small blister where the mole was, but it will heal on its own.
• Burning it off. An electric current passes through a wire that becomes hot. The wire is used to burn off the upper layers of the skin. You may need more than one treatment to remove a mole.

The procedure may hurt a little, but your doctor will numb the area with an anesthetic first. If the procedure causes any bleeding, your doctor may apply a medicine that helps stop the bleeding. Then the doctor will put a bandage on the area. These procedures usually leave only small scars or marks.