Moles
Overview
Moles are skin blemishes or stains that can appear anywhere on the face or body. They are usually brownish, but some may be darker or the same color as your skin. They usually have a round or oval shape with uniform edges. They can be flat or raised, smooth or rough and may also have hair growing from them.
Symptoms
Moles start to grow in childhood but can continue to appear during early adulthood. With time, moles may change in number and appearance, and some even fade away. Most moles will remain stable throughout our lifetime and will not cause any concerns or need any treatment.
Some people have a lot of moles – this often runs in families. Having lots of moles increases the risk of melanoma (a serious skin cancer), particularly if they are quite large (5mm diameter or more in size). Melanoma can run in families.
Diagnosis
A mole can sometimes change quickly, within weeks or months. You should therefore check your skin every few months for new moles or changes to existing ones.
Use this A.B.C.D.E. guide to check your moles:
A = Asymmetry. A mole should have a round and regular shape and not be asymmetrical.
B = Border. The edges of the mole should be smooth and not irregular.
C = Color. It is normal for moles to be one or two colors (usually shades of brown), but look out for changes in color, patchiness or if the mole is multi-colored.
D = Diameter. Check for increases in size or if the mole is larger than 5mm.
E = Evolving changes. Is the mole changing in shape, color, or size?
If you notice two or more of these, then you should speak to one of our dermatologists.
Take action:
- If a mole starts to itch, hurt, change in color, shape, size, or starts bleeding, then you should have it looked at by a dermatologist to rule out a potential skin cancer.
- If you have many moles, it is advisable to see a dermatologist for a skin check, especially if you have a family history of melanoma.
Diagnosis
The dermatologist uses a tool called a dermatoscope to assess your moles. This is a handheld device that can magnify lesions up to 10 times. It helps the dermatologist assess the color and structure of a mole and in experienced hands it can help the early diagnosis of melanoma.
At our department we also offer a brand-new, total body photography, dermoscopy and artificial intelligence mole mapping tool which not only photographs and records all body moles but also identifies suspicious, new, and changed moles quickly and accurately. This tool scans and takes a picture of all your moles and recognizes those that ‘stand-out’ and need further assessment. All mole pictures can be magnified and the characteristics of each mole can be evaluated. Furthermore, these pictures can be saved and compared to a new set of pictures taken on your next visit, to identify any new or changing moles.
Treatment
Most benign moles do not need to be removed, so you may not need any treatment. You should still keep an eye on them to make sure that there are no changes.
However, if your dermatologist is suspicious about a mole and wants to rule out the chance of cancer, they may suggest removing the mole for testing (known as a biopsy).
Cutting out a mole is a simple and quick procedure. We can do this under a local anesthetic at our clinic and will make sure the experience is comfortable and painless. Depending on the size of the mole, you may need a few stitches. Your skin should heal within two weeks, although you may be left with a scar depending on the size and location of your mole. Most scars fade within a year.
Occasionally, people like to have moles removed if these become irritated or purely for cosmetic reasons.
Why GMI
At the GMI, a dedicated team of highly specialized and sub-specialized dermatologists will address your skin concerns, guiding you through your entire journey, from your consultation and diagnostic work-up to your treatment and post-treatment care.
The GMI team will never offer a simple “one size fits all” approach to any patient. We believe each patient’s case is as individual as they are and strive to find the best treatment plan for each of our patients, taking their case and diagnosis, their lifestyle, and choices into account. To determine the best course of action, each patient’s case is discussed in a multidisciplinary board, where indicated, where several experts with different specialties come together to create your comprehensive treatment plan.
We have invested in advanced technology for the early diagnosis, monitoring, and management of your skin condition. Some of these include digital dermoscopy, artificial intelligence mole mapping, laser treatments as well as tools used in minimally invasive approaches. Any further investigation you may require can also be performed at the GMI, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) scans and positron emission tomography / computed tomography (PET / CT), , histopathology (for biopsies) or blood investigations done in our laboratory, and more.
Our specialized doctors offer a full spectrum of treatment options including minimally invasive procedures, skin surgery, laser treatments, but also radiotherapy, brachytherapy, and advanced systemic therapies, and new treatments such as immuno/chemo-therapy treatments for advanced cases.
We believe each of our patients is more than their diagnosis. We therefore offer dedicated teams supporting our patients by offering more than just expert medical care, through a wholistic approach. These services include psychological help, integrative medical services (including yoga classes, and acupuncture) physiotherapy, and rehabilitation services, as well as a GMI Patient Advocacy Program.
Adhering to our passion for innovation, and desire to progress the medical field, the GMI Department of Dermatology both initiates and participates in several clinical trials in which the most modern and advanced treatment concepts are tested.
