Most moles do not require any treatment. However, a mole may be removed if:
- it could be a melanoma (a type of skin cancer)
- it is a nuisance; for example, if it gets caught on clothing or makes shaving difficult
Melanoma
If melanoma is found early on, it can usually be removed using a simple surgical technique. This is because at this stage the melanoma is still thin and has not grown downwards from the surface of the skin or spread to other parts of the body.
If melanoma is not found early it will still be removed as a whole, with some normal skin around it also removed as a safety margin. The cancer cells from the melanoma may have spread through the bloodstream or lymphatic system (network of channels and glands) to form tumours (cancerous growths) elsewhere, so you may also need further treatment.
See the Health A-Z topic about Skin cancer (malignant melanoma) - treatment for more information.
How a mole is removed
Before a mole is removed, the area of skin will be cleaned and numbed with a local anaesthetic (painkilling medication). The surgeon will use a scalpel (sharp medical knife) to cut the mole out. It will then be sent to a laboratory to be checked for signs of melanoma.
Most of the time you will have stitches to close the wound or it may be closed by burning the area (cautery).
If the mole is removed as a whole because it is suspected to be a melanoma, then stitches will be used. A sterile (clean) dressing will be used to cover the wound and the surgeon or nurse will tell you how to look after it until it is healed.
Wide local excision
If your mole is found to be a melanoma, you may need to have some more skin around the mole area removed. This is known as a wide local excision and it is carried out to ensure that all of the abnormal cells have been removed.
Depending on how much skin tissue needs to be removed, you will have a local anaesthetic, or very rarely a general anaesthetic (where you are unconscious). The surgeon will remove more skin and tissue from around and underneath the mole and will use stitches to close the wound. The skin may feel a little bit tight afterwards but will relax and stretch after a while.
Nuisance moles and unsightly moles
If you are having a mole removed because it looks unsightly or it is a nuisance, for example, because it catches on your clothes, less tissue will need to be removed. Your surgeon may just shave the mole off so that it is level with your skin. This is known as a shave excision. The wound may be cauterised to close it.
