Moles Treatment

Moles and their treatment & removal in Northwood, Elstree & Harley Street

Moles are very common. They develop in the first few months and years of life and there are very few adults who have no moles at all.

Most moles cause no problems. However, it you have a lot of moles (more than 40-50) then it makes sense to check your moles, or to have them checked.

Why check moles if they are normal and do not cause problems?

Moles generally do not change over time and can be safely ignored. Some moles change as you age and some can become cancerous. Checking moles can detect the first sign of cancerous changes to that the mole can be removed to prevent the cancer spreading.

What type of cancer originates in moles?

A type called malignant melanoma. Unlike most forms of skin cancer, which rarely spread to other parts of the body, malignant melanoma can be both aggressive and invasive.

This means that a melanoma can grow quickly, it can spread through the skin and it can spread to other parts of the body, causing advanced cancer that is difficult to treat.

You should not be overly worried about your moles. But you should be aware of any changes in your moles.

Mole checking

Checking your skin can help you find melanoma early. A dermatologist can show you how to examine your skin and tell you how often you should check your skin. At Cedars Dermatology skin clinic in London and Harley Street we also provide a full digital mole checking service.

If you want to check your own moles, or those of a partner or close friend, its important to understand what a normal mole is like.

A normal mole:

• Can be a variety of colours – often brown, but a mole can be tan, black, red, pink, blue, skin-toned, or colourless.
• Is round in shape with smooth edges.
• Is flat or slightly raised.
• Looks the same from month to month.

Your moles may not look alike. Even in the same person, moles can differ in size, shape, or colour. Moles can have hair. Some moles will change slowly over time, possibly even disappearing.

Moles can appear anywhere on the skin. Moles develop on the scalp, between the fingers and toes, on the soles and palms, and even under the nails.

An abnormal mole is one that shows one of the ABCDE signs described below. If you see a mole or new spot on your skin that has any of the ABCDEs of melanoma, make an appointment to see your doctor or come in for a mole check at one of our dermatology clinics in Northwood, Elstree or Harley Street.

If you are worried about a mole, want mole removal treatment, or have any questions, please contact us at our dermatology clinics in Elstree, Northwood, Harley Street or one of our other London clinics by calling our friendly team on: 0207 307 7467, alternatively, email us on: derm@consultant.com or fill out our contact form.