Dear Reader,

The shaving technique mentioned in Removing moles? involves "shaving off" the raised section of an elevated mole. This produces a scar that's usually flat and somewhat lighter than the rest of your skin. Sometimes the scar may be as pigmented or noticeable as the original mole. For those of you just tuning in, mole "shaving" is a procedure done by a dermatologist with a local anesthetic and a sterile scalpel. This is not something to try at home with your trusty disposable razor.

Flat moles, or moles that are suspected of being cancerous, may require an excision biopsy. During this procedure, the entire mole is taken out and the remaining opening is stitched shut. This procedure also leaves a scar — usually a fine line.

Removing moles usually means replacing them with scars. Whether or not the trade-off is worthwhile for you depends on the size and look of the mole (and what impact it has on how you feel or your appearance), where the mole is located on your body, if it is irritating or cancerous, and your body's typical response to wound healing, among other factors. So, if you're looking to remove a mole for cosmetic reasons, this may not be the best option, particularly for benign moles on visible places of your body, such as your face, or if your skin is easily prone to keloid scarring (overgrowths of collagenous scar tissue at an injury site). Removing moles is appropriate for medical or other reasons that include melanoma, or if the mole is located on an area where it's easily aggravated by clothing or something else. Make an appointment with a dermatologist to discuss options based on your needs.

Alice

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