Mole Treatments
Moles can be genetic and are often brought out by sun exposure. Most moles
are innocent, but some are more unstable and may be associated with
melanoma.
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Which moles are potentially dangerous?
Moles which are irregular in border and colour (usually more than one colour)
can be unstable. People with these moles (dysplastic) are at higher risk of
melanoma.
Regular mole checks by an experienced doctor with a dermatoscope and mole
scanning, will help to detect suspicious or changing lesions.
What is mole scanning?
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Mole scanning is the best method of following mole changes. It cannot by
itself diagnose melanoma, but when combined with expert medical examination, can
greatly help in the diagnosis of melanoma.
How often should moles be checked?
About every 6 months, or sooner if a mole looks like it is changing.
Can innocent moles be removed?
Innocent moles can be removed
by:
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- Excision
- Shave excision
- Lasers
How do lasers work?
Some lasers eg Alexandrite are colour selective so will lighten the pigment
within the mole. In most cases the mole will fade by over 60% and will become
flatter. This will improve the appearance of the mole, but does not remove all
the cells in the mole, and does not prevent
melanoma.
Note: the treatment is the only change that has occurred between these images.
To achieve best results, more than one treatment may be needed.
Is it possible to treat other brown marks?
Other brown marks and freckles can be treated with Pulsed Light Therapy or Q
Switched Nd:YAG.
Pulsed light treatmens are better for larger areas, while the Q switched YAG
is better for smaller more discrete brown marks.
Moles - Laser Treatment
Some moles which are benign can be treated with Lasers. Laser treatment is
not suitable for suspicious moles or skin cancer.
Which Moles can be treated with Lasers?
Moles which are benign and regular may be treated with lasers. The main
purpose is to make the moles lighter and flatter.
In most cases, laser treatment will not completely remove the mole, but
rather the mole will be less obvious.
Which lasers are suitable for treating moles?
The most commonly used laser is the long pulse Alexandrite Laser. It is
suitable for dark flat or raised moles.
How many treatments are needed?
In most cases at least 2 treatments are needed, to achieve maximum lightening
of the lesions.
What is involved in laser treatment of moles?
Usually a local anaesthetic cream or injections are used to numb the area.
The laser works by being attracted to the dark colour within the mole. This
leads to a colour change in the mole, which later produces a small scab. After
about 10 days, the scab comes off by itself. This often leaves a pink mark which
lasts for several weeks. In people with darker skin, the treated area may turn
slightly brown. This can be treated with a fading cream.
Are there any risks associated with laser mole removal?
There can be risks associated with any procedure, although laser mole removal
is generally very safe:
Possible complications include:
- Incomplete mole removal
- Depression in the skin
- Scarring
- Pigmentation
- Loss of pigmentation
- Failure to correctly diagnose a potentially malignant lesion
Mole Scanning
Mole scanning is the latest technology to monitor suspicious moles for
changes. Mole scanning uses digital images to analyse moles for colour shape and
other changes. These images are stored on a computer, so that a direct
comparison can be made in 6 or 12 months.
How accurate is mole scanning?
Mole scanning cannot make a diagnosis, but can analyse the colour, shape and
various other features, and do a probability analysis of the lesion being
suspicious. It cannot tell you whether you have melanoma or skin cancer. An
expert medical practitioner needs to interpret these changes.
However mole scanning has been shown to be the most useful tool in monitoring
changes in moles. Changes may be significant and can alert to the diagnosis of
melanoma.
Who needs Mole scanning?
Generally people with a large number of moles and/or abnormal (dysplastic)
lesions are best monitored with mole scanning. People with a family history of
melanoma or dysplastic moles can benefit from mole scanning. The doctor will
advise you about this.
Does mole scanning pick up other skin cancers?
Mole scanning is not very useful for picking up other skin cancers. An expert
medical practitioner with experience in skin cancer treatment is most likely
able to detect other skin cancers.
What is the cost of Mole scanning?
Mole scanning is not covered by Medicare. The exact costing will depend on
the number of moles to be scanned. The doctor will give you a quote on the
cost.
What if a mole is suspicious?
If a mole is suspicious, it may need to be cut out and sent for
pathology.
