Is it harmful to have moles removed?
No, it’s definitely not harmful to have moles removed. However, the specialist must decide which mole to be removed and how.
First of all, it should be determined whether the mole is benign or malignant. For this, your mole is examined with special devices called dermatoscopes. If it is certain that it is benign, the mole can be removed surgically or with a laser. If there is a suspicion that it is malignant, your doctor may first recommend a biopsy for a definitive diagnosis. After making a definitive diagnosis with biopsy, it would be more appropriate to remove the mole. As you can see, malignant moles should also be removed. In other words, the belief that malignant moles cannot be removed among the people is not true. Of course, removing malignant moles is a much more difficult procedure. First of all, further investigations should be done.
It’s very easy to get a mole once you’re sure it’s benign. Local anesthesia is sufficient. It can be removed surgically, that is, by cutting, or it can be taken with a laser.
Will there be any scars when we remove the moles?
Large moles may leave scars. Removing moles surgically, that is, by cutting, usually leaves a trace as a thin line. Removing moles with laser is more advantageous in terms of scars. Especially in small moles, there are no traces. However, in large moles, there may be a scar that is slightly smaller than me, lighter than the skin color, and a more sunken scar than the skin. Usually, these scars will decrease somewhat over time as your skin repairs itself. Before the procedure, you should ask your doctor whether there will be a scar, and if so, how much of a scar will be left.
What should people with moles pay attention to?
People with moles must be protected from the sun. Avoid sudden, intense and direct exposure to the sun. Avoid exposure to sunlight, especially between 11:00 and 15:00. Sunscreen should have a high protection factor, at least 15 for adults, 30 for children, and should provide equal protection from UVA and UVB rays. Sunscreen should be used half an hour before going out in the sun and should be repeated every two or three hours.
Sitting under an umbrella in open environments such as the seaside is not enough and unless additional sun protection methods are applied, sunburn will occur due to reflected UV rays. Likewise, we should know that on cloudy, spring or summer days, a significant amount of sun rays will pass through the clouds and cause serious sunburns.
Our clothing is the best way to protect yourself from the sun’s rays. It should preferably be a tightly woven garment. Wide-brimmed hats and glasses should be used. Children’s clothing with a factor of 50 protection is now commercially available, including swimsuits.
