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Moles
What are they? A common mole is a growth on the skin that develops when pigment cells (melanocytes) grow in clusters. Most adults have between 10 and 40 common moles. These growths are usually found above the waist on areas exposed to the sun. They are seldom found on the scalp, breast, or buttocks. Although common moles may be present at birth, they usually appear later in childhood. Most people continue to develop new moles until about age 40. In older people, common moles tend to fade away. Another name for a mole is a nevus. The plural is nevi.
Why do they occur? Some moles are present at birth, although most develop during the first 30 years of life. People with fair skin often have more moles than people with darker skin. You are more likely to develop lots of moles, or a certain type of mole, if they are common in your family. If you have a lot of moles, it’s important to take extra care in the sun. Where you were brought up may also make a difference, for example, if you have spent a lot of time in the sun, you may have a lot of small moles.
What can I expect following treatment? After your appointment a small scab or blister may form but this will usually drop off within a few days. This may leave new skin which is a slightly difference colour to the skin around it (hyper/hypo pigmentation) over the 6-12 months this skin will return to normal colour. (on very rare occasions the pigmentation changes may be permanent).
Cryotherapy would be the treatment of choice as it works very well for pigmented lesions but Diathermy can also be used.
All pigmented moles will need to be checked by a GP and the patient should have written agreement that the GP is happy for them to be removed
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