Moles are benign, raised areas of darkened skin. Some moles show up at birth; others develop as you age. Some people have more moles than others, and moles can show up almost anywhere on the body. If a mole changes color or shape or begins to bleed, see your doctor. Most moles cause no problems if left alone, but you may want to have a mole removed for cosmetic reasons or because it's in a location where it's irritated by clothing or by shaving.
Regrowth
Physicians remove moles by shaving off the mole with a scalpel or by cutting out the mole and a little surrounding tissue. Though shaving generally produces good cosmetic results, according to Dr. Craig Krafferts with Redding Dermatology in Redding, California, there's a greater risk with this procedure that the mole will grow back. Sometimes the mole grows back darker and more noticeable than before. Dr. Krafferts reports younger people and people with olive and dark skin experience mole regrowth more than older or lighter-skinned people.
Scarring
Because mole removal involves cutting into the skin, the surgery often leaves a scar. This scar may be very small and hardly noticeable, but larger moles leave a larger scar. The scar may stand out more on dark or olive-toned skin. In some cases, the scar may be more noticeable than the original mole. Your doctor may be able to prescribe a special silicone dressing to reduce scarring, but this usually isn't necessary for very small incisions.
Infection
Anytime you cut into the skin, you risk introducing bacteria that can lead to infection. Your physician should clean the area to be operated on thoroughly and use new or sterilized equipment to perform the excision. Following surgery, keep the wound clean, dry and covered. Apply an antibiotic ointment if your doctor instructs you to do so. If you notice any sign of infection such as redness, swelling, or drainage from the wound, contact your doctor.
