Moles are characterized as growths on the skin, while birthmarks are abnormalities of the skin, according to the National Institutes of Health. Both of these skin conditions come in a variety of forms. Moles, or nevi, are congenital or acquired. Congenital moles are any moles present at birth. Acquired moles develop with age. Birthmarks are either vascular or pigmented. Vascular birthmarks are associated with the formation of blood vessels, and pigmented birthmarks are associated with excess melanin, a compound responsible for pigmentation. And though some moles can be considered birthmarks, moles and birthmarks are usually treated differently.
Moles
Step 1
Consult a doctor or dermatologist. Before trying to get rid of a mole, it should be assessed by a medical professional for any abnormalities, including unusual size, irregular borders and asymmetrical coloring. Abnormalities can sometimes be a sign of melanoma and should be treated as such.
Step 2
Undergo shave excision, suggest the Mayo Clinic. Shaving is usually reserved for smaller moles. In this situation, only the mole is surgically shaved out of the skin. The wound is then sutured and allowed to heal.
Step 3
Schedule a surgical excision. Like a shave excision, the mole is removed from the skin. But a margin of surrounding skin is also excised during the procedure. The wound is then sutured and allowed to heal.
Step 4
Remove the mole with a serial excision. The American Osteopathic College of Dermatology explains that larger moles may need to be removed in stages when full excision leaves too large of a wound to suture.
Birthmarks
Step 1
Consult a doctor or dermatologist. Much like moles, birthmarks should be assessed by a medical professional before trying to remove them. The type of birthmark dictates the type of treatment.
Step 2
Wait for the birthmark to fade. Sometimes, birthmarks fade as a person ages so nothing needs to be done to eliminate the vascular or pigmentation anomalies.
Step 3
Undergo steroid therapy, suggests Kids Health. Steroid therapy is used for hemangiomas to minimize their growth. It's administered orally, topically or intralesionally. It may also be combined with other forms of treatment to improve the appearance of the birthmark.
Step 4
Schedule laser therapy. Laser energy can be used to shrivel and collapse the blood vessels causing the vascular birthmark, notes the Children's Craniofacial Association. It can also break up the melanin that is causing pigmented birthmarks.
Step 5
Remove the birthmark with a surgical excision. Like moles, birthmarks can also be surgically excised from the skin. This method is most often used on vascular birthmarks.
