Mole and Wart Removal

What are moles and warts? 

Moles

● Moles are very common pigmented growth on the skin or mucous membranes. These can vary in shape, size, number and colour from individual to individual. Nevi or nevus is the medical term used for moles.

● They are mostly harmless or benign but can be painful or can cause irritation due to friction with clothes. If they become painful with changes in size, they might represent the type of skin cancer called melanoma.

● These mostly appear in early childhood and adolescence. They may grow or disappear with age. It is very common for an individual to have 10-40 moles.

● Types of moles:

○ A common mole is a small growth on the skin and can be pink, tan, or brown with a distinct edge.

○ Congenital moles are present on the skin from the day of birth. These moles have a high tendency of developing into cancer called melanoma especially when they are large in size.

○ Dysplastic moles are larger than a pencil eraser, irregularly shaped, unevenly coloured with irregular or blurred edges. These types of moles are hereditary and carry a high risk of developing into a cancerous growth.

Warts

● Warts can be described as a raised mass of tissues on the skin caused by the human papillomavirus.

● Generally, they are harmless, ugly, can be embarrassing or self concerning and infectious. They need medical attention in case of pain, swelling, discharge, infection, irritation or change in shape, size or colour.

● Types of warts:

○ Common warts mostly grow on fingers and toes. They are rough, grainy and round in shape.

○ Plantar warts appear on the soles of the feet and grow into the skin, not out of it. These warts are surrounded by hardened skin and can feel uncomfortable while walking.

○ Flat warts are usually found on the face, thighs, or arms. They are small and flat with dark brown or yellow pigmentation.

○ Filiform warts are present around the mouth or nose and sometimes on the neck or under the chin. They are small like a tiny flap or tag of skin and have the colour of the skin.

○ Periungual warts grow under and around the nails of fingers and feet. They can be painful affecting nail growth.

Why is mole and wart treatment needed?

● Removal of mole and wart helps in:

○ Improving the aesthetics by removing pigmented or raised unwanted tissue lumps.

○ Relieving from the continuous pain and irritation due to friction of skin or clothes.

○ Preventing the risk of cancer like melanoma or cervical cancer

○ Further spread of the viral infection in case of warts

● It is recommended not to use home remedies for moles and warts as these options can burn the skin, can lead to infection especially in diabetics or can aggravate their growth. Always consult the dermatologist for diagnosis and safe removal of such skin growths.

Are You Eligible for Mole and Wart treatment?

● The patient can consider removal of moles and warts :

○ The patient wants to improve the appearance of the skin

○ To relieve the irritation and discomfort due to friction with skin or clothes or shaving

○ In cases of family history of skin cancer

○ To prevent further spread in case of warts

○ If moles and warts start growing abnormally as cancerous growths

● Diagnose the mole for A to E signs and consult the doctor immediately. These signs are also used by dermatologists to make diagnoses. These signs are:

○ Asymmetry

○ Border are ragged, blurred or irregular.

○ Colour has shades of multiple colours such as tan, brown, black, blue, white, or red.

○ Diameter is larger than the eraser of a pencil.

○ Elevation of mole after a period of time

● Always consult the doctor if you want to remove moles or warts safely and effectively. Home remedies and over the counter drugs might help a little but they might cause burns, scars or severe irritation especially in cases of children, sensitive skin and diabetics.

● Also, dermatologists will diagnose it to identify whether it is a cancerous growth or not.

Why choose MEDSTAR for moles and wart treatment? The MEDSTAR Advantage

At MEDSTAR we provide safe, easy and quick medical options for moles, warts and skin tags removal. Latest technologies of laser and radiofrequency help in achieving permanent and scar-free removal of such unwanted skin growths. Our experienced dermatologists will examine them carefully and recommend a suitable treatment option to the patient to protect the skin.

• Removal of moles, warts and skin tags is a simple and safe procedure.
• In case of surgical removal, patients will be instructed to take care of the wound by cleaning and changing the bandage or dressing.
• In case of laser removal, protect the skin from direct sun and apply medicated lotion as prescribed by the doctor.
• In case of temporary symptoms of mild pain, swelling, redness or blister formation, take the prescribed medicines or lotions for relief.
• Contact the doctor in case of infection, severe pain, swelling and redness.

The results of moles and warts removal are permanent. In very rare cases they might reappear. Patients might feel mild pain, swelling or redness on the targeted skin but these are normal and temporary which resolve on their own in a couple of days. Icing and prescribed medication also help in relief from temporary symptoms.

What does a mole look like?

A mole is a pigmented tissue growth on the skin. These are the most common skin growth and are found in various shapes, sizes, numbers and colours. Normally a person has 10-40 moles on the body. Moles can be an issue of aesthetics or medical concern as they can develop into cancerous growth called melanoma.

Are warts contagious?

Warts are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) when it enters the skin and causes tissue proliferation on the skin. It might be rough or smooth, flat or raised above the skin surface. Its colour ranges from brown-black to pale yellow. It is usually harmless but extremely unaesthetic and its irritation can cause pain, swelling and infection. Also, it is contagious and can spread to other body parts even to other people.

Are moles harmful?

Mostly, moles are harmless and benign. They can be painful, itchy or uncomfortable due to continuous friction with clothes or skin or shaving procedures. Moles that are Itchy, painful, colour changing, increasing in size with irregular borders can be a sign of cancerous growth called melanoma. The chances of melanoma increase if the patient has a family history or medical history of melanoma and severe continuous sun exposure.

What are the side effects of the removal of moles and warts?

Side effects of removal of moles and warts are mild and temporary which resolve within a couple of days. In some cases, there are no side effects of this procedure. These side-effects are:

● Pain

● Swelling

● Redness

● Dark pigmentation

● Itching or burning

● In rare cases, allergy to anaesthesia, regrowth of moles or warts and infection of wounds.

Is removal of moles and warts permanent?

Yes, the removal of moles, skin tags and warts is a permanent treatment. In very rare cases, less than 5%, moles or skin tags might reappear while in case of contact with the human papillomavirus results in warts infection again. Laser or surgery both treatments help in the permanent removal of moles, warts and skin tags.

What is the treatment of warts?

● Permanent treatment of warts is:

○ Surgical removal is performed by the doctor under local anaesthesia and the wound is closed by stitches or bandages.

○ Laser removal by focusing the beam of lasers onto the wart which causes its vaporisation.

○ In some cases, liquid nitrogen is also used to freeze and disrupt the wart.

● All these treatments are permanent but warts can come back if you contact the human papillomavirus again.

When to see the dermatologist?

Consult the dermatologist if:

● You want to improve the appearance of the skin

● To relieve the irritation and discomfort due to friction with skin or clothes or shaving

● In cases of family history of cancer called melanoma

● Self medical history of melanoma

If a mole starts showing changes in colour, shape & size and if it is painful or itchy.