Most moles are harmless, but a mole that is new, changing, itching or bleeding deserves a professional look. At Pensacola Dermatology, Dr. Amy Watson, MD, and our certified physician assistants check moles, test the ones that look suspicious and remove the ones that need to come off. A mole check takes a few minutes and can give you real peace of mind.
When a Mole Needs a Dermatologist
Moles (nevi) are clusters of pigment cells. Most adults have several, and most never cause trouble. A small number can be, or can become, melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer. Dermatologists use the ABCDE guide to sort ordinary moles from worrying ones:
- Asymmetry: one half doesn’t match the other.
- Border: the edges are ragged, notched or blurred.
- Color: several shades of brown or black, or patches of red, white or blue.
- Diameter: larger than 6mm, about the size of a pencil eraser (melanomas can be smaller).
- Evolving: any change in size, shape or color, or new itching or bleeding.
Also watch for the “ugly duckling”: one mole that looks different from all your others. If you notice any of these signs, book a visit rather than waiting for your next annual exam.
What Happens at a Mole Check
Your provider examines the mole and the skin around it, asks how long it has been there and whether it has changed, and checks your other moles for comparison. Many patients add a full-body exam at the same visit, since people with many moles have a higher melanoma risk. Read more about our skin cancer screening.
After the exam there are three possible outcomes:
- Monitor. The mole looks benign. We note it, may ask you to watch it at home, and check it again at a future visit.
- Biopsy. The mole has features that need a closer look. We numb the area, take a sample or remove the mole, and send it to a lab.
- Remove. The mole is removed because it is suspicious, or because it is benign but bothers you.
Mole Removal at Our Pensacola Office
Mole removal is an in-office procedure done under local numbing, so you are awake but comfortable. Dermatologists generally use one of two approaches, and your provider will explain which fits your mole before starting:
Shave Removal
For many raised moles, the mole is shaved off level with the surrounding skin. No stitches are needed, and the spot heals over a week or two.
Surgical Excision
For flat moles, deeper moles, or any mole that might be cancerous, the entire mole is cut out with a small margin of normal skin and the wound is closed with stitches. This gives the lab the whole mole to examine.
A removed mole that looks suspicious is sent for lab analysis. If the result shows skin cancer or a severely atypical mole, we explain the report and plan any further treatment, which may be done here. Learn more about our skin cancer treatment.
Removing Benign Moles
Some moles are harmless but rub against clothing, catch on a razor or bra strap, get irritated, or simply bother you. Removing a benign mole is a reasonable choice. Your provider will talk you through what to expect, including the small scar every removal leaves behind. If a mole is removed for appearance alone, insurance may treat it as cosmetic, so ask us about cost before the procedure.
Caring for Your Skin After Removal
- Keep the area clean and covered as directed, usually with petroleum jelly and a bandage.
- Expect mild tenderness and a little redness for a few days.
- If you have stitches, we tell you when to come back to have them taken out.
- Protect the healing area from the sun, which helps the scar fade.
- Call us if you notice spreading redness, warmth, pus or bleeding that won’t stop.
Other Skin Growths We Evaluate
Not every bump is a mole. Our team also evaluates cysts, lipomas, warts, dermatofibromas and birthmarks, and tells you which need treatment and which can be left alone. These are part of our medical dermatology care. For children’s moles and birthmarks, see our children’s dermatology services.
Why Choose Pensacola Dermatology
Dr. Amy Pote Watson is a medical and surgical dermatologist who treats adults and children. A Pensacola native, she founded Pensacola Dermatology in 2004. She works alongside Jennifer Matechik, PA-C, Rachel LeMaitre, PA-C, and Jonathan Adair, PA-C. Because we handle the exam, the biopsy and the removal ourselves, you don’t get bounced between offices for a single mole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does mole removal hurt?
The area is numbed with a small injection first. After that, most patients feel pressure but no pain. Mild soreness afterward is common and short-lived.
Will mole removal leave a scar?
Every removal leaves some mark. Shave removals usually leave a small flat spot, while excisions leave a thin line. Good wound care and sun protection help it fade over time.
Can a mole grow back after it is removed?
Occasionally a little pigment returns after a shave removal. Let us know if you see regrowth so we can check it.
Should I remove a mole myself?
No. At-home removal creams and tools can scar, cause infection and, most importantly, destroy a mole without anyone checking it for cancer.
Book a Mole Check in Pensacola
Pensacola Dermatology is at 4850 Grande Dr, Pensacola, FL 32504. Call (850) 477-4447 or text (850) 821-3369. For coverage questions, see Insurance & Billing.
Worried about a mole? Request an appointment and have it checked by our dermatology team.