If a mole is showing signs of irregularity, removal may be necessary to prevent skin cancer and other health problems.
In other cases, you could choose mole removal to enhance the appearance of your skin or to stop it from rubbing against jewellery and clothes.
Regardless of the reason that you’re choosing to have a mole removed, there are a few myths about the healing process that you should know about.
Common mole removal recovery myths
Myth 1: Mole removal will leave you with clear, unblemished skin
Unfortunately, scarring is a common side effect of mole removal. This is because your dermatologist will be removing multiple layers of skin and it will need time to heal and create new skin. This new skin will often be a completely different texture and colour, which means you will be left with a scar. Of course, the larger the mole, the more obvious the scar will be. Certain mole removal methods are more likely to cause scarring than others. For example, excision will generally leave you with a line scar where the stitches were placed and cauterisation will leave you with a scar the size of the mole.
Myth 2: Healing takes quite long
If you follow your post-mole removal instructions to the letter, your recovery will be quite speedy and you’ll be able to return to your normal activities again after two weeks. Again, some removal methods will require longer recovery times, cauterisation being a good example. To speed up the healing process, the removal site will need to be covered with a bandage and kept dry to allow a scab to form. The scab should fall off after two weeks. Keeping the wound dry will also decrease your risk of contracting an infection. Full detailsabout the mole removal procedure and the recovery period can be found here.
Myth 3: Long-term care is not necessary after removal
Even though the mole removal procedure is quick and you can return to your usual activities in a week or two, long-term care is still very necessary if you want to protect your skin and reduce the chances of developing new moles. After your mole removal you should not forget to avoid excessive sun exposure to avoid damaging your skin and increasing your risk of melanoma. Protect your skin by wearing at least SPF 30 sunscreen as well as sunglasses and a hat. Don’t forget that sunscreen needs to be reapplied every hour or two for continued protection.
During your consultation with your dermatologist, they will evaluate your moles and take you through the details of your mole removal procedure if removal is required. You can also use this time to discuss your recovery period and how you can make it as smooth as possible.
Since mole removal is a procedure that can affect your health, it’s incredibly important to choose a doctor or dermatologist that actually specialises in mole removal and can guide you every step of the way.
