New York City and Manhattan, NY
Almost every person has at least a few moles on their skin—and most people average between 10 and 40 moles. These moles usually develop during childhood and adolescence. Sometimes, though, a mole can be a sign of melanoma, a form of skin cancer. In particular, adults who develop new moles or notice changes to existing moles should schedule a screening with their Manhattan dermatologist to have the mole examined. If a mole looks suspicious, it will be removed and sent for testing.
Sometimes a patient may want to have a mole removed even if it is benign (non-cancerous). It may be perceived as physically unattractive, or cause discomfort as it rubs against clothing. Only have a dermatologist remove any moles. Trying to remove a mole yourself can lead to an infection or cause scarring. If the mole was cancerous, improper removal actually could leave some of the cancer cells in the skin, allowing them to spread.