Montclair Mole Removal doctors

A: Wound care after mole removal Several things on the care of the biopsy site: - hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, iodine can all slow down the healing process and should not be used. Washing once a day with a mild soap and some water is plenty to cleanse the wound. - after washing and gently drying the area, apply a small amount of antibiotic ointment and a bandaid until the spot heals. - we don't actually want a scab to form for ideal wound healing. The wound closes by the keratinocytes (skin surface cells) migrating from the cut edges towards the center of the wound. They that best when the wound is moist. If there is a scab, it stops or slows down the keratinocytes from coming together because they can't go under the scab.

A: Black dot in scar after mole removal Normal moles have a maturation process. They start out as flat pigmented (brown or tan) spots, that eventually become raised and flesh-colored. Trauma to the mole, such as a scratch or any surgery, can stimulate the melanocytes (cells that make up the mole) to produce pigment again. Raised benign moles usually have two components: one above the skin surface and one below. When a mole is shaved off the surface of the skin, the deeper component remains. The removal itself stimulates the melanocytes to produce pigment again. This is what accounts for the black spots in the scar as the mole grows back. It may not raise again but the pigment does come back. What is important is to know that the mole was benign on biopsy. If it is then the recurrence is not important. If the mole had some abnormalities, it's recommended to have the rest of the recurrent mole removed. In order to make sure any mole is completely removed, both the superficial and deeper component need to be removed such as with a punch biopsy and stitches.

A: How to treat moles with atypia

The only way to know if a mole has atypia is by removing it and sending it to a dermatopathologist for examination. So I assume that is what was done.  When a mole is removed, it should be removed in its entirety so that the pathologist can examine all the margins, including the edges and the deep portion.  If a mole, let's say, is shaved off the surface, normally that does not allow for examination of the deep margin and an appropriate diagnosis cannot be made.

In my practice if a mole is moderately atypical and there is still some remaining in the skin, I recommend a reexcision with conservative margins to make sure the rest of the mole is removed.  For a mildly atypical mole, I recommend observation for recurrence.  If it recurs, then a reexcision is done.