Some Pigment Left Behind After Mole Biopsy

If a shave biopsy was performed on the mole, there is a chance for the mole to grow back.  I would not be too concerned with the pigment returning.  I would still have the mole evaluated by your doctor.  

It is quite common for there to be pigmentation after a mole is removed or for a mole to re-pigment later.  The important question was what was the initial biopsy report.  If it was something dysplastic or the mole looks very atypical now then I would recommend you finding a board certified dermatologist to evaluate the mole and perhaps have it removed again.  Your health is most important in these times.

Some recurrence of pigmentation after a shave removal of a mole is very common, and usually nothing to be concerned about.  The pigmentation is often somewhat irregular appearing.  Since it was benign after the initial biopsy, it is unlikely to be dangerous, but I would still have the mole evaluated by a dermatologist. 

The is called a recurrent nevus (a mole that came back after removal). If the original biopsy showed a benign growth (not cancer), than the recurrent nevus is also benign. This can be removed for cosmetic reasons.

If a mole was shaved and read as benign then I would not worry about recurrent pigment. If the pigmentation bothers you it can be further removed or can often be faded with cryotherapty(freezing). 

If the pathology report definitively indicated that this mole was benign, then the residual pigment does not necessarily need to be removed. However, if you do see some changes occurring in it, I would recommend that it be removed in its entirety - and not just shaved off.

Your other option which should help allay your anxiety would be to have this residual pigmentation completely excised and then sent to pahtology. Then, you will have one less issue to worry about.

After a mole is removed, repigmentation may often occur. This occurs more frequently after shave biopsies, but I have seen it even after deep excisions. If the original biopsy was benign, the recurrent mole does not need to be re-excised. If the original biopsy showed atypical cells and the pigmentation recurs, then the mole may need re-excision.

Dear Erin, this is one of the limitations of shave biopsy.  The mole may not be completely excised and residual pigment can be left.  The alternative is to have it formally excised, this will leave a slightly longer scar, but it will be narrower, hopefully a hairline scar.  It is swings and roundabouts really.

You can be reassured that the histology has come back as benign, so you do not need it re-excised, although you may choose to have it excised if you do not like the look of it.  As with all of your moles, you should keep an eye on them to look for changes that might mean cancer.

If a mole is incompletely removed and there are some melanocytes remaining below the area of removal, it often recurs.  To remove a mole completely, it has to be cut out and stitched so that the deeper components are taken out.

If the mole was initially read by a pathologist as benign, no atypia of any sort, then a recurrence can be left alone. If there was some atypia, I would recommend removing the rest of it with an excision.

Have your dermatologist take a look at the mole and the results of the biopsy again.  If all is benign, then you need a once a year check during your full-body skin exam.

If a mole is not removed entirely, it is not unusual for some pigment to remain, or for some pigment to develop at the site.  If the original pathology report from the biopsy said the mole was benign, then there is usually no cause for concern.  You should have the site checked by a dermatologist to ensure there is no reason to re-excise the mole.  Best of luck to you.