A properly done mole growth removal can help you feel more comfortable and confident in your skin. If you’re considering mole growth removal in Singapore, please consult a board-certified dermatologist, either at the National Skin Centre via polyclinic referral, or at a reputed private clinic like this one: https://dermatologycollective.sg/.
Mole removal is somehow complex which is why many people ask questions like; can you remove a growing mole? And how long until you’re back to normal?
Those are the questions we will be aiming to address on this page. Importantly, we will show you when to spot any warning signs and reach out to your doctor for mole growth removal. Keep reading!
Can you Remove a Growing Mole?
A mole forms when a cluster of pigment-producing cells called melanocytes gathers in one spot instead of spreading throughout the skin. They’re usually oval or round and most moles are no bigger than a 6 mm pencil eraser.
The colour of moles range from tan, brown, pink or flesh-coloured to blue, black or even red. They can be flat or raised, smooth, wrinkled, and occasionally have hair growing from them.
You might have anywhere from 10 to 45 by adulthood, and many people develop new ones until about age 40. Some of them fade in later life. Now, most moles stay harmless and it is usually fine to leave them alone.
But you should not ignore a mole that’s changing like growing in size, altering colour or shape, bleeding, itching, swelling or looking different from your other moles (often called the “ugly duckling” sign). A mole that grows over time may need a specialised assessment to rule out melanoma which by the way is a serious skin cancer that develops in pigment cells.
So, can you remove a growing mole? The answer is yes, you can have a growing mole removed. However, you should not do it yourself.
The reason for this is that you might misdiagnose cancer, cause bleeding, infection, or severe scarring. What’s more, an incomplete removal may lead to irregular regrowth. A dermatologist can help you assess whether it’s safe to proceed with removing the mole.
What Happens in Mole Removal?
You may be approved for mole removal if your mole is itching, bleeding, painful or irritating, or located where friction occurs. Also, you may be recommended mole removal if a mole is changing in size, shape, colour or texture, or looks different from your other moles (“ugly duckling”.)
Now, before your mole growth removal, your doctor will examine the mole with a dermoscope, and may take photographs. They will also mark the area to be treated.
What would follow is cleaning of the skin with antiseptic. Ab anaesthetic would then be injected or applied to numb the mole and its surrounding area so you feel no pain, only perhaps slight pressure. Here are some of the most common methods for mole removal:
- Surgical excision: This involves cutting the mole out with a scalpel, sometimes including a small border of normal skin around it, particularly if it’s suspected of being cancerous. The wound is closed with stitches either dissolvable or removed after around 10–14 days and the tissue is sent to a lab for analysis.
- Shave excision: This method suits raised or small moles. A blade is used to shave the surface level of the mole. This method usually doesn’t require stitches and the area may be touched with a cautery tool to stop bleeding and smooth the edges. Healing is quicker, but this method may not remove deeper atypical tissue.
- Punch biopsy: This mole growth removal method is used for deeper lesions. A cylindrical tool removes a plug of skin including the mole. The site often requires a stitch. This method allows accurate detection of deeper cell changes.
Laser, cryotherapy or electrocautery are sometimes used on benign spots. However, these aren’t usually recommended for moles because they destroy tissue without providing a sample for lab testing, and could delay cancer diagnosis or leave cells behind.
After the mole growth removal is complete, the mole is sent to a pathology lab to check whether the cells are benign or cancerous. If cancer cells are found or if the borders are unclear, you may be recommended further surgery may be necessary.
How Long does it Take Skin to Heal after Mole Removal?
Now that you know what is involved in mole growth removal, you may now want your skin doctor; how long does it take skin to heal after mole removal? Here’s the answr;
After mole growth removal, wound healing usually takes about 2 to 3 weeks for the main recovery. However, in some cases, it can stretch to 4 weeks depending on how the mole was removed and where it was located.
Laser or shave methods often heal in 1–2 weeks, while surgical excisions needing stitches may take slightly longer. Here is how the healing stages typically look like;
- Days 1–2: You’ll likely wear a sterile dressing. Mild redness, swelling or tenderness is normal. Try to keep the area dry and don’t disturb the dressing too soon.
- Days 3–10: A light scab forms naturally. You may feel some itching (a sign that healing is happening), but resist picking at the scab to avoid scarring. Clean the area gently, ideally with mild soap and water, then pat it dry and keep it moist with petroleum jelly or antibiotic ointment.
- Week 2: If stitches were used, they’re often removed around this time. By now the wound should be mostly closed, though the skin might still look pink or slightly raised.
- Weeks 3–4: Pinkness fades, the scab falls off, and the surface gently smooths. Healing continues under the surface even after the skin seems complete.
To ensure smooth recovery and minimise risks of potential complications, you will want to keep the area clean and moist. You can do this by washing once or twice a day with gentle soap, patting dry, and applying a thin layer of petroleum jelly or prescribed antibiotic ointment.
You will also want to keep a sterile bandage on for 24–48 hours, then change daily until the wound is scabbed over or closed. As you heal, do not use harsh cleaners, exfoliants or retinoids near the site.
Also avoid strenuous exercise, heavy sweating or tight clothing on the treated area for at least a week or two. It is also worth mentioning that sun exposure can darken scars.
So, once you’re healed, apply SPF 30 or higher, use a covering clothing, and avoid direct sunlight for 4 weeks or more. Contact your doctor if you see signs of infection like increasing redness, warmth, swelling, pus, or fever or if healing stalls or the mole appears to grow back.
Closing Thoughts
After mole growth removal, your skin usually heals in a few weeks. You will want to take good care of the treated area to help it recover smoothly and minimise scarring.
Do you wish to learn more about mole growth removal in Singapore? Or, maybe see if you’re a good candidate? If so, drop us a line or visit us today to schedule an appointment. See details below;
Dermatology Collective (Ngee Ann City)
391B Orchard Road #13-10/10A, Tower B Ngee Ann City, Singapore 238874
