Moles and Skin Tag treatment at Orlando Dermatology
There are several skin lesions that are very common and almost always benign (non-cancerous). These conditions include moles, freckles, skin tags, benign lentigines, and seborrheic keratosis. Dr. Lateef can both diagnose and treat these conditions.
Moles
Moles are growths on the skin that are usually brown or black. Moles can appear anywhere on the skin, alone or in groups.
Most moles appear in early childhood and during the first twenty years of a person’s life. Some moles may not appear until later in life. It is normal to have between 10-40 moles by adulthood.
As the years pass, moles usually change slowly, becoming raised or changing color. Often, hairs develop on the mole. Some moles may not change at all, while others may slowly disappear over time.
How are most moles treated?
If Dr. Lateef believes a mole needs to be evaluated or removed entirely, he will either remove the entire mole or first take just a small sample of the mole and have it sent for a biopsy.
If the mole is found to be cancerous, Dr. Lateef will remove the entire mole by cutting out the entire mole and a rim of normal skin around it, and stitching the wound closed.
Skin Tags
A skin tag is a small flap of tissue that hangs off the skin by a connecting stalk. Skin tags are not dangerous. They are usually found on the neck, chest, back, armpits, under the breasts, or in the groin area. Skin tags appear most often in women, especially with weight gain, and in elderly people.
Skin tags usually don’t cause any pain. However, they can become irritated if anything, such as clothing or jewelry, rubs on them.
How are skin tags treated?
Dr. Lateef can remove a skin tag by cutting it off with a scalpel or scissors, with cryotherapy (freezing it off), or with electro-surgery (burning it off with an electric current).
