Non-cancerous lesions come in many varieties. Moles and skin tags are the most common, though they only represent a fraction of all lesions seen by dermatologists and plastic surgeons. Moles generally first appear in childhood and continue to grow and darken over time. Some moles may have hair that grows out of the lesion. Although most of these lesions cause no symptoms, some patients may experience itching and discomfort. This is especially true for males who have a mole in the area that they shave.
By definition, a mole is a benign lesion, meaning that it is not cancerous. However, when a mole grows rapidly, changes tones, or produces pain, these are signs that it may be transforming into a malignant lesion. Therefore, anybody who has noticed one or all of these changes should seek a consultation with a dermatologist or facial plastic surgeon to rule out cancer. If your specialist considers that there is a chance of malignancy, a biopsy of the mole will be required. In most cases, the entire lesion will be removed and sent to the pathologist for analysis.
On the other hand, some individuals may want a mole removed for purely aesthetic reasons. In such cases, the mole can be removed under local anesthesia, and the area is reconstructed with care to avoid a conspicuous scar. The lesion is always sent to pathology, even if little suspicion of malignancy exists.
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