I Have a New Mole — Should I Be Worried?

Most moles aren’t cancerous. That said, any new mole you get is more likely to be skin cancer than an old mole you’ve had for a while. It’s well worth not just keeping an eye on any new moles you develop, but also showing them to your dermatologist. 

Because we specialize in skin cancer, Kenneth Warrick, MD, FAAD, and our team have the expertise you need to find out if your new mole could be dangerous to your health. For the mole check and skin cancer screening you need, make an appointment with us at Atlantic Dermatology in Longs, South Carolina.

Why you should get new moles checked

Noticing a new mole isn’t cause for panic since most new moles are benign. But because a new mole means some changes in your skin cells, it’s worth visiting Dr. Warrick so he can evaluate it. In fact, experts recommend that all adults get their new moles checked. 

Call us to make an appointment whenever you notice a new mole. To ensure Dr. Warrick sees you promptly if your new mole has additional warning signs, tell us if your mole:

• Bleeds
• Itches
• Flakes
• Oozes
• Hurts

All of the above indicate that something abnormal — and potentially cancerous — is going on with the skin cells in your new mole. 

Treatment for precancerous and cancerous moles

If your mole looks like it could become cancerous, Dr. Warrick offers Blu-U photodynamic therapy. With this option, he can target and destroy precancerous skin cells before they have the opportunity to develop further. 

If your mole has already moved from precancerous to cancerous, you don’t need to be overly worried. The survival rate for melanoma is 99% when it’s caught early. (That should provide extra motivation to get new moles checked quickly.) 

Dr. Warrick has several ways he can remove the cancerous cells here at our office. Depending on the location and size of your mole, along with how serious it is, he might recommend:

• Freezing your mole
• Excising your mole
• Performing Mohs surgery

Mohs surgery is the most involved mole removal option, but it gives Dr. Warrick a way to ensure he gets all of the cancerous cells. During a Mohs procedure, he removes a thin layer of skin and examines it under a microscope. He repeats this process until no more cancerous cells appear in the latest layer of removed skin. 

Ultimately, the sooner you get a mole checked, the easier it is to treat if it could be cancerous. To schedule an appointment when you notice a new mole, call our office today or use the online booking feature anytime.