Moles and Skin Tags – Types, Causes, Symptoms, Removal and Treatment – Auckland NZ

There are many different types of moles, but the main distinction that is important for your health is: is it benign (no danger to you), or does it have malignant features? Your Doctor can assess a mole best using a dermatoscope and, if any concerns are present, a biopsy will be required.

Skin tags are highly unlikely to be malignant and just tend to be of cosmetic, or functional concern.

Some common skin lesions are described below:

• Moles – usually brown and circular. They may be flat or raised and have even or irregular pigmentation. If they have changed recently they should be checked by a doctor to exclude melanoma (cancer change in the mole).
• Skin Tags – fleshy growths usually on a stalk. They are often seen around the underarm, on the neck, under breasts or in the groin.
• Seborrhoeic keratoses – look warty and are usually brown in colour. They are soft and often break off if scratched. They are common in people over 35.
• Actinic keratoses – these are hard scaly patches on sun exposed areas of the skin. The scale can be picked off but will always regrow and can lead to skin cancer over time.
• Skin cancers – these can be basal cell carcinoma (often nodular in appearance), squamous cell carcinoma (scaly) or malignant melanoma. These lesions are not suitable for Surgitron and usually require surgical removal.
• Pearly penile papules – benign, small, hard growths around the head of the penis.
• Raised lesions – any growth above the skin is a skin lesion. Most are unimportant but some can be skin cancers so they should be checked by a doctor.

We do not know the exact cause of moles. We do know that they are more common in:

• Fairer skin
• Skin with higher levels of sun exposure
• People who have family members with multiple moles
• People who are immunosuppressed

Likewise, with skin tags we do not know the reason that they form. We do know that they are more common in :

• Areas of the body where rubbing or irritation occur, especially in skin folds. Skin tags are common in the armpits, on the neck, groin and beneath the breasts.
• People with type 2 diabetes
• People with hormonal changes (pregnant women, gigantism)
• Obese people

Benign moles tend to be asymptomatic. If your mole is causing any symptoms, we suggest seeing a GP who specialises in skin cancer care, or a dermatologist. Skin tags are usually asymptomatic, but can become irritated from chafing.

For cosmetic removal of benign moles and skin tags that do not exhibit any signs of skin cancer Palm Clinic, Auckland, NZ uses a non surgical treatment option called Surgitron.

For mole removal for cosmetic reasons, Surgitron is able to remove the skin growths with minimal risk of scarring because the growths are simply shaved off level with the skin. That means no surgery, no scars, no bleeding and no stitches. Our clients are often surprised that the procedure can be done with minimal discomfort using local anaesthetic.

Liquid nitrogen (at your GP) is an alternative way to remove skin tags. It is not always preferable however as it can take multiple attempts and has an increased chance of causing hypopigmentation (permanent white spots on the skin).

Prevention remains key in preventing new moles appearing, and in protecting current moles. The basic advice is to slip, slop, slap. Slip on protective clothing to reduce sun exposure, slop on SPF and slap on a hat. Palm Clinic has an extensive range of sunscreen available to suit your skin type.

To view more before and after photos please visit our gallery.