Find the right dermatologist to remove precancerous moles

Do your homework

The skin is the largest organ in the human body. It is also the most visible and seen by you and everyone else with whom you will come in contact. If you have a suspicious or worrisome mole, then make certain you see a physician who is experience and trained in the diagnosis and treatment of your skin problem. While your family physician is an excellent resource for general health issues, they are not a specialist for skin disorders. Studies have demonstrated that dermatologists are the specialists who most often accurately diagnose moles and determine their need for a biopsy.

Do see a board certified dermatologist

Physicians who are certified by the American Board of Dermatology are uniquely qualified to both diagnose and treat your moles along with all other skin conditions. Dermatologists spend 4 to 5 years of training after medical school in all aspects of disorders and diseases of the skin and have the most experience in determining the need for and type of biopsy which is needed for a specific mole.

Do see a dermatologist who is a member of the American Academy of Dermatology

The American Academy of Dermatology is the world’s largest medical organization of board certified dermatologists. All members are board certified and must adhere to the academy’s code of conduct and patient ethics.

Do provide your dermatologist with a complete medical history

It is vital to inform your dermatologist of all symptoms related to your mole including any change in size, colour, ulceration, and bleeding. It is also important to tell them of any family history of moles and skin cancer. Make sure you provide a complete list of medications you take including over the counter medicines, allergies, and history of delayed healing and scar formation.

Do discuss your treatment options

Your dermatologist will be able to discuss your treatment options in detail with you. Some moles just require watchful waiting where the mole, or moles, are mapped out and sometimes photographed to compare with a future appointment. Other moles may be amenable to a “shave biopsy.” This is where the mole is shaved off flat with the surrounding skin and the specimen removed is examined by a pathologist. Scars are often undetectable after this treatment regimen. In other situations, the mole is excised and removed with a small amount of normal surrounding tissue. This usually requires the use of sutures which are sometimes removed days later. This technique may be more likely to result in a scar which usually fades with time.

Do not delay seeing your dermatologist

While we all worry about our health care concerns, it is not wise to delay seeing your dermatologist hoping the problem will just go away. If the mole represents a skin cancer, than delaying your treatment can be deleterious to your general health.

Do not make your health care decisions from the internet

While there is a lot of information on the internet regarding health care, remember that the world wide web is not filtered for accuracy. As a consumer, it is difficult to navigate your health care from the internet; as much misinformation exists as does information. Choose your dermatologist based on recommendations from your family physician, friends, and family, buut not google rankings.

Do not shop price for your body

It’s not like buying a car, which you can always return is you’re not satisfied. When you are looking for a qualified physician, keep in mind that specialists are often more expensive than family physicians because of more years in training. Making the correct diagnosis and treatment plan the first time will pay dividends for your overall health in the long run.

Do not forget your sunscreen

While we get 90 percent of our sun damage by age 18, it is never too late to get “sun smart.” Use your sunscreen daily and reapply it every two hours or more is exercising vigorously. Wear sun-protective clothing and avoid the peak hours of sun exposure from 10am to 2pm, when possible.

Do not forget to see your dermatologist regularly

While the skin is the largest organ in the body, remember that it is continually turning over cells each day. If your dermatologist has determined that you are at a high risk for skin cancer, remember to see them on a regular basis, every 6 to 12 months for a full body exam. They will compare your skin to how it looked before and be able to examine areas you can’t see yourself. They will treat a pre-cancerous skin lesion before it becomes a bigger problem and treat a skin cancer while it is still in its early stages.