Moles, Tattoos & Skin Lesions

Common causes

• Moles form from clusters of pigment cells and may change with sun and age
• Skin tags and seborrheic keratoses are common, benign growths
• Tattoo ink sits in deeper skin layers and is cleared slowly
• Sun damage creates spots that resemble moles but need review
• Some lesions are precancerous or cancerous

How doctors usually approach it

Examine first

Any spot that is changing, bleeding, irregular or new in adults should be examined, and sometimes sent for laboratory testing.

Remove benign spots

CO2 laser or other methods can remove many benign lesions in one visit, leaving a small wound that heals over about one to two weeks.

Fade tattoos in stages

Pico or Q-switched lasers break ink into smaller particles over many sessions spaced weeks apart.

Protect healing skin

Sun protection reduces the chance of dark or light marks.