Bringing trouble upon yourself by removing moles.

Hà Nội Mới•16/04/2023

(HNM) - Mole removal services are becoming increasingly common, not only in hospitals and beauty salons but also in barbershops and hair salons. Experts warn that arbitrarily removing moles without a doctor's prescription carries many unpredictable consequences.

Examination and assessment of moles on the face of a female patient at the Central Dermatology Hospital.

Cancer detected after mole removal at spa

After having a mole removed at a spa, a 55-year-old man from Hanoi noticed that the removed mole did not disappear, but instead grew faster, spread deeper, and changed in both size and color. Finding this strange, he went to the National Dermatology Hospital for examination. There, he was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma.

According to Dr. Nguyen Dinh Quan, Deputy Head of the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (Central Dermatology Hospital), moles are pigmented spots or papules on the skin, usually brown or black in color and round or oval in shape. Moles can appear from birth. On average, each person has about 10-40 moles on their body. Most moles are benign, but some moles have the potential to become malignant. Some moles can even become "malignant," deforming due to friction on the body or heat exposure during removal.

Two common methods for mole removal are laser and electrocautery. These methods are quick, inexpensive, and only suitable for small moles located superficially in the epidermis. For larger and deeper moles, these methods can lead to scarring, contractures, or depigmentation. More dangerously, repeated thermal exposure increases the risk of mole metastasis and cancer.

"Arbitrary intervention on the affected area has caused cancer cells to invade deeper, grow faster, and delay treatment," warned Dr. Nguyen Dinh Quan.

Previously, two men from Long Bien District and Gia Lam District (Hanoi) went to Duc Giang General Hospital to have moles removed. There, after tests, both patients were diagnosed with malignant tumors. Fortunately, instead of going to a spa or barbershop, these two patients went to the hospital for mole removal and their condition was detected in time.

The Central Military Hospital 108 has successfully treated a 98-year-old woman from Nam Dinh who was diagnosed with skin cancer from a mole. Several decades ago, a small mole appeared on her cheek, just below her right eye. Over the past three months, the mole grew rapidly into a painful, ulcerated tumor. At the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Craniofacial and Reconstructive Center (Central Military Hospital 108), after clinical examination and fine-needle aspiration biopsy results, doctors diagnosed the ulcerated tumor as skin cancer.

Not all moles can be removed.

Approximately 80% of people who have moles removed do so for reasons of "feng shui" and aesthetics... Only about 20% of patients visit medical facilities to remove moles due to underlying medical conditions. Cancer originating from moles is dangerous, develops rapidly, metastasizes quickly, and can cause secondary cancers in the liver, bones, lungs, brain, and lymph nodes... However, if the disease is detected early and treated promptly from the moment the mole begins to become malignant, the cure rate is quite high.

Therefore, Master's degree holder and doctor Nguyen Dinh Quan, Deputy Head of the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (Central Dermatology Hospital), believes that mole removal is a legitimate need for everyone. However, to avoid unfortunate consequences, before deciding on the procedure, people should be examined at medical facilities with experienced dermatologists to determine whether the mole is benign or malignant. In addition, to avoid complications such as scarring and infection after mole removal, patients need to be advised on and choose an appropriate treatment method in a sterile and safe environment.

"Not all moles can be removed. When people notice any unusual signs on their moles, they should not be complacent but should immediately go to a medical facility for examination and treatment. For moles with atypical or suspicious signs, doctors will remove them and then conduct tests," advised Dr. Nguyen Dinh Quan.

To identify moles with abnormal signs, Master's degree holder and doctor Luu Phuong Lan, Department of Plastic and Microsurgery, Craniofacial and Plastic Surgery Center (Military Central Hospital 108), advises that when noticing symptoms such as raised moles, lumps with unusual or inconsistent color, unclear boundaries, protruding bumps, ulcers, discharge, rapid increase in size, pain, or bleeding, people should seek early examination for timely and appropriate treatment.

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