Treatment of pigmented nevi

Nevi, especially when there are a lot, may be annoying cosmetically, but what is more important, epidermal pigment cells can develop into malignant tumors.

Long existing pigmented nevi must be removed if any sign of activity is observed on them: change of color or size, change of level of protrusion from skin, turning to multicolored, developing hair in previously hairless moles, their edges gets indistinct or irregular, signs of an inflammation is appearing, they get wounded or are localized on exposed areas and get irritated. It is worth having them checked up regularly since they may have constructional characteristics that predict their future behavior. Their professional removal in time is not dangerous and they won’t develop into malignant melanomas in consequence of the surgical intervention since once it is removed it should not develop anymore.  Furthermore if they turn out to be melanomas during histology their removal may have saved your life!

The removal of nevi must be performed using a traditional surgical method therefore the lesion is cut out of the skin with a healthy skin border of proper size then the epidermal continuity is reconstructed. The removed lesion must be sent to histological examination without exception. The histological examination determines if the lesion removed was malignant or benign and the removal was performed within the healthy skin tissue around the lesion and in its base.

The use of those methods is forbidden where you can’t get a sample available for proper histological examination.

The stitches used for wound closure are removed within 7-14 days following the operation.

The tasks of the follow-up examinations after the removal of a mole are determined by the histological examination. The diagnosis of a melanoma is not a death sentence since with the medical treatments led by the practiced specialist of the oncological departments in a hospital and regular check-ups we have a good chance to fight it off.
it is very important to be fully aware of the fact that this removal can be performed only by specialists since when it is removed improperly its surroundings is tampered in a way that even pigmented carcinoma may develop.

That is why the obligatory histological examination following the removal of nevi has an utmost importance among others since this is how complications can be prevented.

You have to consult immediately with a specialist if one of your nevi has changed since a growth previously believed to be harmless may lead to malignant tumors. These growths are usually accompanied with a burning or itchy sensation and its continuous scratching may lead to malignant tumors, too. It is worth to have the area in question examined as soon as possible in such cases.