If you have a mole on your face, it can be the cause of your self-consciousness. If the mole has appeared recently, it may cause you to be concerned about skin cancer. The best way to rule this out is with a trip to the dermatologist. He or she will perform a biopsy on the offending blemish to determine whether it is cancerous or not. Once you have the results, the doctor will discuss options for mole removal. Of course, benign moles are much simpler to take care of, and here are a few things you might consider.

Cryotherapy

This option for removal is used as long as the mole does not penetrate too deeply under the skin. The dermatologist will apply a substance to freeze the tissue of the mole, such as liquid nitrogen. Over the course of the next week or so, the skin cells of the mole will die. They will turn black and eventually the mole will just fall off. There may be some discomfort as the cells freeze. You may notice a bit of discoloration of the skin in the area where the mole was. This will usually even out with time.

Surgery

There are a couple of different types of surgical removal of moles. The first one involves the doctor using a scalpel to cut the mole from your skin. He or she will then stitch the area closed. The second method, electrosurgery, requires the skin to be gently scraped until the mole is even with the surrounding skin. An electric current is then applied to the area to destroy the remaining tissue. Both regular surgery and electrosurgery tend to leave a scar you can have treated after it is completely healed. The third type of surgery uses a laser. As long as the mole is not too deep into the skin, a laser can be used to seal the blood vessels in the mole and to burn off the tissue.

Over-the-Counter Products

There are products available to use at home for mole removal. It is important you discuss the different products with your doctor for the best success. He or she can tell you if the mole is too deep and what to expect from each product. You will also be told what signs to watch for that indicate there is a problem and you should seek medical attention.  Be sure to follow the directions as to how often you should apply the product.

You do not have to ignore a mole on your face or try to cover it with makeup. Talk to a dermatologist from a clinic like Associated Skin Care Specialists to find out the best, safest, and least expensive method to have it removed.