Dr. John D. Stover DDS, MD, PhD
TRIPLE BOARD CERTIFIED:
Diplomate, American Board of Cosmetic Surgery
Diplomate, American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
Diplomate, National Board of Dental Anesthesiology
Cosmetic Centers of Hawaii
Most comprehensive cosmetic surgical procedures in Hawaii
SKIN TREATMENTS
Moles & Skin Tags
Moles and skin tags are growths on the skin that are usually brown or black.
There are several skin lesions that are very common and benign (non-cancerous). These conditions include moles, freckles, skin tags, benign lentigines, and seborrheic keratoses.
Moles can appear anywhere on the skin, alone or in groups.
Most moles appear in early childhood and during the first 20 years of a person's life. Some moles might not appear until later in life. It is normal to have between 10 to 40 moles by adulthood.
As the years pass, moles usually change slowly, becoming raised and lighter in color. Often, hairs develop on the mole. Some moles will not change at all, while others will slowly disappear over time.
Moles occur when cells in the skin grow in a cluster instead of being spread throughout the skin. These cells are called melanocytes, and they make the pigment that gives skin its natural color. Moles might darken after exposure to the sun, during the teen years, and during pregnancy.
What should I look for when examining my moles?
Most moles are benign. The only moles that are of medical concern are those that look different than other existing moles or those that first appear after age 20. If you notice changes in a mole's color, height, size, or shape, you should have a dermatologist (skin doctor) evaluate it. You also should have moles checked if they bleed, ooze, itch, appear scaly, or become tender or painful.
A skin tag, also known as an acrochordon, cutaneous papilloma, cutaneous tag, fibroepithelial polyp, fibroma molluscum, fibroma pendulum, papilloma colli, soft fibroma, and Templeton skin tag, is a small tag of skin which may have a peduncle (stalk) - they look like a small piece of soft, hanging skin.
They can appear on any part of the surface of the body (skin), but most typically exist in areas where skin may rub against skin, such as the:
- Eyelids
- Armpits
- Under the breasts
- Groin
- Upper chest
- Neck
Skin tags are invariably benign - non cancerous - tumors of the skin which cause no symptoms, unless it is repeatedly rubbed or scratched, as may happen with clothing, jewelry, or when shaving. Some people are more susceptible to tags, either because of their overweight, partly due to heredity, and often for unknown reasons. People with diabetes and pregnant women tend to be more prone to skin tags.
As skin tags are usually harmless, people have them removed for aesthetic or cosmetic reasons.
Dr. Stover may use one of the following procedures to remove skin tags:
- Cauterization - the skin tag is burned off
- Cryosurgery - the skin tag is frozen off using a probe containing liquid nitrogen
- Excision - the skin tag is removed with a scalpel
Numerous skin care treatments are available in Hawaii through Dr. John D. Stover's Cosmetic Centers of Hawaii. Dr. Stover is a board-certified cosmetic surgeon and a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon with offices in Kona, Hilo and Waimea on the Big Island of Hawaii. He is a fellow of both the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Dr. Stover continually updates his knowledge, skills and practice in the latest surgical and non-surgical procedures, which has made him one of Hawaii's top-performing cosmetic surgeons
