Moles (nevi) are quite common on the human body. They can be congenital or acquired. They differ in size, structure, color, etc. Most often they are not a danger, but under certain conditions they can transform and become malignant under the influence of the sun's rays in excess, permanent injury to clothing, etc. In this case, it is important to remove them on time. But the desire to get rid of a mole can also be caused by the cosmetic defect that it forms.
Regardless of the reason for the removal, it is better to do this with a doctor, but not in a beauty salon. A mole should be examined by a specialist (oncodermatologist) and give his opinion. In addition, only a doctor can determine the choice of optimal treatment and the advisability of removal. Histology is also possible only in a clinical setting.
How to remove moles?
There are several methods of removal, and all of them have their own indications and contraindications. The classic way is the surgical use of a scalpel. Such an excision is rather rough in terms of scars and scars, especially on the face, but it is ideal for moles that have gone deep into the skin. The same method is best suited for oncological nevi in open areas of the body. Sutures on the face are removed on the 4-7th day, and on the body on the 8-20th day after the removal procedure.
Another popular method is electrocoagulation. It is carried out for 15-30 minutes and consists in burning a mole or papilloma with an electrode. There are almost no traces after this, the procedure is considered non-traumatic. Scars after it are rare.
Cryodestruction - removal of moles by freezing with liquid nitrogen. According to statistics, wounds after this method always heal many times faster.
Removal with a radio knife - this less traumatic procedure is second only to a laser. Almost leaves no traces.
Laser is a super-demanded method for its safety and speed, as well as for effectiveness. The laser, in addition, clogs the vessels, preventing bleeding and relapse. It is not used only in oncology.
What to do after removal?
After the procedure to eliminate the mole, as after any operation, treatment is necessary. Damaged epidermis needs to be restored as soon as possible. After removal of the mole (nevus) with any method, the rehabilitation period is important. With him, there are general rules of conduct with the remaining wound. If you follow all the doctor’s instructions, properly treat the skin, there will be no complications.
Laser removed mole - how to handle it? Easier and faster to process a trace after laser removal. The fact is that with this method the surface of the skin is not broken, and it works as healthy. Only a small spot resembling a burn forms on the surface. True, it heals quite quickly - 4-5 days.
How to handle a mole removed by a laser? With any method of mole removal surgery, you need to consider that from 3 days it is possible to use wound healing creams.
Cream "ARGOSULFAN ® " promotes the healing of abrasions and small wounds. The combination of the antibacterial component of silver sulfathiazole and silver ions helps to provide a wide range of antibacterial action of the cream. You can apply the drug not only to wounds located in open areas of the body, but also under dressings. The tool has not only a wound healing, but also an antimicrobial effect, and in addition, promotes wound healing without a rough scar 1 .
Another thing is when after excision with a scalpel stitches are applied. Then skin care is required.
Stages of healing
Removed the mole - how to handle it and how it heals? Wound healing takes place in 3 stages:
- At stage 1 - 0-7 days - there is postoperative edema, redness and soreness. A crust forms. Processing at this stage is carried out with antiseptic solutions or antibacterial ointments.
- At the 2nd stage - 7-14 days - the formed hematomas dissolve, and the upper layer of the epidermis grows. The crust disappears. New skin should be protected from the sun to avoid hyperpigmentation.
- Stage 3 - 15 days and after - scar formation. At this stage, the crust is already falling off, and the “Contractubex” ointment will help a lot as a completion. In addition to her, a good result is shown by a silicone dressing "Dermatics", gel "ScarFix" and others. "Dermatics" moisturizes the skin, relieves itching, restores pigmentation, which can be disturbed due to scars.
Also commonly used wound healing plasters include Cosmopor and FixoporeS.
When using a laser by the 20th day, the skin is already fully restored. Further care for her in this case is not required.
As antibacterial ointments, doctors often prescribe "D-Panthenol", "Curiosin", "Panthenol".
Drugs should be prescribed by a doctor. Self-medication is excluded.
A good option is Solcoseryl ointment. Its properties:
- stimulates metabolic processes in the skin;
- safe
- actively heals.
It is applied only on a dry surface when the upper layer of the epidermis is already formed - 5-6 days after removal of the nevus.
Skin Care After Removal
The first week, the wound is covered with a dark crust, which generally performs the function of protection, and which in no case can be removed by force. It covers the damaged area until a new skin grows. Also, you can not wet it, smear it with creams, cosmetic masks, etc.
So, removed the mole - how to handle it? On the first day, the damaged skin area is very well treated with potassium permanganate - the effect is disinfecting and drying. During the processing itself, sterility must be observed. This means using disposable supplies. On hands there should be disposable medical gloves, in their absence it is necessary to treat hands with alcohol or Chlorhexidine.
A solution of potassium permanganate and "Fukortsin"
Antiseptic solutions are intended to prevent suppuration of the place where the mole was removed. What to process? Most often used are potassium permanganate and Fukortsin. Potassium permanganate or potassium permanganate is a strong oxidizing agent and even in diluted form retains its properties. The potassium permanganate solution should be 0.1-0.5%. This means the consumption of 6-8 of its crystals per liter of water. It should be poured into a glass container and be warm. If it is impossible to count, make the solution “by eye” - after mixing, it should have the color of red wine.
After cooking, you need to dip a cotton swab into the solution and gently wipe the surface of the former mole. The surrounding skin also needs to be wiped.
"Fukortsin" - a ready-made pharmacy solution of dark red color. It has antimicrobial and fungicidal effects. It is also applied, but it must not be allowed to get on the mucous membranes. The frequency of treatment is 1-3 times a day.
What else to handle the mole removal site? It is possible to use solutions of "Chlorhexidine", "Furacilina", brilliant green, iodine, chamomile infusion, hydrogen peroxide.
After about a week, the existing crust in the absence of complications itself falls off, and fresh new skin remains in its place. It can easily be injured, so you need to protect it from damage and ultraviolet radiation. Over time, its color is leveled. It should be protected regardless of the season - before going out onto the skin, lubricate the skin with sunscreen. Additional skin treatment after removal of the mole is necessary for infection in the form of weeping, pus, itching, redness, etc.
Dressing or patch
Removed a mole - how to treat a wound? In addition to antiseptic solutions, the main attributes are plasters and dressings. Today, instead of the usual bandages and adhesive plasters, special devices are used that not only protect the wound, but also contribute to the speedy healing.
If you have removed a mole, what to process? Care can be as follows - a silicone patch Mepiform - created specifically for resorption of hypertrophic and keloid scars. Available in various shapes and sizes. The treatment period for such scars is long, up to 8 months.
Care 10-14 days after the procedure
They removed the mole - how to handle it, and how does the wound heal? Most often, 2 weeks after excision, the existing crust disappears, and a new thin pink peel remains in its place. Then it is necessary to use a wound healing ointment: Actovegin, cream "Rescuer" or "Levomekol". They are used for 10-14 days.
By the end of 3 weeks, everything usually heals and treatment stops. But with increased sensitivity, itching can persist, and the doctor may prescribe special creams with an antipruritic effect: Sinaflan, Beloderm and their analogues. Often they relieve itching immediately, from the first use.
Reparative processes are accelerated with the help of vitamin-mineral complexes, creams with hyaluronic acid, and peeling.
How to avoid scars?
All modern methods of excising moles were originally aimed at ensuring that scars and scars do not form. But sometimes this can not be avoided.
Scars appear as a result of the growth of new skin cells at the site of damage. Therefore, for preventive purposes, doctors often recommend the gel "Kontraktubeks", which was already mentioned above. It includes onion extract, which inhibits fibroblasts, which provoke the growth of scar tissue. Heparin as part of the drug prevents blood clots from forming, softens the scar and restores the skin. Allantoin has a keratolytic effect and increases the permeability of the skin. Serae onion extract has fibrinolytic and anti-inflammatory properties, controls the number of fibroblasts. "Kontratubeks" removes scars in a month completely, if they are fresh. Rub it 2-3 times a day.
Do not forget about other restrictions:
- do not comb the healing site;
- dry skin should not be allowed;
- better to quit smoking.
If these points are not observed, the scars will be large, and small ones resembling a thin cobweb will be a natural consequence. Scars in the place where the mole was removed are easily masked with decorative cosmetics. What to process? Limitations in means and actions:
- It is forbidden to sunbathe, visit tanning salons and beaches, go to the sauna and bathhouse. Open areas should be covered with clothing, the head with a hat or umbrella, sunscreen is used for the face and neck.
- Do not touch the injury without unnecessary need to prevent infection.
- Do not expose the painful area. This will lead to deterioration. Repeated surgery may be required.
- You can not strip off the resulting crust. This slows healing and promotes scarring.
- After the operation, the injured area should not be exposed to scrubs, decorative cosmetics cannot be.
- The first 14 days after surgery, until epithelization occurs, the affected area cannot be wetted. In case of urgent need, bathing is in principle possible, but provided the patch is not at the operation site.
- Do not rub the wound with hard towels, clothes. Things should be thin, light and free. Children like to scratch their wounds very much - this needs control. Also, the skin should be protected from temperature extremes - the condition of the wound can be aggravated by this.
When to wash with mole removal
On the first day, swimming is clearly prohibited. Since water softens the skin, separates the cells and can provoke rejection of the layers of the dermis. Then, for about 2 weeks, the skin can not be steamed, so the sauna and baths are excluded.
What to do with scars
A scar or scar after removal of a mole occurs with a large mole or its deep location, even with proper care. For the most part, the scars gradually nevertheless dissolve or become invisible.
To combat them, special reusable silicone-based plasters have been created. It is worn for a long time after application. It is believed that the mechanism of a positive effect on the scar in such cases is based on the fact that the dressing presses on the scar and thromboses the vessels at the site of the lesion, nutrition ceases to flow to the scar, and as a result, it decreases.
With a rough and unaesthetic scar, you can resort to plastic, but the result is not guaranteed. Some patients complain of mole growth at the site of removal. Such a phenomenon may occur with incomplete removal. It may be fraught, and required
Misconceptions about the rules of wound healing
Many believe that a wound heals better if left open. In fact, the opposite is true. An applied dressing and proper pre-treatment, the healing process will only accelerate. Also, do not use alternative healing methods to prevent injury and infection of the wound.