Mole check in Gurgaon
A careful examination of moles and dark spots by dermatologist Dr. Tanya Kochhar, using dermoscopy to look beneath the surface. You find out which moles are harmless, which are worth watching, and what can be done about a mole you would like removed.
How is a mole checked in Gurgaon?
A mole check is a painless examination of your moles by eye and dermoscope, looking for warning signs such as change, irregular shape or uneven colour. At Le Dermaire, Dr. Tanya Kochhar tells you whether each mole is reassuring, worth monitoring with photographs or needs a biopsy. Removal is offered only after assessment. Visits take 15 to 30 minutes.
Mole check, in short
What a mole check involves. Most moles turn out to be harmless; the value of the visit is knowing which is which.
Moles, and when to have one checked
A mole, or naevus, is a harmless cluster of pigment cells. Most people have some, appearing in childhood and early adulthood; some are present from birth. They can be flat or raised, brown, black or skin-coloured, and many slowly lighten or become raised and softer with age. None of that is a cause for concern on its own.
The reason to check moles is to find the rare one that is not behaving like the others. Melanoma, the most serious skin cancer, can start in an existing mole or appear as a new dark spot. It is less common in Indian skin than in fair skin, but when it occurs it is more often found late, partly because it tends to appear in places people do not think to check: the soles, palms, nails and inside the mouth.
A mole check is worth booking for any mole that is new in adult life, changing in size, shape or colour, itching, bleeding or crusting, or simply looks different from your other moles. It is also sensible for anyone with many moles, a family history of melanoma or a large mole present from birth.
Seborrhoeic keratoses, dermatosis papulosa nigra, freckles and some other dark spots can look like moles but are different, harmless growths. Dermoscopy usually tells them apart quickly.
Warning signs in a mole
The ABCDE rule and the ugly duckling sign are simple ways to spot a mole that needs a doctor's opinion. None of them means cancer on its own.
A, B, C: shape and colour
Asymmetry, where one half does not match the other; Border that is ragged, notched or blurred; Colour that is uneven, with several shades of brown, black, red, white or blue.
D, E: size and change
Diameter larger than about 6 mm, the size of a pencil eraser, although melanomas can be smaller; and, most important of all, Evolving: any change in size, shape, colour, height or symptoms.
The ugly duckling
Most of a person's moles look alike. A mole that stands out from the rest, darker, larger, a different shape, or a lone new mole in an adult, deserves a closer look even if it passes the ABCDE checklist.
Palms, soles and nails
In Indian skin, melanoma more often appears on the soles, palms and under the nails. A new or changing dark spot on the foot, or a dark streak in a nail that is widening, has blurred edges or spreads to the skin around it, should be examined promptly.
How a mole check works
A calm, systematic visit. Most people leave reassured, and anyone who needs more tests knows exactly why.
History
Dr. Tanya asks which moles concern you, whether they have changed, and about sunburn, previous skin cancer, family history and any moles removed in the past.
Examination
The moles of concern are examined, and often the rest of the skin including the scalp, palms, soles and nails, looking for any mole that stands out from its neighbours.
Dermoscopy
Each mole of interest is examined with a dermoscope, which shows pigment patterns and blood vessels that cannot be seen by eye and helps separate harmless moles from ones that need more attention.
Plan
You are told whether each mole is reassuring, worth monitoring with photographs, or needs a biopsy, and your options if you would like a harmless mole removed.
Dermoscopy, monitoring and biopsy
Three tools, used in steps. Most moles need only the first.
Dermoscopy
A handheld magnifier with polarised light, placed on or near the skin. It is quick and painless, and it makes the difference between guessing and knowing for most pigmented spots. How dermoscopy is used across skin, hair and nail conditions is explained on the diagnostics page.
Read the full guidePhoto monitoring
For a mole that is slightly unusual but not worrying, close-up and dermoscopic photographs are taken and compared at a review visit, usually after about three months. A mole that stays the same is reassuring; one that changes is biopsied. This avoids removing moles unnecessarily while not missing change.
Skin biopsy
If a mole looks atypical, a sample or the whole mole is removed under local anaesthetic and examined under the microscope by a pathologist. This is the only way to be certain what a lesion is. How biopsies are done is explained on the diagnostics page.
Read the full guideMole removal, after examination
Many people want a harmless mole removed because it is raised, catches on clothing or a razor, or simply bothers them. That is a reasonable request, and removal is arranged where appropriate, but only after the mole has been examined and judged benign. A mole that has any worrying feature is removed in a way that allows it to be sent for testing, not simply destroyed.
The method depends on the mole. Shave removal takes a raised mole level with the skin under local anaesthetic, leaving a small flat mark; a little pigment can occasionally return. Radiofrequency removal uses controlled electrical energy to remove raised benign moles layer by layer with fine control of depth. Excision cuts out the whole mole with a small margin and closes the skin with stitches; it leaves a fine line scar but removes the mole completely and gives the full specimen for testing, which is preferred for any doubtful lesion.
Every removal leaves some mark, and in Indian skin the healed area can darken or lighten for a while. People who form keloids, especially on the chest, shoulders and jaw, should mention it, because it can change which method is advised or whether removal is sensible at all.
A mole should never be lasered, burnt off or treated with removal creams without first being examined by a doctor. Destroying a mole leaves nothing to test, and it can hide a melanoma rather than remove it. Removal pens and pastes sold online can also cause burns and scars.
Mole check and removal cost in Gurgaon
A mole check is covered by the consultation, which includes dermoscopy. If a biopsy or removal is advised, the cost depends on the method, the number of moles and any laboratory testing, and is explained before anything is done.
Why the examination comes first
Quick, cheap mole removal without examination is how melanomas are occasionally burnt off and missed. Paying for an assessment first means you know what the mole is, a worrying lesion is tested, and a harmless one is removed with the method least likely to scar.
Checking your own skin
Do
- Check your skin once a month in good light, using a mirror or a partner for the back and scalp.
- Include the soles, palms, between the toes, nails and inside the mouth.
- Photograph any mole you are unsure about, with a ruler beside it, to compare later.
- Use sunscreen and avoid sunburn, especially in children.
- Book a check promptly for any mole that is new, changing, itching or bleeding.
Avoid
- Removing moles with creams, pens, acids or home remedies.
- Having a mole lasered or cauterised in a salon or without a doctor's examination.
- Picking, scratching or shaving over a raised mole repeatedly.
- Ignoring a dark streak in a nail or a new dark spot on the sole.
- Assuming a mole is harmless because it does not hurt.
Moles examined by a dermatologist
Telling a harmless mole from an early melanoma depends on training and on dermoscopy, not on appearance alone. A dermatologist examines the whole picture, recognises the patterns that matter in Indian skin, including on the palms, soles and nails, and knows when to reassure, when to watch and when to biopsy.
Dr. Tanya Kochhar holds an MBBS from Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, an MD in Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy from MGM Medical College, a DNB, and a post-doctoral fellowship in Aesthetic Dermatology (FRGUHS). She is registered with the National Medical Commission and the Delhi Medical Council.
Mole check FAQs
How do I know if a mole is dangerous?
You cannot be certain by looking, which is why the examination matters. Warning signs include asymmetry, an irregular border, several colours, a size over about 6 mm and, most importantly, any change. A mole that looks different from your others, a new mole in adulthood, or a dark spot on the sole, palm or nail should be checked.
Is melanoma common in Indian skin?
It is much less common than in fair skin, but it does occur. In Indian skin it more often appears on the soles, palms and under the nails, where it is easy to overlook and is sometimes mistaken for a bruise, fungal infection or corn. Checking these areas, and acting on any change, is the practical takeaway.
How much does a mole check cost in Gurgaon?
At Le Dermaire a mole check is covered by the consultation fee of Rs 1,800, which includes dermoscopy. If a biopsy or removal is advised, the cost depends on the method, the number of moles and any laboratory testing, and is explained before anything is done. There are no charges that are not quoted to you first.
Can I get a mole removed for cosmetic reasons?
Often, yes, once it has been examined and judged harmless. Removal is arranged where appropriate, by shave, radiofrequency or excision depending on the mole and its location. Every method leaves some mark, and people prone to keloids may be advised against it on certain areas. The options are discussed at your consultation.
Can a mole be removed with laser?
Laser should never be used on a mole that has not been examined, because it destroys the tissue and leaves nothing to test. Even for harmless moles, pigment often returns after laser because the mole cells can lie deeper than the laser reaches. Shave, radiofrequency or excision are usually preferred.
What does a dark line in my nail mean?
A brown or black streak running the length of the nail is common in darker skin and is usually harmless, caused by increased pigment from the nail root. It should be examined if it is new in an adult, widening, uneven in colour, has blurred edges, or the pigment spreads onto the skin around the nail.
Will a mole removal leave a scar?
Some mark is always left. Shave and radiofrequency removal usually leave a small flat spot, which may be lighter or darker than the surrounding skin at first. Excision leaves a fine line. The mark generally fades over several months, and sun protection helps. Keloid-prone skin carries a higher risk of a raised scar.
Where is the clinic in Gurgaon?
Le Dermaire is at 10P, 3rd Floor, Sector 28, Chakkarpur, Golf Course Road, Gurugram, opposite Phase 1. It is open Monday to Saturday from 3:30 PM to 9:00 PM and on Sunday from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
Mole check on Golf Course Road, Gurugram
A short drive from DLF Phases 1 to 5, Sushant Lok, Cyber City and Golf Course Extension Road. Evening and Sunday appointments make a check easy to fit in.
Golf Course Road, opposite DLF Phase 1,
Sector 28, Chakkarpur, Gurugram
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Milia, cysts, lipomas and other small procedures, planned by a dermatologist.
ExploreHave that mole looked at properly
You will leave knowing whether your moles are reassuring, which are worth watching, and what your options are if you would like one removed.