I did not get a scar however, over the course of 30 years, what I did get was the identical mole. It’s not fairly as raised because it was after I was on the JV tennis group, however it is vitally a lot seen and tangible. And I’m very a lot displeased.

“When a mole is handled with a shave removing, typically the a part of the mole that’s eliminated is at or above the floor,” New York Metropolis-based board-certified dermatologist Marisa Garshick, MD, tells me. “Since a number of the mole is often nonetheless current under the floor, there’s all the time the prospect that it returns.”

And a few moles are all of the extra more likely to make a triumphant return after being shaved off. In line with Connecticut-based dermatologist Deanne Mraz, MD, there are several types of moles during which the cells are dermal — or deeper — on the junction of the dermis and dermis. “There are additionally moles we’ve had since start, or congenital, during which the mole cells observe even deeper down the hair follicles,” she explains. “In essence, the deeper the mole cells go, the extra possible they’re to repopulate and for the mole to regrow.”

Talking of hair follicles, apparently (to me, at the least), the mole subsequent to my nostril was by no means a hair-sprouter. Nevertheless, the one located below the left facet of my mouth, type of within the chin space, was a prolific producer of hair. That’s not the principle purpose I eliminated that one — I by no means minded plucking, I simply most well-liked having one noticeable mole as a substitute of two. And when the time got here to take away it in my late twenties, I made a decision to threat a scar and take away it through punch biopsy.

“A punch biopsy goes deeper than a shave biopsy to collect cells from the dermis, dermis, and the highest layer of fats below the pores and skin,” Dr. Mraz says, including that it’s commonplace to want stitches to shut the ensuing wound. It’s additionally commonplace to get a little bit scar, which I did. And whereas it was yet another manner a mole leaves a legacy, I didn’t thoughts that scar till I noticed that the identical cluster of coarse hairs was pushing its manner by way of the scar and immediately-surrounding pores and skin. “It’s not uncommon to see the hairs proceed to poke by way of after a mole is eliminated,” Dr. Mraz says. Oh, nevertheless it certain is annoying.