Wart, Mole & Skin Tag Removal in Jammu

Common warts

Common warts usually appear as rough bumps on the hands, fingers, knees or elbows.

Plantar warts

Plantar warts develop on the soles. Pressure from walking may push them inward and create pain or a callus-like surface.

Flat warts

Flat warts are smaller and smoother. They may occur in larger numbers on the face, neck, beard area or legs.

Filiform warts

Filiform warts have a narrow, thread-like appearance and commonly affect the face or neck.

Periungual warts

These occur around or beneath the nails and may disturb nail growth.

Diagnosis should be confirmed because corns, calluses, skin cancers and other growths can sometimes resemble warts.

Are genital warts treated differently?

Yes. Genital and perianal warts require a separate medical assessment.

Do not apply ordinary over-the-counter hand or foot wart medicines to genital skin. Treatment may involve prescription medicine, cryotherapy, electrocautery, excision or another procedure selected according to the number and location of the lesions.

Patients should also receive confidential counselling about HPV transmission, sexual health and relevant screening. Removing visible genital warts does not necessarily eliminate HPV, so recurrence and transmission can still occur.

When should a mole be checked?

Arrange a dermatology examination when a mole:

• Changes in size
• Changes in shape
• Changes in colour
• Becomes itchy
• Starts bleeding
• Develops crusting
• Becomes painful
• Looks different from the person’s other moles
• Appears newly in adulthood
• Grows rapidly

A changing, itching or bleeding mole can be a warning sign of melanoma and should not be removed cosmetically without proper assessment.

What are the ABCDE warning signs?

The ABCDE guide can help identify a mole that needs examination:

• A – Asymmetry: one half differs from the other
• B – Border: irregular, blurred or poorly defined edge
• C – Colour: several colours or uneven pigmentation
• D – Diameter: often larger than 6 mm, although melanoma can be smaller
• E – Evolving: changing in size, shape, colour or symptoms

A lesion that looks unlike the patient’s other moles—the “ugly duckling”—also deserves assessment.

The ABCDE guide does not replace examination. Some melanomas do not follow every rule.

How are moles removed?

The removal method depends on:

• Clinical appearance
• Size
• Depth
• Body location
• Cosmetic expectations
• Whether laboratory examination is required
• Tendency to form scars or keloids

A dermatologist may consider:

Shave removal

A raised mole may be carefully shaved level with the surrounding skin. The sample may be sent for histopathology when appropriate.

Surgical excision

The entire lesion is cut out after local anaesthesia. Stitches may be required.

Diagnostic biopsy

When the mole is suspicious, the priority is obtaining an adequate sample for diagnosis rather than choosing the quickest cosmetic technique.

The AAD notes that surgical excision and surgical shaving are commonly used for mole removal.

Will a removed mole be sent for testing?

It may be.

Histopathology means examining removed tissue under a microscope. It may be recommended when:

• The mole is changing
• The diagnosis is uncertain
• The colour or border is irregular
• The lesion has bled
• It looks different from other moles
• The doctor needs to exclude skin cancer
• The method of removal produces a suitable specimen

Suspicious growths should not simply be burnt or destroyed without considering whether tissue is needed for diagnosis. A dermatoscope and skin biopsy may be used when melanoma is suspected.

Skin-biopsy services are available at both Aastha Skin Centre locations.

Electrosurgery or electrodesiccation

Controlled electrical energy destroys the growth. A small crust commonly forms and heals gradually.

Snip removal

After cleaning and numbing the area where required, the tag is removed using sterile surgical scissors or a blade.

Cryotherapy

The lesion is frozen using a very cold substance. It later crusts or falls away.

The appropriate technique depends on the location, stalk width, bleeding risk and possibility that the lesion is not a skin tag.

Diagnosis before destruction

The lesion is examined before it is frozen, cauterised, shaved or excised.

Dermatologist-led care

Assessment is provided under Dr. Cheena Langer, MBBS, MD Dermatology, Consultant Dermatologist.

Multiple lesion types evaluated

The clinic assesses warts, moles, skin tags, DPN, seborrhoeic keratoses and other skin growths.

Biopsy when indicated

Suspicious or uncertain lesions can be considered for tissue examination rather than treated only as a cosmetic concern.

Two Jammu locations

Wart, mole and skin-tag removal is confirmed at both Karan Nagar and Paloura.

Realistic counselling

Patients receive information about healing, recurrence, pigmentation and possible scarring before treatment.