Southside Dermatology and Skin Cancer Surgery
Dermatologists located in Tulsa, OK
Benign moles and warts can be embarrassing and disfiguring. Alison Fischer, MD, and Robert Fischer, MD, board-certified dermatologists and founders of Southside Dermatology in Tulsa, Oklahoma, remove warts and moles with state-of-the-art therapies including liquid nitrogen therapy, lasers, and surgery. If you live in the Tulsa area and want to remove your warts or moles, contact Southside Dermatology by phone or use the online form.
Moles & Warts
What are warts?
Warts are noncancerous growths that can appear on your skin or mucous membranes. Warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) and are extremely contagious.
What do warts look like?
The most common type of wart — verruca vulgaris — is usually skin-colored and looks something like cauliflower in form and texture. They’re sometimes sprinkled with black dots known as “seeds.” Other warts can be flat, appear in clusters with or without seeds, or (rarely) are long and tubular.
How do dermatologists remove warts?
Dr. Alison Fischer or Dr. Robert Fischer can diagnose your warts by visual inspection alone. Warts can be treated, but not cured.
However, your Southside dermatologist can remove warts quickly to restore the look and texture of your skin whenever you have an outbreak. Treatments include:
- Topical antiviral
- Intralesional biologics
- Electrodessication
- Liquid nitrogen
You can minimize your wart recurrences by bolstering your immune system with a healthy diet and lifestyle.
What are moles?
Moles represent a range of benign pigmented lesions that can change over time. Moles are usually brown or black and can appear anywhere on the body.
You can develop new moles at any time, particularly if you don’t protect your skin from the sun’s UVA and UVB rays. It’s normal for an adult to have 10-40 moles.
Congenital nevi are moles that are present at birth and have the greatest risk for becoming cancerous. However, you should examine all of your moles regularly. Look for the ABCDE signs:
- Asymmetry
- Borders that are raggedy
- Colors that vary
- Diameter more than a pencil eraser
- Evolution in size, shape, color, or texture
Schedule a yearly skin cancer screening so your dermatologist can monitor your moles. Contact either Dr. Fischer if you notice the ABCDE signs.
How do dermatologists remove moles?
If you have a benign mole that you want to remove for aesthetic reasons, your Southside Dermatology specialist does so by shaving or cutting it off. Depending on the size of the mole, you may or may not need stitches.
If your mole has developed into skin cancer, Dr. Alison Fischer or Dr. Robert Fischer performs a highly specialized type of skin cancer procedure known as Mohs micrographic surgery. Mohs surgery cures most skin cancers.
You don’t have to be embarrassed by warts or moles. Remove them at Southside Dermatology by scheduling an appointment online or by phoning the friendly office staff.