Double board-certified dermatology in Ponte Vedra Beach

Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 3:30 pm (904) 686-7771

(904) 686-7771 Portal Book an Appointment

Medical dermatology

Skin Tag and Mole Removal in Ponte Vedra Beach

Safe, in-office removal of skin tags, moles, cysts and other benign growths, with every growth evaluated by a dermatologist and dermatopathologist first.

Book an Appointment (904) 686-7771
Common areas Face, neck, underarms
Removed with Excision, shave, freezing or laser
Anesthesia Local, or none for laser
Insurance Often covered if medically necessary

How are skin tags and moles removed?

Short answer

Skin tags are removed in the office with simple scissor excision or cryosurgery (freezing). Moles are removed by shave removal or surgical excision, depending on their characteristics, and the tissue can be sent for pathology. Every growth is examined first, because some spots that look benign are actually precancerous or cancerous.

Benign growths are not dangerous, but they can be cosmetically bothersome, uncomfortable, or catch on clothing, jewelry or a razor. Common ones include skin tags, moles, seborrheic keratoses, cysts, lipomas, cherry angiomas and dermatofibromas.

Dr. Mark A. Cappel, MD, is a double board-certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist, expert in both the clinical appearance of skin lesions and their microscopic characteristics. That makes him well placed to tell you what a growth is and the safest way to remove it.

Never remove a growth at home. Home removal can cause infection, excessive bleeding, scarring and incomplete removal, and it can delay treatment if the growth turns out to be a skin cancer.

What we remove

Common benign growths

Most are a natural part of aging, genetics or sun exposure. Dr. Cappel recommends the removal method that suits the type, size and location of each one.

  • Skin tags (acrochordons)

    Small, soft, flesh-colored growths that hang off the skin in areas of friction, such as the neck, underarms and groin. Removed by scissor excision or freezing.

  • Moles (nevi)

    Flat or raised, pink to dark brown clusters of pigment cells. Most are benign; changing or atypical moles are removed and sent for pathology to rule out melanoma.

  • Seborrheic keratoses

    Waxy, scaly, slightly raised tan to black growths, sometimes called barnacles, more common with age. Removed by curettage, freezing or shave removal.

  • Cysts and lipomas

    Cysts are sacs under the skin that can become inflamed or painful; lipomas are soft, fatty lumps. Both are removed by surgical excision.

  • Cherry angiomas

    Small, bright red bumps caused by an overgrowth of blood vessels. Treated without incisions using laser energy.

  • Dermatofibromas

    Firm, small skin-colored or brown bumps, most often on the legs, that can itch or feel tender. Removed by surgical excision.

A woman with arms raised standing in green hillside fields

Why have a growth checked before it is removed?

Some growths that appear benign are actually precancerous or cancerous. A dermatologist's evaluation makes sure the right growth is removed the right way, and that anything suspicious is sent for analysis.

If there is any concern, Dr. Cappel performs a biopsy and, as a dermatopathologist, personally analyzes the tissue under a microscope for a definitive diagnosis. A new or changing growth should always be evaluated promptly.

What causes skin tags and other growths?

Benign growths develop for several reasons, and many are simply part of the skin's natural aging process.

  • Aging: seborrheic keratoses, skin tags and cherry angiomas all become more common with age
  • Genetics: a family history of moles or seborrheic keratoses makes you more likely to develop them
  • Sun exposure: chronic UV exposure contributes to seborrheic keratoses, age spots and certain moles
  • Friction: skin tags form where skin rubs against skin or clothing, such as the neck, underarms, groin and under the breasts
  • Hormonal changes: pregnancy often brings new skin tags, which may or may not resolve after delivery
A smiling woman with wavy blonde hair holding a leafy branch

Laser removal for red and pigmented spots

For cherry angiomas, spider veins and certain pigmented lesions, the Aerolase Neo laser offers removal without incisions, anesthesia or downtime. Its 650-microsecond pulse targets the blood vessels or pigment in the growth while leaving the surrounding skin untouched.

No numbing cream is needed. The handpiece is held just above the skin and you feel a mild warmth. Treated vessels may darken slightly before fading over the next few weeks, and pigmented spots may darken before flaking off.

Will the growth come back, and will it scar?

In most cases, a benign growth that is completely removed does not come back. Some people are prone to developing new growths over time, particularly skin tags and seborrheic keratoses. Dr. Cappel uses precise surgical techniques to ensure complete removal and minimize the risk of recurrence.

Any surgical removal can leave a scar. Its size and visibility depend on the size and location of the growth and how you heal, and most scars fade significantly over time until they are barely noticeable.

Treatment overview

What to expect, from exam to healing

  1. 01

    Consultation

    Dr. Cappel examines the growth, discusses why you want it removed and recommends the best removal method.

  2. 02

    Numbing

    For surgical removal, the area is numbed with a local anesthetic. Laser treatment needs no numbing at all.

  3. 03

    Removal

    The growth is removed in the office by excision, shave, curettage, freezing or laser, depending on its type.

  4. 04

    Pathology, if needed

    Tissue can be sent for pathology to confirm the growth is benign. Dr. Cappel contacts you if anything needs further treatment.

  5. 05

    Aftercare

    A bandage and wound care instructions. Mild discomfort, swelling or bruising is managed with over-the-counter pain relievers.

  6. 06

    Healing

    Stitches, if placed, come out in 1 to 2 weeks. The scar continues to mature and fade over 6 to 12 months.

Suitability

Is growth removal right for you?

A good fit if

  • You have moles, skin tags or seborrheic keratoses you would like gone
  • A growth is irritated by clothing, jewelry or shaving
  • You have a cyst or lipoma that is uncomfortable or growing
  • You have cherry angiomas or spider veins you want to clear
  • You want a professional evaluation that a growth is benign before removal

Not the right treatment if

  • A spot is new, changing, bleeding or will not heal and has not yet been examined
  • Your concern is flat brown sun spots or uneven tone across the face
  • You want diffuse facial redness treated rather than a single spot

Start with a skin cancer screening, or see sun spots and melasma and rosacea and facial redness.

Compared

Removal methods compared

MethodBest forWhat to expect
Scissor excision or freezingSkin tagsQuick, simple removal in the office
Shave removalRaised moles and seborrheic keratosesShaved flush with the skin under local anesthetic; no stitches
Surgical excisionMoles, cysts, lipomas, dermatofibromas, anything needing pathologyFull removal under local anesthetic, closed with stitches
CurettageSeborrheic keratoses and other superficial lesionsScraped from the surface, often with electrodessication
Aerolase Neo laserCherry angiomas, spider veins, certain pigmented lesionsNo incisions, anesthesia or downtime

Cost

What does mole and skin tag removal cost?

Pricing

Cost depends on the type of growth, the technique used and whether removal is medically necessary or cosmetic. If a growth is irritated, painful, bleeding or suspicious, removal is often considered medically necessary and may be covered by insurance. Removal for purely cosmetic reasons is typically not covered.

We accept Aetna, BCBS of Florida and Medicare for medical visits, and give you transparent pricing for cosmetic removal at your consultation. Cost and payment options

Dr. Mark A. Cappel, MD, Founder and Medical Director

Who performs this

Dr. Mark A. Cappel, MD

Double board-certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist

Dr. Cappel examines every growth before it is removed. As a dermatopathologist he can analyze the tissue under the microscope himself, so a spot that only looks harmless never goes unchecked.

Read full profile

Questions

Questions about Mole and Skin Tag Removal

Only an evaluation by a board-certified dermatologist can tell you for certain. Dr. Cappel examines the growth and, if there is any concern, performs a biopsy and personally analyzes the tissue under a microscope.

Yes, and sometimes it is recommended. Moles that change in size, shape or color should be evaluated and possibly removed to rule out melanoma. Removed moles can be sent for pathology to confirm they are benign.

No. Home removal can cause infection, excessive bleeding, scarring and incomplete removal, and a growth that looks benign could be a skin cancer. Always have growths evaluated and removed by a dermatologist.

In most cases, a benign growth that is completely removed does not come back. Some people tend to develop new growths over time, particularly skin tags and seborrheic keratoses.

Any surgical removal can leave a scar, but Dr. Cappel uses advanced techniques to minimize it. Most scars fade significantly over time and become barely noticeable.

If a growth is irritated, painful, bleeding or suspicious, removal is often considered medically necessary and may be covered. Removal for purely cosmetic reasons is typically not covered.

Where

Mole and Skin Tag Removal in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

At our office at 100 Executive Way, Suite 114, Ponte Vedra Beach, under the care of Dr. Cappel, a double board-certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist.

Patients see us from Ponte Vedra Beach, Ponte Vedra, Nocatee, Jacksonville Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Jacksonville, St. Augustine and Palm Coast and across Northeast Florida.

  • HoursMonday to Friday, 8:30 am to 3:30 pm
  • Phone(904) 686-7771
  • PaymentAetna, BCBS of Florida and Medicare accepted for medical visits

Also consider

Related care at Dermagnify

Book a visit

See a double board-certified dermatologist in Ponte Vedra Beach

Dermatology visits, aesthetic consultations and wellness plans all start the same way: a careful assessment by Dr. Cappel and a plan built around your skin, your health and your goals.

Book an Appointment (904) 686-7771
Call Book