Skin conditions we can help with
We remove moles, treat early skin cancers and other skin conditions, like skin tags. Get in touch if you are worried about a mole that has grown or changed colour or you have a referral from your general practitioner (GP) nurse practitioner (NP) or as a result of your annual skin assessment. Call us for a consultation or email us photos of your skin condition to speed up the process.
Your consultation will be with our surgeon or nurse specialist. Our team can put your mind at ease. Most skin conditions are benign but if you do not like the look of something, it is causing symptoms or is getting bigger, get in touch. We recommend protecting skin from excessive sun exposure.
We recommend you check regularly:
- Spots or moles that are new or different to others on your body
- Spots or moles that are changing
- Sores on your skin that aren’t healing as you’d expect.

We remove moles, treat early skin cancers and other skin conditions.
We offer minor surgery for patients in our Wellington, Hutt Valley, Kapiti, Palmerston North and Greytown clinics.
These procedures are performed under local anaesthetic, which means only the area being treated is numbed. You are awake during the procedure.
We recommend you check regularly for the three types of skin cancer:

Melanoma
This can be a life-threatening form of skin cancer if not treated early. Look out for:
Flat, raised, pink, red or dark patches on your skin that are either new or changing.
Sores or patches that are unlike other sores or patches on your skin – they may be irregular in shape and colour.

Basal Cell Carcinoma
Not usually life-threatening and slow growing. Look out for:
A slow growing patch that isn’t spreading
Dry or itchy patch, raised or flat
A patch that bleeds easily.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Can be life-threatening if not caught early. Look out for:
A red, scaly patch, an open sore or a firm, elevated bump
This patch of skin bleeds easily
Patches on sun-exposed skin.
We treat the following skin conditions in our clinics:

Skin Tags
A skin tag, is a small, soft, benign growth that typically forms on the skin. These tags often appear where skin frequently rubs against skin, such as the neck, armpits, groin, eyelids and under the breasts. They are usually flesh-coloured or slightly darker and have a small, narrow stalk, giving them a raised, bump-like and hanging appearance.
They are generally painless and non-cancerous and may be more common in people with obesity, diabetes or those who have a family history of skin tags. Hormonal changes, such as during pregnancy, can also increase the likelihood of developing them.
You may want your skin tags removed to stop them rubbing or because they are unsightly.

Dermatofibromas
A dermatofibroma is a common, non-cancerous skin growth made up of fibrous tissue often found on the legs. It typically appears as a small, firm brownish or pink bump on the skin and can feel like a small nodule is beneath the skin. If you pinch the centre it may dimple inwards.
They may develop after a minor skin injury like an insect bite or a splinter and maybe tender or itchy.

Seborrheic Keratoses
These are common, mostly age-related, non-cancerous (benign) growths on the skin. They are typically light brown, brown or black and have a waxy, scaly or slightly elevated look. They vary in size and are often described as looking like they are ‘stuck’ on the skin. They can appear anywhere on the body, except for the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
Usually genetics and sun exposure are their main causes. They can sometimes be mistaken for other skin conditions, like skin cancer. Call us if you’re worried about a dark patch on your skin, especially if it is itchy or irritated.

Solar Keratoses
As the name suggests, are precancerous growths on the skin caused by long-term sun exposure. They appear as rough, scaly patches or spots that may vary in colour from pink to red or brown. These lesions typically develop on sun-exposed areas like the face, ears, neck, scalp, chest, backs of the hands, forearms or lips. The risk of developing solar keratoses increases with age, if you have fair skin and/or a history of sunburn or extensive sun exposure.
While most solar keratoses are benign, they can progress into squamous cell carcinoma (a type of skin cancer) if left untreated. Regular skin checks are important for early detection and treatment.
Please get in touch for a diagnosis of any spots on your skin. We recommend always wearing a high SPF sunscreen and protective clothing as well as seeking the shade during those hours of the day when you’re most at risk of sunburn, even on cloudy days.

Keratoacanthomas
A keratoacanthoma is a skin lesion that resembles squamous cell carcinoma but usually grows fast and often resolves on its own.
They might look like a dome-shaped, flesh-coloured nodule with a central crater or ulcer. They often grow quickly over a few weeks or months and will usually develop in sun-exposed areas of the skin, such as the face, neck and hands. They are generally benign, meaning they do not spread to other parts of the body but they can be mistaken for more serious skin cancers like squamous cell carcinoma.
Please get in touch if you have a lump or nodule that has appeared on your skin. Our expert team offers quick diagnosis.

Moles
A mole is a growth on the skin, typically dark brown or black, caused by clusters of pigment cells. Moles are usually harmless but can sometimes develop into melanoma if they change in shape, size or colour or are an irregular size to begin with. Some moles may be raised and may bleed if they rub against clothing.
Freckles, on the other hand, are small, brownish spots or marks on the skin, typically round and flat. Freckles are caused by an increase in melanin, the pigment responsible for skin colour, and usually due to sun exposure. Freckles tend to be more common in people with fair skin.
All skin colours, however, can have moles. If you have a brown mark on your skin that is irregular in size, has grown recently or has changed and you don’t know if it’s a mole or a freckle, please get in touch. Our team will be able to help.

Melanomas
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that develops in the cells that produce melanin, the pigment that gives our skin its colour. Melanoma has a higher tendency to spread to other parts of the body if not detected and treated early. Sun exposure is one of the greatest causes of melanoma, especially by New Zealand’s harsh sun. But tanning beds can also cause melanoma. People with fairer skin are at higher risk of developing melanoma and it can run in families.
Early detection of melanoma is key for successful treatment. Common signs and symptoms include changes in the size, shape or colour of a mole or a mole that has irregular edges or one that is large. New or unusual-looking growths on the skin, especially if these become itchy or form crusts.
If melanoma is suspected, we will remove the suspicious mole and send it to the lab for pathological analysis. This is called an excisional biopsy.
The treatment of melanoma depends on the stage and extent. For early-stage melanoma we will surgically remove the melanoma and some surrounding healthy tissue. For most melanomas, this treatment is all that is needed. If the melanoma has spread to deeper skin layers, to the lymph nodes or to other parts of the body you may need more extensive surgery or other treatments, such as chemotherapy or immunotherapy. For these treatments, you will be referred to a melanoma surgeon and an oncologist.
We recommend regular skin checks for people who are at higher risk of melanoma. Early detection and treatment are essential. Please get in touch if you have a pigmented patch on your skin that won’t heal, is itchy or raised or you have a mole that has changed shape or colour or any other skin growth that is troubling you.

Basal Cell Carcinomas
A basal cell carcinoma grows slowly and is usually not life-threatening. However, if left untreated, it can cause significant damage to surrounding tissues and structures, such as the bones or nerves. It rarely spreads to other parts of the body, making it less aggressive than other types of skin cancer, like melanoma or squamous cell carcinoma.
A basal cell carcinoma typically has a pearly or waxy appearance, with visible blood vessels. It might be a red patch of irritated skin. There might be bleeding, crusting or ulceration at the site. Sun exposure, people with fair skin, older adults, those with a family history of skin cancer and those who are immune compromised are more at risk of developing basal cell carcinomas.
We recommend regular skin checks for these people who are at higher risk. Early detection and treatment are essential. Please get in touch if you have a patch on your skin that won’t heal, is itchy or raised or that is troubling you.

Squamous Cell Carcinomas
A squamous cell carcinoma is a type of skin cancer found in the outermost layer of the skin. A squamous cell carcinoma is usually a red, scaly patch, an open sore or a firm, elevated bump. The growth can sometimes ulcerate or crust over. It most often occurs on areas of the body exposed to the sun, such as the face, ears, neck, chest, backs of hands, arms or lips. While a squamous cell carcinoma is generally slow growing, it can spread to other parts of the body (metastasise). When caught early, squamous cell carcinomas are highly treatable and curable. If you think you have squamous cell carcinoma, it’s important to get in touch as soon as you can. The most common treatment is to surgically remove the tumour.
As with other skin cancers, those at most risk of developing a squamous cell carcinoma are those who have had lots of sun exposure, people with fair skin, older adults, those with a family history of skin cancer and those who are immune compromised are more at risk.
We recommend regular skin checks, especially if you have one of the risk factors. We also recommend protecting skin from excessive sun exposure.