Remove Moles Quickly
Most moles are not dangerous, but they can be unsightly and make you feel self-conscious. Whether you're willing to go down the surgical route, or prefer to treat your mole at home, most moles are relatively easy to remove. If you're eager to get rid of an unwanted mole as quickly as possible, here are some practical steps you can take.
Contents
Steps
Using Home Remedies
- Test out apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar - a miracle ingredient used in countless home remedies - is one of the most common treatments for mole removal. The acids contained in the vinegar, such as malic and tartaric acid, actually work to dissolve the mole, completely removing it from the skin. Simply swab a little onto clean skin everyday using a q-tip.
- Know that garlic might be effective. Garlic is another multi-purpose remedy, which many claim as an effective treatment for mole removal. Simply crush some fresh garlic into a paste and carefully apply directly to the mole, making sure to avoid the surrounding skin (garlic can burn). Cover with a bandage and leave for a few hours or overnight. This method has been said to work in as little as five days.
- Use iodine. Iodine is a good option for people with more sensitive skin, as it won't burn like garlic or apple cider vinegar. Apply the iodine directly to the mole using a q-tip, up to three times a day. Continue to do this every day, until you see a noticeable improvement in the mole's appearance.
- Try sour apple juice. Juice a couple of sour cooking apples and apply a little juice directly to the mole. Like the apple cider vinegar, the acids in the juice will work to dissolve the mole, though it may be at least three weeks before you start to notice any improvements in the mole's appearance.
- Prep with pineapple and sea salt. Pineapple juice can be applied directly to the mole, but you should also try blending half a cup of fresh pineapple and a quarter cup of coarse sea salt to make a fantastic facial scrub. This may help to remove the top layers of skin from the mole.
- Test out castor oil and baking soda. Combine one tablespoon of baking soda and two tablespoons of castor oil make a paste. Apply a little directly to your mole and leave for several hours or overnight, before washing off.
- Try using honey. Honey is well-known as a delicious edible treat, but did you know it also boasts impressive anti-bacterial and healing properties? Dab a little honey directly onto the mole for a safe, natural treatment. Add in a drop of soothing, softening flaxseed oil too, if you like.
- Use home remedies responsibly. There are numerous home remedies designed to get rid of moles using natural ingredients. Though there is little science to back up some of the treatments, many people will attest to their effectiveness. Just be careful when using acidic natural juices, which have the potential to burn the skin. To use home remedies safely but effectively, apply the natural juices at least once and a maximum of three times a day.
- If you have very sensitive skin, only let the juices sit on your skin for 10 to 15 minutes, to prevent it from becoming irritated.
- Try applying a little petroleum jelly to the skin around the mole. This will prevent it from becoming unnecessarily irritated by the mole treatments.
- The length of time it takes for a mole to lighten or disappear will differ from one person to another.
- Be aware that home remedies are not likely to work as quickly or be as effective as surgical removal or stronger medical creams, but are a good option if you are looking for either a cost-free solution or a natural remedy.
Using Medicated Creams
- Try using mole removal cream. Mole removal creams are an affordable and fairly effective method of removing moles at home.
- Most creams work by lightening the mole until it is no longer visible, which can happen in a matter of weeks.
- Stronger, over-the-counter creams focus on peeling the skin away layer by layer until the mole is removed.
- Try out whitening cream. A general-use whitening cream can also be effective at reducing the appearance of moles. This works much like the mole removal creams since it removes the mole at a superficial level using skin lightening.
Using Surgical Treatments
- Consult your doctor or dermatologist. You should have your mole examined by a doctor or dermatologist before you get it removed. They will be able to tell you whether your mole is malignant. They will also discuss what mole removal method is best for you.
- The vast majority of moles are benign. However, symptoms including itchiness, bleeding and changes in size or color may indicate that the mole is malignant.
- If a mole is malignant, it should be removed as soon as possible.
- If your mole is not dangerous, it may not be necessary to have it removed. However, many people prefer to have their moles removed for aesthetic reasons.
- Weigh up your options. There are several methods of removing moles and you should carefully consider which method is best for you. You will need to think about:
- Effectiveness. Consider how effective each treatment is supposed to be. Will your chosen procedure remove the mole completely? Is there a risk that it could grow back?
- Cost. Different procedures will vary in terms of price, so think about what you can afford.
- Risk. What are the risks associated with each procedure? Can the mole become infected? Is there a risk of scarring or nerve damage? Will you need to be put under anesthetic?
- Consider removal using simple cutting or shaving. This type of removal works best for surface level moles. The mole is either removed with a surgical scissors or shaved off with a scalpel.
- First, the surgeon will cut the mole away, so it no longer forms a bump on the skin.
- With this type of removal, stitches are unnecessary. The wound will be cauterized or covered in a cream or solution to stop the bleeding. Then a topical antibiotic will be applied.
- The wound will be bandaged up and you'll be free to leave the office in a matter of minutes.
- Consider removal using an excision followed by stitches. This type of removal works best for moles that are darker in color or flat moles that penetrate deep within the skin.
- First, the mole and surrounding skin will be sterilized and numbed.
- Then, the surgeon uses a scalpel to cut out the mole. How deep of an incision needs to be made will depend on the size of the mole and whether or not it's malign. A wider area is usually cut away when the mole is malign, to ensure it is removed completely.
- The wound is then stitched closed. Some types of stitches require a follow-up appointment to be removed, while others will dissolve on their own.
- Consider removal using cryosurgery, or freezing. This is an alternate mole removal method which uses liquid nitrogen to freeze and destroy the mole. It is only offered by certain clinics.
- The liquid nitrogen can be applied to the mole directly using a cotton swab, or may be applied in the form of a spray.
- The liquid nitrogen may need to be applied several times to completely get rid of the mole. It will cause a blister to form on the skin, but once this heals, the skin should return to normal.
- Consider removal using electrocoagulation, or burning. Electrocoagulation burns the mole by shocking it with an electric current. This destroys the mole's tissue after several sessions. There is no need for stitches with this method, as the heat from the electricity cauterizes the wound.
- Two other specialized mole removal methods offered by some clinics are radiosurgery, which uses radio frequency waves rather than electricity, and laser treatments. Both of these work on the same idea of burning the mole tissue away.
Tips
- Be aware of your body and any moles that have changed over time. This is especially true for moles that are dark or flat. See your doctor if you are concerned about a mole.
- Always wear sunscreen when you are outdoors. This helps to prevent cancerous moles from developing.
Warnings
- If you are treating your mole at home, be aware that some natural treatments, like apple cider vinegar and garlic, can burn the skin and cause scarring. Apply petroleum jelly to the surrounding area to help prevent burns.
- Many people will attempt to remove moles for cosmetic reasons, not realizing that each and every removal may result in a scar. Many times your surgeon can give you an idea of the type and location of a scar after mole removal before you make your decision about removal.
