Remove a Mole at Home

Moles are skin growths made of cells that produce pigment, typically making them appear brown or tan in color. Most people have moles, and while they are usually harmless, they can be a sign of skin cancer and should be evaluated by a dermatologist. While moles do not need to be treated or removed, some people do not like their appearance or the way they rub on clothing and prefer to remove them. Many people rely on topical creams or homeopathic home remedies to reduce their appearance or attempt removal altogether. Keep in mind that home remedies generally do not have any scientific support and are not approved by the FDA, and can have serious side effects in some cases.

Steps

Using Medical Creams

1. Look into whitening agents. Over-the-counter skin bleaching creams can be used to treat the mole. They work by slowly discoloring the mole until it is less obvious, particularly for flat moles with no raised borders. The mole will still be present, but not as easily visible.
   • Look for a cream that contains 2% Hydroquinone, an ingredient that is available over the counter and is FDA approved. Hydroquinone works by reducing the appearance of melanin in the skin on which it is applied.
   • Follow the manufacturer's instructions for use, taking care to test the cream on a small inconspicuous area of skin before using it on your mole. Also be sure to only apply the cream to the mole, and not the surrounding skin.
2. Consider mole removal creams. Mole removal creams such as Nevi-Skin are a fairly cost-effective method to treat. Use them with caution, as their claims have not been evaluated by the FDA.
   • Be sure to carefully follow the manufacturer's instructions, and stop treatment immediately if you have an adverse reaction such as bleeding, irritation, or swelling.
   • Know that they also sometimes remove more than the mole, leaving pits in your skin and causing scarring.
   • One product, DermaTend, gained popularity as a method of treating moles. It contains extract of a plant called Sanguinaria Canadensi and is said to work by killing the mole at the root and causing it to fall out. The company's claims were not evaluated by the FDA, and in 2014 it was recalled because the FDA worried that use of this product would prevent people from seeking dermatological care and thus could delay diagnosis of skin cancer.
3. Know your medical procedure options. Currently, there are three methods you can talk about with your doctor:
   • Excision with stitches: In this process the mole is removed and the area is closed with one or more stitches. Some scarring is a possibility, but this method can be used if a mole is suspicious so that surrounding tissue can also be excised.
   • Shave excision: In this process the mole is cut off at the level of the surrounding skin. Scarring is less common, but this method is not preferred if a mole is suspicious, because surrounding skin (which may contain cancer cells) will remain untouched. Shaving works best on moles that are raised, because moles that are flat have to be "scooped" out of the surrounding tissue, which inevitably leaves a scar.
   • Cryosurgery: Cryosurgery is application of extreme cold to kill an unwanted tissue using liquid nitrogen. You will not need any stitches, and recovery time is generally faster than excision methods.

Using Popular Home Remedies

1. Consider using apple cider vinegar (ACV). This is one of the most popular and well known home remedies for removal of moles. ACV is an acid and can cause skin irritation and burning, resulting in the loss of your mole. ACV is available at both pharmacy and grocery stores. You can also make some at home using sour apples.
   • Because ACV is a strong chemical, test a small area of skin elsewhere before applying it to the mole. If you do not experience any burning or irritation, proceed.
   • Put a small amount of ACV on a cotton ball. Place the cotton ball on the mole and bandage it securely in place with a bandage, micropore tape, or duct tape.
   • Repeat this process twice a day with fresh cotton balls for at least 7 days or till the mole falls off. By the end of the week, the mole should have gone.
2. Try garlic. Garlic is one of the best known natural remedies with many uses. Its acidic properties are thought to make it an effective mole remover.
   • Peel two garlic cloves, and crush to make a paste. Add a pinch of rock salt to the paste; the salt absorbs moisture from the mole, decreasing its water content and thus makes it dry and shrivel faster.
   • Apply the paste to the mole thrice a day for 5 days. Be careful; it may sting the surrounding normal skin. Cover the area with a cloth, cotton or bandage whenever you have applied the paste. Wash well with a regular soap every few hours. If the mole persists, continue until it falls off.
3. Use baking soda. To make a baking soda paste, combine 1 tablespoon of baking soda with 4 tablespoons of water. Mix well until it becomes a paste; if you need to thicken it, add more baking soda. Apply to the affected area and leave it there for an hour, then wash it off with soap and water. Repeat the process twice a day for 4 days.
   • Baking soda when mixed with water to make a paste gives off a very caustic solution. The combination releases free hydrogen ions which are thought to react when applied onto the skin and tissue of the mole and dehydrate it.
   • You can also mix one pinch baking soda in a teaspoon of vitamin E oil and apply it to the mole. Leave the mixture on the mole overnight. The mixture is thought to eventually fade the mole away. If you have sensitive skin you can use Vitamin E oil without baking soda as well.
4. Consider using iodine. While iodine may not be available over the counter in a pharmacy in its concentrated form, it can be obtained in a diluted mixture in many stores.
   • Further dilute your store bought iodine with 5 parts of water. Using a cotton ball or a cotton swab, apply it gently on the mole. Keep it on for 3 to 4 minutes and then wash it off with warm water.
   • Be careful not to touch the surrounding region of healthy skin with the iodine. Keep the iodine off your clothing with gauze as needed, as iodine has strong staining properties.
5. Apply aloe vera. Aloe vera helps in making the mole soft and more mobile. Prolonged usage of aloe vera is thought to result in complete disappearance of the mole with no scars. Proponents of this method claim that aloe vera slowly does away with the old hardened tissue and replaces it with newer softer tissue and cells.
   • Using a fresh aloe vera plant, procure the thick leaves and then squeeze the juicy gummy, clear transparent jelly it stores. This juice is often consumed by people for other conditions as well, but for moles it is to be applied directly on the mole without any other adulteration or dilution.
   • The jelly/gum can be kept over the mole all day as it gets absorbed into the skin and you can wash it if you wish. Apply it at least 3 times a day for best results. Continue application till the mole falls off.
   • Although aloe vera has been used topically by various cultures for centuries, there is no scientific data about its long-term safety, so use at your own risk.
6. Make an aspirin paste. Aspirin is a blood thinning agent and is thought to work by diluting the blood supply to the mole enough for it dry out and deaden. People who have missing blood coagulant factors or are hemophilic should not use this option.
   • Take 3 aspirin tablets and crush them in a bowl. Add two teaspoons of water and make a paste.
   • Using a cotton ball or swab, apply the paste gently to the mole. Leave it there with a bandage for a day. Monitor the progress every day in terms of the size, shape and color. Within 1-2 weeks, it should make the mole fall off by itself.
   • Those who use blood thinners or anti-coagulants should not use this method without consulting their doctor.

Using Less-known Home Remedies

1. Experiment with pomegranate juice. Pomegranate naturally contains bleaching properties, which can inhibit melanin production and potentially decreasing the appearance of a mole.
   • Apply fresh pomegranate juice to the mole using a cotton ball or a cotton swab. Let it stay for 15 minutes and then wash it off vigorously with warm water and soap.
   • Try pomegranate extract instead, which can be ordered online or from a health food store.
2. Try honey. Like aloe vera, honey is thought to soften moles decrease the keratinized (hardened) tissue. It also makes the mole more flexible and mobile if it has a stalk or root.
   • Honey can be applied on the face of the mole using a cotton swab. Plain honey — undiluted — acts best. Occasionally, neem leaves or turmeric powder may be mixed with it for better results.
3. Use castor oil. Similarly to aloe vera and honey, this method is thought to soften the mole, reducing its appearance over time.
   • Castor oil can be applied using a cotton ball or even massaged in a circular motion around and on the mole using your fingers.
   • Avoid using castor oil if you are prone to acne, as it may aggravate the acne.
4. Try ice. Application of an ice cube directly on the mole or while covered with a cloth decreases the blood supply to the mole, essentially deadening the tissue. This is owing to the contraction caused in the small blood vessels that supply it by the cold temperature of the ice cube applied locally and focused on one area.
   • Doing this as often as every 4 hours for 5 days is thought to cause a visible decline in the size of the mole.
   • If it doesn’t respond within 3 days, do not continue with this line of treatment.
5. Try horsehair. A long strand of hair from the tail of a horse is one of the better known "natural" cures for moles that protrude quite a bit from the skin, as well as skin tags. Horsehair is very thin but strong and when tied around the mole can completely cut off the blood supply, forcing the mole to fall off.
   • The hair must be wrapped around the stalk or the base as tightly and firmly as possible. This will ensure cessation of the blood flow and by the next 72 to 96 hours the mole will fall off.
   • The thread must not be removed even during a bath.

Warnings

• Know the danger signs of a cancerous mole. Before you go about removing your mole, it's best to know if it's a sign of a larger problem. Most moles are benign and do not have any medical significance; however, a mole can become cancerous. If you notice any of the following, contact a physician immediately.
  • If your mole itches
  • If your mole bleeds
  • If your mole has irregular margins or has changed in shape and size
  • If your mole hurts or contains pus
• Familiarize yourself with the appearance of a normal versus abnormal mole. The National Institute of Health has a handy visual guide that can be found here: http://www.cancer.gov/types/skin/moles-fact-sheet
• Stop any home treatment that causes irritation, redness, swelling, or discomfort. Many home remedies, such as apple cider vinegar, have been known to cause chemical burns. A doctor or dermatologist can help you determine the best way to remove your reduce the appearance of your moles.
• While a doctor may excise or shave a mole, you should NEVER attempt to surgically remove a mole at home. Doing so can cause scarring, severe infection, and if the mole is cancerous, can cause the cancer to spread.
• It is not recommended that you attempt to remove a mole on your face or other prominent location on your body. These delicate areas are best left to professional treatment.

Sources and Citations

See also

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• Heal Eczema Fast
• Prepare for a Biopsy
• Quickly Heal Open Sores on Your Face
• Avoid Getting Chicken Pox While Helping an Infected Person
• Prevent Chickenpox
• Remove Moles Without Surgery
• Treat a Yeast Infection
• Treat Keratosis Pilaris
• Get Rid of Keloids

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