Self-help Techniques for Mole Removal: Helpful or Harmful?

Meet a Dermatologist, Find the Best Solution

Count to 40!

A mole on the inside of your palm, located exactly on a spot above your hips and below your chest on the back or a small spot near the corner of your lips are sought-after spots for a mole! They are considered to be your lucky charms in fact. We are all born with moles in different places of our body but there are also chances of developing new moles as we cross adolescence.
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A Blind Spot
Moles are small, colored spots on the skin that are a cluster of skin cells appearing anywhere in the body. They are harmless and better to be ignored unless they change in size, color or shape which may be indications of skin cancer. A-Z information on skin cancer is available at www.firsteatright.com right from the symptoms to the treatment available. Some moles appear in places that are not prominent but a few of them might stare at you from the face, hands or even eyes. Its 100% unnecessary to remove a mole unless it bothers you, irritates your skin by rubbing against your clothes, interrupts your smooth shaving process or seems to upset your physical appearance.

Most people have anywhere between 10 and 40 moles in the body. The best way to get a mole removed is surgically but individuals hesitate to get this done owing to unnecessary healthcare costs and try home remedies. On any given day, it is better to meet a dermatologist and get his/her approval before removing the mole at home. Given below are the common remedies practiced by individuals and surprisingly, none of them have been proven to be effective through population studies or research:

1. Lemon juice has a bleaching property and using it several times a day can help to make it seem less obvious. Potatoes too have been favored to possess the same effect as lemon and are used in lightening a mole
2. Using a portion of iodine for several weeks can cause a mole to flake off. It might have a burning effect on the skin hence, it is always advisable to apply petroleum jelly around the area to protect the skin and avoid using it on skin that is broken
3. Garlic is a famous home remedy for removing/diminishing a mole as it contains enzymes that might dissolve the cell cluster causing mole formation. Garlic too might cause skin burn and one must be always cautious while using it
4. A mixture of castor oil and baking soda is treated as an ointment that has the power to remove any mole when applied for several weeks together. Many people rely on this treatment as they believe that the baking soda dries out the mole and the castor oil help to protect the skin
5. Hydrogen peroxide is equipped with the property to remove moles when applied thrice or four times a day. It is always better to check with a pharmacist on the type of hydrogen peroxide suitable for mole removal
6. Flaxseed oils promote the healing of cuts and wounds and there are studies proving it. Hence, people have started using it to clear away dark spots or other blemishes on the skin
7. Burning the mole off with apple cider vinegar is practiced but it remains unproved
8. Pharmacies sell mole-removing creams that promise to remove any mole within a day after applying the cream. People use these creams but again their results are not proven
   
   

More Harmful than Helpful
While all of the above methods seem to be simple and followable there are no proofs backing their effects. Even the creams that are available at drugstores are proved to have dangerous side effects on the skin as they cause thick scars to form in the area of the mole. Some individuals become over-conscious and try removing the mole with a scissors or razor for immediate effect. Sadly, this increases the chances of an infection or a permanent scar in place of the mole.

Removing a mole might nullify your chances of becoming aware if the mole is cancerous or not. Failing to test the mole for cancer can lead to spreading of the disease throughout the body which can result in life-threatening effects. The best way is to consult a dermatologist and go with either of the two proven ways that have been promoted for mole removal:

Surgical excision: The area surrounding the mole is numbed, the physician uses a sharp device to cut out the mole and some skin surrounding it. Finally, the doctor stiches/sutures the wound

Surgical shave: The area surrounding the mole is numbed and a blade is used to shave off the mole. There is no requirement for stiches or sutures here

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