Options to Get Rid of Skin Moles
Medically reviewed by Brendan Camp, MD
Getting rid of moles on your face and body may be done for health or cosmetic reasons. Moles can be removed in several ways with little pain and a low risk of scarring.
No matter the reason for removing a mole, working with a dermatologist or plastic surgeon can improve your outcomes. It also ensures that your mole is reviewed for signs of skin cancer.
Mole removal treatments are typically done in a medical office or clinic. Local anesthetic is used to reduce pain. Aftercare typically involves keeping the wound site covered for the first 24 to 48 hours.
This article describes the ways to get rid of moles. It also explains why you should always consult a healthcare provider to have this done.
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How to Get Rid of Facial Moles
Based on your condition, the depth of the mole, and your risk of scarring, facial moles are removed using one of the following techniques:
Shave excision: Shave excision is used for moles that rise above your skin. A small blade is used to remove the outermost layers of your skin. Stitches usually aren't needed. Bleeding is stopped with cautery (a current of heat) to seal the blood vessels or treatment with a special ointment.
Scissor excision: Scissor excision removes skin lesions that sit above your skin. The mole is grabbed with small forceps and pulled up so small curved scissors can cut around and under the mole. A curette (a scraping tool) removes any remaining sections. Bleeding is stopped with cautery or a special ointment.
Punch excision: A punch excision uses a tiny, round tool, similar to a cookie cutter. The tool makes a rounded puncture to remove an area deeper than a shave biopsy. Stitches are typically used to close the area.
Cryotherapy: Cryotherapy treats moles on the surface of your skin. This technique involves spraying or swabbing liquid nitrogen on the mole. The liquid nitrogen freezes the mole off, often leaving a blister. It can cause scarring and/or discoloration.
Excisional and incisional removal: An excisional or incisional removal using a surgical knife is used for a mole that has grown into deeper layers of tissue, An excisional removal takes the entire mole while an incisional removal only takes a portion of the mole. Stitches are used to close the site.
Mohs Surgery
If you have skin cancer on your face, you may benefit from Mohs surgery. This precise technique treats skin cancer in sensitive areas like your face. It removes only the skin with the cancer cells and keeps as much healthy skin as possible.
During this precise surgery, the visible skin cancer and a thin layer of the surrounding skin are removed. The removed skin is examined under a microscope for cancer cells. The process of removing a thin layer of skin and examining it under a microscope continues until there is no trace of cancer cells.
What Is a Mole?
A mole, or nevus, is a common type of skin spot that is often a different color from the surrounding area. It is made of clusters of melanocytes, the pigment-producing cells responsible for skin color. A mole can be present at birth or develop later in life.
A mole can be a birthmark (a skin marking present at birth), though not all birthmarks appear as moles. Birthmarks can also include cafe-au-lait spots (flat, pigmented spots) and Mongolian spots (bluish or bruised-looking spots).
A beauty mark often refers to a mole or birthmark that is considered attractive.
Mole Removal on Other Body Parts
Mole removal on other parts of your body typically can involve the same techniques as those used on your face, which include the following:
Shave excision
Scissor excision
Punch excision
Cryotherapy
Excisional and incisional removal
Moles on your trunk and other areas where a scar isn't easily seen can also be removed by a procedure called curettage and electrodesiccation. This involves scraping out the mole followed by treatment with electrodesiccation, a high-frequency electrical current).
These medical procedures are the safest ways to have any mole removed. Having one of these treatments performed by a dermatologist or plastic surgeon generally ensures the following:
Complete removal of the mole to reduce the chance of recurrence
Lowest risk of scarring or infection
Insurance coverage for moles removed for medical reasons
Examination of the mole for signs of skin cancer
Having your mole checked for signs of skin cancer can help identify this serious disease at its earliest stages,,,,,,, when it is most curable. Moles that are shaved or excised are sent to a laboratory for microscopic evaluation by a pathologist.
Dangers of Home Remedies to Remove Moles
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns that there are no FDA-approved prescription or over-the-counter drugs for treating moles or skin tags. Using these products or purported home remedies can result in an infection requiring antibiotic treatment, scarring, and delayed diagnosis of skin cancer.
See a healthcare provider to assess and possibly remove a mole that is concerning you to ensure the best outcome.
When Don't You Need to Remove a Mole?
Most moles are benign (noncancerous) and do not have to be removed. A mole that does not bleed or change in size, shape, or color has a lower risk of being malignant. If a mole shows no signs of skin cancer or does not bother you, it is likely harmless to leave it in place.
However, moles that remain in place should not be ignored. An annual skin exam with a dermatologist can help identify moles that require monitoring or testing for skin cancer. Between skin exams, keep track of changes in any existing moles or the appearance of new ones.
Not all signs of skin cancer look the same on everyone. Notify your healthcare provider if you find any of the ABCDE warning signs of skin cancer:
Asymmetrical: An irregular shape that has two different sides when a line is drawn down the center
Border: An irregular or jagged border
Color: An irregular color
Diameter: A mole or spot larger than the size of a pea or about 6 millimeters (mm) or one-fourth of an inch
Evolving: An evolving (changing) mole or spot over a few weeks or months
Learn More: How Can You Tell If It's a Mole or Skin Cancer?
How to Remove Hair in Moles
A hairy mole occurs when a mole contains hair follicles and the hair pushes through the darker pigmentation. The presence of hair on a mole does not always indicate the health of the mole since the hair is growing from the hair follicle, not your mole.
Hairy moles are often regarded as unsightly. If you choose to leave your mole in place, you can safely use most types of hair removal treatments.
While the FDA advises that you avoid waxing skin with moles, you can use other ways to remove hair in moles without harming the mole:
Tweezing
Trimming with a nose or ear hair trimmer
Shaving for flat moles flush against your skin
Chemical hair removal products
While these products can safely remove hair from a mole, some treatments may irritate the surrounding skin, which can be more sensitive. The result could cause discomfort or scabbing, making the mole harder to examine for signs of skin cancer.
Learn More: When Should You Get Rid of a Mole?
Summary
While most moles do not have to be removed, there are several reasons to do so. You may want to be rid of moles that rub against your clothing, bleed, or look unsightly. Moles that have signs of skin cancer should also be taken off and examined by a healthcare provider.
A dermatologist or plastic surgeon can help you determine whether getting rid of a mole is advised. They can also provide the treatment needed to remove a mole with the lowest risks of problems and scarring.
Read the original article on Verywell Health.
