what-you-need-to-know-about-diy-mole-removal

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04
Feb
2013

What You Need to Know About DIY Mole Removal

Dr Ross Perry is the founder and Medical Director of Cosmedics Skin Clinics providing a range of aesthetic and medical skin treatments for private patients.

As a doctor who specializes in l for aesthetic I see many patients who have been tempted by home remedies and do-it-yourself removal solutions.

The temptation is quite obvious as the so-called ‘treatments’ are not only portrayed as quick, simple, and easy but are also invariably free or cheap.

Some patients of mine are often embarrassed to mention they have tried home treatments and other DIY cures with results ranging from ineffective to those that are extremely dangerous and in some cases left with severe .

I can understand why patients are keen to get rid of their bothersome ; whether it is for cosmetic reasons (not liking the look of them), practical reasons (e.g. where they catch on clothes), or simply peace of mind where the is causing any concern.

The great benefit of the internet is the vast amount of information available, enabling people to research any topic under the sun.

Unfortunately, that information is not always correct…

A quick Google search on DIY mole removal reveals some staggering suggestions.

1. “Tying” a Mole Off

The method is to the blood flow to a by tying it very tightly around the base with thread or dental floss. The idea is that the mole will fill with blood, dry up and then fall off.

This concept should be approached with caution.

While it actually can work for skin tags, there are still risks around the of infection. Where cotton thread is used, this can become wedged into the skin finishing the job leaving a much bigger scar after surgical removal.

Moreover, when it comes to moles professional or surgical removal is the best option for complete removal and this process should always include mole testing.

Tackling moles at home, no matter how harmless they may appear, misses this vital precautionary step which can highlight any abnormal or malignant cells. This point throughout all DIY mole removal methods and myths and is the number one reason why home mole removal should be left alone.

2. Creams, Lotions and Solutions

The internet also has a plethora of ready-made mole removal products which claim to lead to mole removal.

Again, these with extreme caution. These products are on a similar basis (or sometimes the same) as wart and verruca removal (https://adriascience.com/). The mole removal cures often suggest filing or the top of the mole to ensure the acid is able to penetrate. However, true moles are very different in nature.

is quite sensitive and this can be painful and some patients have been left with scarring. In addition, the scratching process can be quite harmful to the mole itself.

Again, this approach completely misses the vital mole – patients could be missing the first signs of skin cancer.

3. Mole Lightening Products

Essentially acid or alkali based bleaching agents, mole lightening products are creams and potions that seek to remove the pigment from moles so that they are still there but much less visually.

However, those bleaching agents available over the internet may not meet British safety standards. If they are too strong they could burn the skin and cause lasting damage.

Once again, the point applies that home removal does not include mole testing.

4. “Natural” Home Mole Removal

The principle here is again external but based on common household foods.

Some of these “cures” are to fade the colour of the mole; others claim to remove it altogether.

These home remedies mimic the acid or alkali-based products available over the internet by causing a chemical burn to the skin in order to remove the colouration and or mole itself.

Suggestions include rubbing the mole several times a day with lemon juice, apple juice, apple cider vinegar, cauliflower juice, pineapple juice, castor oil or honey.

Other ideas are strapping a slice of onion or garlic over the mole underneath a sticking . The most bizarre involves strapping urine-soaked cotton wool to the mole beneath a plaster, having first scratched the mole so that it can penetrate.

This area seems increasingly . At best, the patient risks wasting time and facing the embarrassment and ridicule of their friends and family. However, they also risk irritation, infection and scarring.

At worst, as with all home cures, the risk of NOT having proper mole testing is the greatest of all. Some of the websites do mention that suspicious moles should be examined by a professional, though this is often in small print.

Patient Case 1 – Used cream to bleach his mole that he felt was normal as it had not changed. This resulted in a severe skin and has now left him with a thick horrible red raised scar (keloid) that is twice the size of the mole on his chest. He regrets he ever saw this on the internet as there is very little we can do to help improve his scar.

Patient Case 2 – Thirty year old man who had a melanoma skin cancer diagnosed on a mole he tried to bleach which may or may not have contributed to a delay in his diagnosis and treatment. He now wishes he never used the internet for advice on something he now admits should only be left in the hands of experienced doctors as the consequences can be potentially life threatening.

Mole surgery and laser mole removal are effective safe procedures to do with modern techniques and equipment. All procedures will leave a small scar but this is in most cases far more cosmetically acceptable than the original mole.

Even for harmless moles being removed for cosmetic reasons, I would caution patients not to risk DIY home removal solutions however tempting they may appear to be.

Good practitioners will always send even the most apparently innocent-looking mole away for testing to rule out any possibility of cancerous cells as skin cancer caught early has the best chances for the patient.

The doctors’ experience and training are the most factors to look for when choosing the right person to remove your mole rather than glossy machines or cheap pricing as the wrong choice initially can lead to permanent that is rarely easy to correct even with modern lasers and medicines.

Please see your family doctor / GP or a skin specialist regarding any existing or new moles that are changing in size shape and or colour (getting darker in particular) or even if you have concerns from a point of view just so as to get the advice to avoid potential scarring or missing a skin cancer.

If you want to read more, the at Consulting Room really know what they’re talking about and have put some , , , , and mole FAQs just for you.

If you have more questions, you can use the , , , , and question feature to talk to our panel of trained medical experts.

If you’re keen to get started with mole treatment right away then you’re in luck – those clever folks also have a list of trusted, accredited , , , , and in your area.

Many thanks to the author of this blog Dr Ross Perry who Established Cosmedics Skin in 2003 in the City of London.

As most of his patients already know, he is very much a perfectionist in all aspects of his work.

Ross’s private work consists of minor such as mole, wart, and skin tag removal using modern methods and techniques for minimal scarring.

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All information contained within this site is carefully researched and maintained for of content. Please note that for prospective purchasers of aesthetic treatments, information and guidance provided does not substitute an in-depth consultation with an experienced practitioner.