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04
Feb
2013

What You Need to Know About DIY Mole Removal

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

As a doctor who in l for aesthetic reasons I see many patients who have been by home and removal .

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

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

I can understand why patients are keen to get rid of their bothersome ; whether it is for (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 available, enabling people to any topic under the sun.

Unfortunately, that information is not always ...

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

1. "Tying" a Mole Off

The method is to restrict 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 . Where cotton thread is used, this can become wedged into the skin without finishing the job a much bigger scar after removal.

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

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

2. Creams, Lotions and Solutions

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

Again, approach these with extreme caution. These products are on a basis (or the same) as Wart and removal [theaestheticbox.co.uk]. The mole cures often filing or scratching 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 can be quite to the mole itself.

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

3. Mole Lightening Products

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

However, those bleaching agents available over the may not meet safety . 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 .

4. "Natural" Home Mole Removal

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

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

These home remedies mimic the acid or alkali-based 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 . The most bizarre involves urine-soaked cotton wool to the mole a plaster, having first the mole so that it can penetrate.

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

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 that moles should be examined by a professional, though this is often in small print.

Case 1 – Used cream to bleach his mole that he felt was normal as it had not . This resulted in a severe skin reaction and has now left him with a thick red raised scar (keloid) that is twice the size of the mole on his chest.  He regrets he ever saw this on the as there is very little we can do to help 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 to a delay in his diagnosis and .  He now wishes he never used the internet for advice on something he now admits should only be left in the hands of experienced as the consequences can be  potentially life threatening.

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

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

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

The doctors’ experience and training are the most important factors to look for when choosing the right person to remove your mole rather than glossy or cheap as the wrong choice initially can lead to permanent disfigurement that is rarely easy to 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 cosmetic point of view just so as to get the advice to avoid or missing a skin cancer.

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

If you have more questions, you can use the , , , ,  and 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, , , , ,  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 already know, he is very much a in all of his work.

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

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All information within this site is carefully researched and for accuracy of content. Please note that for purchasers of treatments, information and guidance provided does not an with an experienced practitioner.