How to remove moles without surgery

Moles are clusters of pigment-producing cells that can appear on any area of skin — singly or in clusters — as tan, brown, black, or skin-colored spots. If you have a mole you want to remove, the safest and most effective way is to consult a doctor to have it removed professionally. For benign, non-cancerous moles, this is a simple outpatient procedure that takes only a few minutes. Attempting to remove a mole yourself can lead to bleeding, infection, and scarring, in addition to the risk of undetected cancerous moles. If you really don’t want surgery, try lightening your moles with unproven home remedies.

Table of Contents

Safe removal of moles

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Go see a dermatologist. The decision to safely remove a mole will not leave you with regrets. It’s extremely important to see a doctor to have a mole checked rather than removed at home, even if you’re doing it for cosmetic reasons. Your doctor will determine whether your mole is potentially cancerous. If so, professional mole removal will be the only safe way, as other methods will not be able to deal with the cancerous cells.

If you don’t know a dermatologist, you can ask your family doctor for a referral.
If you don’t have health insurance, go to a health facility in your area that offers mole removal or get a referral.
Remember that some doctors can perform mole removal in the clinic.

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Determine if a biopsy is needed. During your visit, your doctor will examine the mole’s shape, size, color, contour, and surface texture to determine if there’s a chance it’s a cancerous mole. ^{[1] X Trusted Source American Academy of Family Physicians Go to Source} If your mole has common symptoms of melanoma or another form of skin cancer, your doctor will order a biopsy to find cancer cells. If not, the doctor will proceed to remove the mole. Often a mole will be sampled for analysis, even if it does not appear to be cancerous.

If a biopsy is needed, they will take a sample of the mole by scraping or aspiration. The sample will be sent to a laboratory for analysis.
If the result is positive, you will need further treatment. If the result is negative, you can choose to leave the mole or have it removed.

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Consider a mole removal method. This is a procedure to remove moles from the surface of the skin. You will be given a local anesthetic to numb the skin around the mole so that you won’t feel any pain during the procedure (just a slight stinging sensation). The shaving procedure does not require stitches but can leave a small scar. ^{[2] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

In some cases, the skin with the mole will be burned with a specialized device, which removes layers of skin to reduce the risk of the mole growing back.
This method is usually applied to moles that are not cancerous and are relatively small. Large moles are difficult to remove and burn.

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Surgical removal of the mole if necessary. Larger or cancerous moles usually require surgical removal. After local anesthesia, the dermatologist will make a deep incision to remove the mole and surrounding tissue, preventing the mole from growing back. The wound is then sutured with microscopic sutures. ^{[3] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

It sounds like a big deal, but mole removal is really just a quick outpatient medical procedure. This procedure usually takes 20-30 minutes, depending on the size of the mole.
Because only local anesthesia is given, you can still drive yourself home and go about your normal activities.
Be sure to care for the wound as directed. You may need to return to the clinic to have your sutures removed.
Remember that the cut in this procedure is very small. If there is hair growth on the mole, the doctor will cut off the base of the hair.

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Consider cryotherapy. Cryotherapy is also a popular method for mole removal. This procedure freezes the mole by dotting with liquid nitrogen. This is a common therapy, with few adverse reactions, and if present, it is usually short-lived. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

A general practitioner or a dermatologist can perform cryotherapy in the clinic. Some clinics also have trained nurses to perform this procedure.
Note that, in cryotherapy, the tissues will not be sent for testing because they will be frozen and removed.

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Consider laser mole removal. Some dermatologists also perform laser mole removal. Ask your doctor if this method is right for you.

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Ask about electrosurgery. This is another option for mole removal that you can discuss with your doctor. This method can control bleeding if any, thereby reducing the risk of complications, helping wounds heal faster and minimizing scarring. ^{[5] X Trusted Source American Academy of Family Physicians Go to Source}

Know what to avoid

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Avoid using mole removal creams. These creams are often sold online, advertised as a non-invasive and low-cost alternative to surgery. The reality is that mole removal creams can leave scars deep in the skin. This condition is caused by the cream seeping through the mole, penetrating deep into the underlying skin and causing irreparable damage. In comparison, the scar from the mole removal surgery is much smaller. ^{[6] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to Source}

In addition, mole removal cream cannot help you identify cancerous moles. It is very dangerous if you apply cream on a cancerous mole; Cancer cells can persist and eventually grow out of control without you even knowing it.
Do not use any other cream or product without consulting your doctor first.

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Do not ignore moles that show signs of change. If you don’t like mole removal surgery, maybe you should just leave it alone and forget about it. This is usually fine, unless you notice a change in the appearance of the mole. The change of the mole is a sign of the presence of cancer cells, so you need to see a doctor to have the mole checked. You can rely on the ABCDE guide below to look at moles. If you notice the following signs, make an appointment with your doctor to see them: ^{[7] X Trusted Source American Cancer Society Go to source}

A represents asymmetrical shape. If the mole has two completely different halves, it could be a sign of cancer.
B represents border. Notice the moles have irregular borders instead of smooth.
C represents cpor (color). Moles that vary in color and have more than one color or tint should be examined closely.
D represents diameter. If the mole is larger than 0.6 cm and continues to grow, see your doctor.
E stands for evpving (variable). Watch for mole changes that occur within a few weeks or months.

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Protects skin from UV rays to prevent new moles from forming. New moles can appear when the skin is exposed to the sun’s rays. This also makes old moles more likely to change and develop into cancer. You need to pay attention to protect your skin from UV rays to prevent new moles and maintain the normal condition of existing moles.

Use sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, even in winter. You should also choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB rays and is water-resistant. ^{[8] X Trusted Source American Academy of Dermatpogy Go to Source}
Try to cover the mole with a hat or clothing.
Avoid using tanning beds. ^{[9] X Trusted Source US Food and Drug Administration Go to source}

Use unproven home remedies

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Note that there is no medical evidence to support the effectiveness of home remedies. Most home remedies are based on folk experience, that is, according to the stories of people who have tried and succeeded. However, treating moles at home can be unsafe and high-risk. The mole that you want to remove may be cancerous and require medical treatment. You should talk to your doctor before trying home remedies.

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Apply aloe. Aloe vera is commonly used to treat a number of skin problems, such as cold sores, psoriasis, burns, and frostbite. ^{[10] X Research Source} You can try using aloe vera daily to see if it helps with mole removal. Apply aloe vera to the mole, cover it with a clean gauze and let it sit for 3 hours. Repeat daily for 3 weeks to remove moles.

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Try apple cider vinegar. Although there are no scientific studies to confirm that this therapy works, some people find apple cider vinegar to be able to fade moles. Proceed as follows:

Put a few drops of apple cider vinegar on a cotton ball.
Place a cotton ball on the mole and cover it.
Leave the bandage on for 1 hour.
Do this treatment daily until the mole disappears. Discontinue use if skin irritation occurs.

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Use garlic. Garlic has many medicinal uses, and some people claim that garlic can remove moles. If you want to try this remedy, you need to use fresh garlic, not dried garlic. Here’s how to do it:

Cut a clove of garlic in half.
Apply half a garlic clove to the mole, cover and leave overnight.
Repeat this therapy for several days. Discontinue use if skin irritation occurs.

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Use banana peels. Some people say that applying banana peels can help remove moles. At the very least, banana peels have moisturizing effects on the skin.

Peel a banana.
Apply the banana peel on the mole for 1 hour.
Repeat daily until the mole disappears. Discontinue application if skin becomes irritated.

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Try baking soda and castor oil. Add a few drops of castor oil to a pinch of baking soda to moisten. Dab this mixture on the mole and leave it overnight. Check after a few days if the mole is still there. Discontinue use if skin becomes irritated.

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Use tea tree oil. Tea tree oil can be used to treat a number of skin conditions such as acne, skin fungus and insect bites, so you can try using it to get rid of moles if you want. ^{[11] X Research Source} Use a cotton swab to apply tea tree oil to the mole twice a day. At night, you can also soak a cotton ball with tea tree oil and use a bandage to stick it on the mole. Repeat for a month or until the mole disappears. However, you should be aware that tea tree oil can burn the skin if applied daily. Discontinue use if signs of irritation appear.

Advice

You can use small scissors to cut the hairs that grow on the mole.
If you use garlic to remove a mole, you should apply a little Vaseline cream or grease around the mole to prevent garlic from irritating the skin.
Moles are also sometimes charming! Try to get to know your mole and love it! There’s no reason to remove a mole unless you’re concerned it’s cancerous.
Note that some people are more likely to grow moles than others. Some moles look familiar to the eye, others are really annoying. For example, if you have a mole on your face with ingrown hairs, it will get worse and worse, and you will probably want to consult a doctor to remove it.
Make an appointment to see your doctor to check if the mole starts to grow in size, itches, or bleeds.

Warning

Do not use vinegar or other acids to remove moles on your own. This can lead to chemical burns and permanent skin damage. ^{[12] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to source} You should see your doctor for help.
Do not pick or scratch the mole. A mole can bleed, and if it does come off, it will also leave a scar and there’s no guarantee the mole won’t grow back. Moreover, that area of skin will become irritated and lead to the formation of new moles.
Never try to get rid of a mole by cutting at home. Deep moles will require stitches to close the wound, so medical treatment is necessary.

Steps

Safe removal of moles

Know what to avoid

Use unproven home remedies

Advice

Warning

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