Mole Removal - Remedies That Actually Work
Having a mole can be a disheartening situation.
Trying to remove it can be downright frustrating.
There seem to be endless options and each one comes with a fan base and those that claim ineffectiveness.
The following is a simple breakdown of the most commonly used removal techniques.
You will only find remedies that have, at least, been proven to work for some.
The good news is: there are very simple, practically free, natural, do-it-yourself options that have been proven over decades.
Choosing the right option for your situation will depend on your budget, size and location of mole, comfort level with doctors, allergies (if any) and time.
Most Importantly...
Your health is the most important consideration when dealing with any growth.
The cells in a mole can become malignant melanomas.
It is extremely important that you seek medical advice if a mole is showing signs of this change.
Many medical professionals suggest using the ABCD rule to determine if your mole needs attention:
As the name would indicate, a low intensity laser light is directed into the mole until the pigmented cells disperse.
It can only travel so far into the skin so this treatment is only used for small, flat moles.
The pain involved is quite minimal and the risks are no higher than that of any other medical procedure.
Anesthetic is involved so be sure that you do not have any allergies and discuss any medications you are taking thoroughly with your doctor.
The healing time following this procedure is usually about 2 to 3 weeks.
This process does tend to be the most expensive due to its specialized nature and the number of treatments that may be necessary.
Largest advantage? Very little incidence of scarring.
Shave removal is an option many doctors will choose for a raised mole.
After applying a local anesthetic he/she will "shave" down the mole with a scalpel until it is level with the surrounding skin.
A cauder will then be used to seal the top layer of skin with intense heat.
The healing process from this procedure can be more painful than laser therapy but is usually easily manageable with common pain relievers.
Risks are similar and cost varies depending on your choice of doctor.
Many plastic surgeons have a lot of experience with this type of procedure but do tend to be a bit more expensive.
Scarring is possible and you should talk with your doctor thoroughly about what type of scar, if any, he expects.
If you want to get rid of something you completely cut it out, right? Well, that is the thinking behind surgical excision.
The area around the mole will be numbed and your doctor will use a scalpel to remove the mole and a border of skin surrounding it.
He will then either place stitches across the top of the skin or absorbable sutures within the wound.
This is, as it probably sounds, pretty effective.
Biggest downside? Scarring.
Many people go into this procedure hoping to remove a blemish and come out with a scar.
Talk to your doctor candidly before agreeing to this procedure.
For those of us less likely to solicit a doctor's help unless absolutely necessary, over-the-counter medications can be a good choice.
Much less expensive and time consuming than surgery; this is a proven and effective method.
Most of these remedies come in a cream form.
Some are applied daily but most are applied one time for approximately 15 to 20 minutes before being cleansed.
This starts the removal process and many people see results in 2 to 3 weeks.
This is a convenient method.
Caution should be taken, however.
Remember that you are dealing with an extremely potent chemical.
Too little of the cream applied may not be effective but too much can cause damage to the surrounding skin.
Be sure that only the mole itself is covered.
For the do-it-yourselfer, natural or home remedies are an unparalleled, solid choice.
They can be done in the privacy of your own home, often costing absolutely nothing as you will already have the ingredients in your home and are a more natural, less invasive way to remove your mole.
The great thing: these are proven remedies.
People have been using home remedies for decades and you can easily find first-hand accounts of success for any remedy that actually works.
These remedies can range from pineapple to aloe vera and are often quite simple.
This is an area where care should be taken.
Do a little research.
Any good remedy will have scores of positive feedback and even some before and after pictures.
Trying to remove it can be downright frustrating.
There seem to be endless options and each one comes with a fan base and those that claim ineffectiveness.
The following is a simple breakdown of the most commonly used removal techniques.
You will only find remedies that have, at least, been proven to work for some.
The good news is: there are very simple, practically free, natural, do-it-yourself options that have been proven over decades.
Choosing the right option for your situation will depend on your budget, size and location of mole, comfort level with doctors, allergies (if any) and time.
Most Importantly...
Your health is the most important consideration when dealing with any growth.
The cells in a mole can become malignant melanomas.
It is extremely important that you seek medical advice if a mole is showing signs of this change.
Many medical professionals suggest using the ABCD rule to determine if your mole needs attention:
- A is for Asymmetry: You can easily spot a benign melanoma by its symmetrical shape: each side will match the other if split down the middle.
An asymmetrical mole may indicate a problem. - B is for Border: The border around benign melanomas will be smooth and even.
Malignant melanomas may have uneven, scalloped or notched borders. - C is for Color: Benign melanomas are normally the same shade all over while malignant melanomas may show a variety of shades and colors.
They often change from brown all over (normal) to several shades of brown, tan and black.
As the condition worsens they may show some white, red, or even blue. - D is for diameter: Malignant melanomas tend to grow much larger than the benign ones.
A good rule of thumb is to consult a physician if you see any rapid growth or if your mole is larger than a pencil eraser.
As the name would indicate, a low intensity laser light is directed into the mole until the pigmented cells disperse.
It can only travel so far into the skin so this treatment is only used for small, flat moles.
The pain involved is quite minimal and the risks are no higher than that of any other medical procedure.
Anesthetic is involved so be sure that you do not have any allergies and discuss any medications you are taking thoroughly with your doctor.
The healing time following this procedure is usually about 2 to 3 weeks.
This process does tend to be the most expensive due to its specialized nature and the number of treatments that may be necessary.
Largest advantage? Very little incidence of scarring.
Shave removal is an option many doctors will choose for a raised mole.
After applying a local anesthetic he/she will "shave" down the mole with a scalpel until it is level with the surrounding skin.
A cauder will then be used to seal the top layer of skin with intense heat.
The healing process from this procedure can be more painful than laser therapy but is usually easily manageable with common pain relievers.
Risks are similar and cost varies depending on your choice of doctor.
Many plastic surgeons have a lot of experience with this type of procedure but do tend to be a bit more expensive.
Scarring is possible and you should talk with your doctor thoroughly about what type of scar, if any, he expects.
If you want to get rid of something you completely cut it out, right? Well, that is the thinking behind surgical excision.
The area around the mole will be numbed and your doctor will use a scalpel to remove the mole and a border of skin surrounding it.
He will then either place stitches across the top of the skin or absorbable sutures within the wound.
This is, as it probably sounds, pretty effective.
Biggest downside? Scarring.
Many people go into this procedure hoping to remove a blemish and come out with a scar.
Talk to your doctor candidly before agreeing to this procedure.
For those of us less likely to solicit a doctor's help unless absolutely necessary, over-the-counter medications can be a good choice.
Much less expensive and time consuming than surgery; this is a proven and effective method.
Most of these remedies come in a cream form.
Some are applied daily but most are applied one time for approximately 15 to 20 minutes before being cleansed.
This starts the removal process and many people see results in 2 to 3 weeks.
This is a convenient method.
Caution should be taken, however.
Remember that you are dealing with an extremely potent chemical.
Too little of the cream applied may not be effective but too much can cause damage to the surrounding skin.
Be sure that only the mole itself is covered.
For the do-it-yourselfer, natural or home remedies are an unparalleled, solid choice.
They can be done in the privacy of your own home, often costing absolutely nothing as you will already have the ingredients in your home and are a more natural, less invasive way to remove your mole.
The great thing: these are proven remedies.
People have been using home remedies for decades and you can easily find first-hand accounts of success for any remedy that actually works.
These remedies can range from pineapple to aloe vera and are often quite simple.
This is an area where care should be taken.
Do a little research.
Any good remedy will have scores of positive feedback and even some before and after pictures.
