Most people have moles, they’re a small brown or black patch on the skin, similar to a freckle,  and they’re usually not a problem. Moles are caused by skin cells that form in clusters, called ‘melanocytes’, which produce the colour or pigment in your skin.

Usually, a mole is round or oval-shaped with a smooth edge; they can be flat or raised and feel smooth or rough. Sometimes they have extra hair growing from them.  We typically have between 10 to 40 moles on the body, but if a mole changes, it could be cancerous. 

Read on to discover more about moles and why move removal at home isn’t a good idea. 

What Is A Cancerous Mole?

A new or changing mole is the most common sign of melanoma skin cancer, a type of skin cancer that can spread to other organs in the body. A change in your mole’s shape, size, or colour could be a warning sign of cancer.  If one of your moles has changed, getting it checked out is essential to discover early signs of melanoma. 

If any of the following changes happen to your mole, it’s essential to get it checked out:

• Changes shape or looks uneven
• Changes colour gets darker or has more than 2 colours
• Starts itching, crusting, flaking or bleeding
• Gets larger or more raised from the skin

How To Remove A Mole At Home 

If you search for mole removal at home, you will find several pages that offer you mole removal tips and practices. These do it yourself methods are not proven to work, and they may even be dangerous.

Here are a few of the unproven mole removal methods that you should avoid:

• Cutting off the mole with scissors or a blade 
• Removing the mole with a specialised pen
• Burning off the mole with apple cider vinegar 
• Placing garlic onto the mole to “kill” the cells inside
• Applying iodine to break down the cells inside the mole 
• Using a mixture of ingredients to break down the mole, including baking soda, tea tree oil, frankincense oil, flaxseed oil, hydrogen peroxide, aloe vera gel and more

Cutting off a mole yourself may leave a visible, permanent scar where the mole was previously, and this can increase your risk of infection tenfold, especially if you’re not using a sanitised tool. 

Another method of at-home mole removal is mole removal creams which you can buy from pharmacies or online shops. Studies have shown that these creams not only do not work, but can cause side effects, and leave scars and pits on the skin.

If you remove the mole yourself, you won’t be able to determine if the mole is cancerous. If you don’t have a Doctor or dermatologist to test the mole that has been removed, you risk having melanoma which could spread throughout your body and cause life-threatening cancer. 

Safe Mole Removal Treatments 

The only safe mole removal treatment is to get it looked at professionally. Sk:n clinics offer a range of treatments to remove moles. If you want one removed for cosmetic reasons, the best treatment for you will depend on your mole assessment. 

• Laser removal 

If your mole is small, you can have it removed with laser treatment. Laser Mole Removal uses light energy to break down the pigment within the mole. Laser mole removal is a good option for removing a mole from the face as there is less risk of scarring.

• Shave removal 

Moles that protrude from the skin can be ‘shaved’ off under local anaesthetic (which numbs the area being treated). This is usually done using a scalpel and is relatively straightforward and painless. You may be left with a pink mark on your skin where the mole was, but this should fade over time.

• Excision removal

 Some moles may need to be cut away via an excision. This procedure is performed under local anaesthetic and requires a small stitch in the skin afterwards. A small scar will be left, which will fade over time.

If you have found a new mole that you aren’t sure is cancerous or not, you should get it checked. We know inspecting your moles can be pretty tricky, especially if the moles have developed hard to see areas like the shoulders, back, and back of your legs,so getting your moles mapped allows you to check your moles quickly and effectively to reduce your chances of life-threatening cancers. 

Key Takeaways

• A mole is a small brown or black patch on the skin, similar to a freckle. Most people have moles, and they’re usually not a problem unless they change shape, size, or colour. 
• Removing your mole at home can be incredibly dangerous and may cause severe scarring.
• Mole removal creams sound in pharmacies and online stores aren’t proven to work and can leave scarring. 
• If you remove your mole, you cannot get it checked for skin cancer and reduce your chance of a life-threatening melanoma. 
• If your mole has changed, you almost definitely need to consider having it removed or at least checked out; this could be a sign of melanoma skin cancer.
• Your mole can be removed in a few ways, including laser removal, shave removal, and excision removal. 

Find your nearest clinic and arrange a consultation with one of our dermatologists for advice on how and when to remove your mole(s).