Several over-the-counter devices or home treatments claim to effectively remove moles at home. But you should think twice before doing such a procedure without the supervision of an expert dermatologist. Below I explain the consequences of removing a mole by yourself.
As the world continues to battle the spread of COVID-19 some states and cities are beginning to reopen while others are still limiting mobility, clinic openings or in-person medical appointments. Regardless of where your community is in the reopening process, you have likely participated in a "home" version of something you would not normally do. For example, home workouts, becoming a baking expert and mastering virtual meetings to perfection.
While these lifestyle changes can even be fun and see how expectations don't always match reality, most of them won't cause you harm (even those bad self-made haircuts!).
However, some things are best left to professionals, including the diagnosis and treatment of skin lesions. The consequences of removing a mole without the supervision of an expert can be very important. Recently, in an article I explained the correct way to remove moles by a dermatologist.
Devices or grandmother's tricks to remove moles at home
Home mole removal devices can be a tempting purchase for people trying to take care of skin problems on their own. But these products that promise to burn, freeze or even use lasers to remove moles or skin blemishes can have potentially harmful side effects and unintended consequences. Together with dermatologists who specialize in skin cancer, we believe that it is simply not worth the risk.
"This is not like getting a haircut. There are very serious risks associated with trying to remove a mole yourself."
There are very serious consequences associated with trying to remove a mole yourself, either with a tool called a plasma pen or something found around the house. I have had people tell me that they have tried to remove moles with everything from duct tape to kitchen scissors.
What are the risks and consequences of removing moles at home?
The problems are diverse and you need to think twice before venturing into a dermatological procedure at home. As I have mentioned before, the differential diagnosis of a wart or mole can be very broad and the treatment of each is different. Below I will detail the main risks when trying to remove a mole by yourself.
1- We will not know the diagnosis of the injury
"You might cut off a mole you don't like, thinking you're saving money by not going to the doctor, but you might actually be cutting off a melanoma."
Melanoma is a very dangerous form of skin cancer. which can spread rapidly to other organs if not detected at an early stage. If you unknowingly cut a melanoma yourself, some melanoma cells can remain deep in the skin and then spread through the blood to other parts of the body, all without your knowledge. A dermatologist would normally perform a biopsy on the tissue to be certain of any diagnosis. Under normal conditions, when we detect a malignant mole, the patient is operated on again to remove any remaining cancer cells and ensure that the cancer has not spread.
Wound infections
Another risk of removing a mole at home is that infections are much more frequent. It is unlikely that people who remove moles at home will have the same aseptic tools, skin preparation and postoperative care that a dermatologist would give you. An infection will delay healing at the site and will increase the chances of possibilities of abnormal scarring or keloids.
3. Unexpected aesthetic results
The risk of scarring after an at-home procedure is high compared to when a lesion is removed by a dermatologist. This could result in scarring such as chickenpox, atrophic (sunken) or hypertrophic (raised) scars and or even keloid formation.
In addition, when trying to remove a mole at home without a proper technique, it is very likely that you will only make an ineffective partial excision of the same. With home methods it is practically impossible to remove a lesion in its entirety and there will always be remnants of the lesion. This leaves part of the mole in the deeper layers of the skin, and therefore you will not get the aesthetic appearance you want. Also, the fact that the mole has been previously manipulated can cause problems in the future if you ever want it to be removed properly.
4. Difficulty in the future to make a good diagnosis.
Manipulating or partially removing a mole with a home device can also cause changes in the cells that make them appear malignant under a microscope, even when they are not (this is called pseudomelanoma). The abnormal appearance of these cells could lead a pathologist to misdiagnose a benign mole as melanoma, which means you could undergo treatment for melanoma that you never would have needed.
So, how can I remove moles that worry me or that I don't like?
Even though these are complicated times because of COVID-19 and there are many DIY ("Do it yourself") tutorials for things you never thought you could do on your own at home, I would never recommend removing a mole or skin blemish on your own.
I recently wrote an article where you can see the importance of making a correct diagnosis and choosing the best technique to remove a mole.
39 Responses
Hello, today I noticed that my mole grew. I mean, the size was larger, but it's not one of those moles that you can feel, it's a normal one, but it grew and darkened, and I don't know what to do. I don't like how it looks bigger on me. What do I do to make it smaller or lighten its color?
Hello Candela. First, it's important that we examine any mole with changes to rule out the possibility of it being a bad mole. Therefore, my recommendation in your case is without a doubt to consult a dermatologist.
Hello, just today my brother removed a mole on the side of his nose because the area was itchy. He scratched it and removed the mole. He's just a child, he's 7 years old, and I'm scared something might happen to him in the future. Do you think there's any solution?
Hello, the best solution is to schedule a visit with a dermatologist to assess it and see if anything further is required. Most likely, everything is fine.
Hello, I had a wart on my neck since I was little. It was light-colored, never grew or changed color, and didn't bother me. But yesterday my dog gave me a hug, and she scratched it off with one of her claws. I washed the area, disinfected it, and have been cleaning it, but I'm worried something bad might happen. What should I do?
Hello Monica, traumatizing a mole does not increase the risk of malignancy. However, once it has healed and without rush, I always recommend a visit to the dermatologist to have it checked.
Best regards
Hello, I removed a mole at home and it looks like a scar. What can I do to eliminate the scar?
Dear Juan Manuel, The most important thing now is for you to visit a dermatologist so they can make a proper diagnosis of what «remains.» It could be a scar, but other benign and malignant lesions also need to be ruled out before recommending a treatment. Best regards.
Hi, I have a lot of moles on my face. They aren't very big, but they bother me.
Hi Daniel, in one Dermatology consultation We could review them and see the possibility of them being eliminated.
Hello, I removed a small piece of dark skin from my nail matrix with nail clippers. I don't know if it was a mole or a bruise, but I'm worried about the information you're giving. I was cutting my nails and noticed it; it wasn't that big. What should I do?
Hello Josy, first of all, stay calm because it's most likely nothing serious. If the injury persists, I would recommend you go to a dermatologist for a check-up.
Hello, I'm worried. Yesterday, while scratching my beard, I think I accidentally pulled off a mole or part of it, and I've only washed that area to prevent infection. It's a little itchy.
Hi Carlo, traumatizing a mole by shaving has not been associated with an increased risk of skin cancer. However, if you constantly cut it, you might consider having it removed. Best regards.
Hello, I have a mole on my arm and yesterday I discovered it has 3 little black dots, like hair that wants to grow but isn't. Do you think it could be bad?
Hi Gema,
In your case, a dermatological visit is necessary to be able to analyze this mole with a dermatoscope; otherwise, it's impossible to know.
Hi, my friend recently had a mole removed from her neck. I was surprised by the method she used, as she tied one of her hairs to the base of her mole to cut off its circulation. She says it dries up and falls off on its own. She mentioned that her family members have it removed this way and have never had any problems. I assume removing it in that way also has complications, right?
Hi Maria,
For many decades, people have invented many methods to remove warts or moles from the body. If it's a benign lesion, you won't have major problems. However, if you're unlucky enough that it's a benign lesion and you try to remove it, you could worsen the situation and mask a skin cancer.
Best regards
I was scratching my back and a mole came off and started bleeding, and I don't know what could happen.
Dear Sofia, it's surely nothing and scratching a mole doesn't mean it will turn into something bad, not at all.
A few months ago, I cut off a mole I had in my genital area. Now I feel a lump in the same spot, and it's tender to the touch. I'm worried because my mother died of skin cancer.
Hi Ruth,
Cutting a mole does not increase the risk of developing skin cancer. However, if it bothers you, you should consult a dermatologist for a proper diagnosis and evaluation.
Best regards
I have a mole near my mouth that I really don't like. I went to the doctor with my father, lying about it itching to see if they could remove it, but the doctor just told me it wasn't malignant. I've seen many pages that say it's possible to remove a mole naturally with garlic, apple cider vinegar, or other remedies. Also, I haven't gone to a specialist to have it removed because I think my father doesn't want me to. Money doesn't matter to me; the problem is my father.
Could you tell me what to do, and if garlic or vinegar work?
Hello Sonia,
All natural remedies for mole removal are ineffective for the reasons I discussed in this blog. The ideal solution is to visit a dermatology center with professionals who can guide you.
Best regards
Hi Sonia, my problem was the same and I applied apple cider vinegar. Honestly, I started feeling an itch and a little burning, but I assumed it was part of the process. After a week, I removed it, but I'm left with something like a pimple, and it still hasn't disappeared. I don't know how to get rid of it.
Dear Zara, I wrote this blog precisely to raise awareness that home remedies and at-home treatments for mole removal are very unpredictable and can leave side effects like the ones you're describing. It's important now to see a dermatologist so they can evaluate them and see what improvement options exist.
Best regards
Doesn't anyone think about cancer? Everyone is asking for help with their moles but not saying they will go to the dermatologist to rule out cancer.
I'm worried because I cut off a blood mole and now it won't stop bleeding. I'm worried. I just read this information and I don't want it to leave a scar. What do I do?
Hi Helen, ideally, it would be best if you could see a specialist to have the scar evaluated. They will recommend care guidelines to minimize scarring. Additionally, it's important to protect the scar from sun exposure as much as possible.
Lately, I've noticed I have several little moles under my breasts, and one day I accidentally injured one, and it turned red. I'm very scared because I didn't have so many little moles before.
I plan to go to the dermatologist anyway to see why, and I pray it's nothing serious.
Dear Sole, these are most likely seborrheic keratoses, and your dermatologist will be able to treat them effectively.
Best regards
The article is quite interesting, and it's the truth, we always resort to trying to do it ourselves to save a little.
In my case, I have 3 moles near my mouth that have always been there for as long as I can remember. Two of them are proportional in size, one darker than the other. However, lately I've noticed that they've «inflated» a bit. The darker one has been like that for a long time, but the lighter one hasn't. Besides, when I look closely, I notice a somewhat central darker spot on both of them. Should I be concerned about this?
Thank you very much Caroline for your comment.
It's surely nothing important, although when you have time and are not in a hurry, you should see a dermatologist to have them checked. The normal evolution of moles on the face is for them to «swell up.» Normally, they are born flat in adolescence and become more bulging over time.
I bought the cauterizing pencil myself and I'm worried because I removed 6 moles. After a while, they turned red and didn't completely go away, and I'm a bit worried about the one on my hand because it was raised and black. I'll have to go to the dermatologist 🥺
Hi Cristina,
As you tell us, cauterizing pencils can leave marks and scars because they are not meant for mole removal. In your case, it's important that you visit a dermatologist so they can examine these marks and recommend a treatment.
Best regards
Hello, I liked your explanation. I'm having a problem right now. A pimple appeared on a mole I have on my face. When I tried to pop it, it hurt a lot, so I left it alone. The next day it became inflamed and hard, along with a scab. After a few days, when it didn't go away, I removed the scab thinking maybe it was because of the pus from the pimple, but there was nothing there. I'm worried that something might have happened to the mole. I don't have money to see a dermatologist. Is there anything I can do to make sure the mole is okay?
Hi Blue,
It's likely an inflamed mole, which is a relatively common occurrence with wart-like moles. However, if you see that your mole doesn't return to its original state, it's important to have it checked by a dermatologist to make sure everything is okay.
Hi, something happened to me. I accidentally injured a mole. It was super small, but I don't know if it could be something bad. I've had it my whole life, but I already got rid of it with a scratch. I don't know if that's bad.
It is important that you consult a dermatologist to have the mole evaluated. If the mole was benign and lifelong, the mere fact of traumatizing it does not pose a greater risk of it becoming malignant.