Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsGetting Rid of Facial MolesRemoval in Other AreasWhen Not to Remove a MoleRemoving Hair From a Mole
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Getting Rid of Facial Moles
Removal in Other Areas
When Not to Remove a Mole
Removing Hair From a Mole
Getting rid ofmoleson your face and body may be done for health or cosmetic reasons. Moles can be removed in several ways with little pain and a low risk of scarring.
No matter the reason for removing a mole, working with adermatologistor plastic surgeon can improve your outcomes. It also ensures that your mole is reviewed for signs ofskin cancer.
Mole removal treatments are typically done in a medical office or clinic. Local anesthetic is used to reduce pain. Aftercare typically involves keeping the wound site covered for the first 24 to 48 hours.
This article describes the ways to get rid of moles. It also explains why you should always consult a healthcare provider to have this done.
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How to Get Rid of Facial Moles
Based on your condition, the depth of the mole, and your risk of scarring, facial moles are removed using one of the following techniques:
Mohs Surgery
If you have skin cancer on your face, you may benefit fromMohssurgery. This precise technique treats skin cancer in sensitive areas like your face. It removes only the skin with the cancer cells and keeps as much healthy skin as possible.
During this precise surgery, the visible skin cancer and a thin layer of the surrounding skin are removed. The removed skin is examined under a microscope for cancer cells. The process of removing a thin layer of skin and examining it under a microscope continues until there is no trace of cancer cells.
What Is a Mole?A mole, or nevus, is a common type of skin spot that is often a different color from the surrounding area. It is made of clusters ofmelanocytes, the pigment-producing cells responsible for skin color. A mole can be present at birth or develop later in life.A mole can be a birthmark (a skin marking present at birth), though not all birthmarks appear as moles. Birthmarks can also includecafe-au-lait spots(flat, pigmented spots) and Mongolian spots (bluish or bruised-looking spots).A beauty mark often refers to a mole or birthmark that is considered attractive.
What Is a Mole?
A mole, or nevus, is a common type of skin spot that is often a different color from the surrounding area. It is made of clusters ofmelanocytes, the pigment-producing cells responsible for skin color. A mole can be present at birth or develop later in life.A mole can be a birthmark (a skin marking present at birth), though not all birthmarks appear as moles. Birthmarks can also includecafe-au-lait spots(flat, pigmented spots) and Mongolian spots (bluish or bruised-looking spots).A beauty mark often refers to a mole or birthmark that is considered attractive.
A mole, or nevus, is a common type of skin spot that is often a different color from the surrounding area. It is made of clusters ofmelanocytes, the pigment-producing cells responsible for skin color. A mole can be present at birth or develop later in life.
A mole can be a birthmark (a skin marking present at birth), though not all birthmarks appear as moles. Birthmarks can also includecafe-au-lait spots(flat, pigmented spots) and Mongolian spots (bluish or bruised-looking spots).
A beauty mark often refers to a mole or birthmark that is considered attractive.
Mole Removal on Other Body Parts
Mole removal on other parts of your body typically can involve the same techniques as those used on your face, which include the following:
Dangers of Home Remedies to Remove MolesThe Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns that there are no FDA-approved prescription or over-the-counter drugs for treating moles or skin tags.Using these products or purported home remedies can result in an infection requiring antibiotic treatment, scarring, and delayed diagnosis of skin cancer.See a healthcare provider to assess and possibly remove a mole that is concerning you to ensure the best outcome.
Dangers of Home Remedies to Remove Moles
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns that there are no FDA-approved prescription or over-the-counter drugs for treating moles or skin tags.Using these products or purported home remedies can result in an infection requiring antibiotic treatment, scarring, and delayed diagnosis of skin cancer.See a healthcare provider to assess and possibly remove a mole that is concerning you to ensure the best outcome.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns that there are no FDA-approved prescription or over-the-counter drugs for treating moles or skin tags.Using these products or purported home remedies can result in an infection requiring antibiotic treatment, scarring, and delayed diagnosis of skin cancer.
See a healthcare provider to assess and possibly remove a mole that is concerning you to ensure the best outcome.
When Don’t You Need to Remove a Mole?
Most moles arebenign(noncancerous) and do not have to be removed. A mole that does not bleed or change in size, shape, or color has a lower risk of being malignant. If a mole shows no signs of skin cancer or does not bother you, it is likely harmless to leave it in place.
However, moles that remain in place should not be ignored. Anannual skin examwith a dermatologist can help identify moles that require monitoring or testing for skin cancer. Between skin exams, keep track of changes in any existing moles or the appearance of new ones.
Not all signs of skin cancer look the same on everyone. Notify your healthcare provider if you find any of the ABCDE warning signs of skin cancer:
How to Tell the Difference Between Skin Cancer and a Mole
How to Remove Hair in Moles
A hairy mole occurs when a mole contains hair follicles and the hair pushes through the darker pigmentation. The presence of hair on a mole does not always indicate the health of the mole since the hair is growing from the hair follicle, not your mole.
Hairy moles are often regarded as unsightly. If you choose to leave your mole in place, you can safely use most types of hair removal treatments.
While the FDA advises that you avoid waxing skin with moles, you can use other ways to remove hair in moles without harming the mole:
While these products can safely remove hair from a mole, some treatments may irritate the surrounding skin, which can be more sensitive. The result could cause discomfort or scabbing, making the mole harder to examine for signs of skin cancer.
When Should You Get Rid of a Mole?
Summary
A dermatologist or plastic surgeon can help you determine whether getting rid of a mole is advised. They can also provide the treatment needed to remove a mole with the lowest risks of problems and scarring.
14 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mount Sinai.Skin lesion removal.American Society of Plastic Surgeons.Facial mole removal.American Cancer Society.Punch biopsy.Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Cryotherapy for skin lesions.Beaumont Health.Non-cancerous mole removal.American Academy of Dermatology Association.What is Mohs surgery?Penn Medicine.What is birthmark?Mercy Health.Curettage and electrodesiccation.American Academy of Dermatology Association.When is a mole a problem?MD Anderson Cancer Center.What to expect when you have a mole removed.Food and Drug Administration.Products marketed for removing moles and other skin lesions can cause injuries, scarring.Cedars Sinai. Don’t delay in getting a skin exam.Here’s what to expect.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Skin cancer: what are the symptoms?Columbia University.How does hair removal affect my mole?
14 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mount Sinai.Skin lesion removal.American Society of Plastic Surgeons.Facial mole removal.American Cancer Society.Punch biopsy.Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Cryotherapy for skin lesions.Beaumont Health.Non-cancerous mole removal.American Academy of Dermatology Association.What is Mohs surgery?Penn Medicine.What is birthmark?Mercy Health.Curettage and electrodesiccation.American Academy of Dermatology Association.When is a mole a problem?MD Anderson Cancer Center.What to expect when you have a mole removed.Food and Drug Administration.Products marketed for removing moles and other skin lesions can cause injuries, scarring.Cedars Sinai. Don’t delay in getting a skin exam.Here’s what to expect.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Skin cancer: what are the symptoms?Columbia University.How does hair removal affect my mole?
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Mount Sinai.Skin lesion removal.American Society of Plastic Surgeons.Facial mole removal.American Cancer Society.Punch biopsy.Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Cryotherapy for skin lesions.Beaumont Health.Non-cancerous mole removal.American Academy of Dermatology Association.What is Mohs surgery?Penn Medicine.What is birthmark?Mercy Health.Curettage and electrodesiccation.American Academy of Dermatology Association.When is a mole a problem?MD Anderson Cancer Center.What to expect when you have a mole removed.Food and Drug Administration.Products marketed for removing moles and other skin lesions can cause injuries, scarring.Cedars Sinai. Don’t delay in getting a skin exam.Here’s what to expect.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Skin cancer: what are the symptoms?Columbia University.How does hair removal affect my mole?
Mount Sinai.Skin lesion removal.
American Society of Plastic Surgeons.Facial mole removal.
American Cancer Society.Punch biopsy.
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Cryotherapy for skin lesions.
Beaumont Health.Non-cancerous mole removal.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.What is Mohs surgery?
Penn Medicine.What is birthmark?
Mercy Health.Curettage and electrodesiccation.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.When is a mole a problem?
MD Anderson Cancer Center.What to expect when you have a mole removed.
Food and Drug Administration.Products marketed for removing moles and other skin lesions can cause injuries, scarring.
Cedars Sinai. Don’t delay in getting a skin exam.Here’s what to expect.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Skin cancer: what are the symptoms?
Columbia University.How does hair removal affect my mole?
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