8 Simple Remedies for Mole Removal Without Surgery

The safest way of removing a mole is by visiting the dermatologist or skin specialist. However, some have found home remedies which may or may not work. You may try these methods at your own risk. These methods may not be effective, but some people choose to try it out before opting for surgical methods.

Method #1:  Apple Cider Vinegar

1. This is an inexpensive way to get rid of a mole leaving no scar.

2. Put a few drops of apple cider vinegar on a cotton ball.

3. Put the cotton ball on the mole and wrap a bandage around it.

4. Leave the bandage on for an hour.

5. Do this everyday until the mole falls off or disappears.

Method #2:  Iodine

1. Use 5 % iodine solution. While Iodine is not readily available over the counter in some

     countries, it can be an effective mole remover.

2. Apply a drop of iodine to the mole twice a day (once in the morning and once at night) and cover

    with an adhesive bandage.

3. After about a week, the mole should begin to come off.
   Caution: iodine is toxic in large quantities. If you do choose to use iodine to help remove a mole,    do not ingest it.

Method #3 : Garlic

1. Take a clove of garlic and slice it in half.

2. Put the half piece of garlic on the mole and leave it overnight wrapped in a bandage.

3. Do this several days to remove the mole.

Method #4 : Banana Peel

1. Peel the peels off a banana.

2. Make sure that the inside of the peel is in contact with the mole.

3. Do this several days.

4. The peel theoretically will dry up the mole until it falls off.

Method #5: Baking Soda And Castor Oil

1. Take a pinch of baking soda and moisten it with a couple of drops of castor oil.

2. Dab this paste onto the mole. Leave it on overnight. Do this continuously for a few days.

3. The mole(s) could be removed over time.

Method #6: Strawberries

1. Slice a strawberry and put the slice over the mole.

2. In several days, the mole should begin to disappear.

Method #7:Grapefruit Juice

1. Take a fresh grapefruit and squeeze it to get its juice.

2. Apply this juice to the moles repeatedly several times each day.

3. This will ensure the removal of your moles within 2 weeks or a month.

Method #8 : Mole Removal Cream

Mole removal creams are more expensive than many of these household items, but still cheaper than surgery. However, mole removal creams should be used with caution. They can leave pits in your skin and cause scarring that's more noticeable than the mole was in the first place. 

Follow the instructions carefully.

Permanent Mole Removal By Electrosurgery

Electrosurgery is defined by the application of high frequency electric current to organ tissue to cut, coagulate, desiccate or  orfulgurate tissue. It is a modern technique of surgery to avoid large amount of blood loss during the surgical process.

Electrosurgery devices use high frequency alternating current (400-500 kHz) to heat the tissue and, by applying direction and a little pressure, it cuts off and seals blood vessels that are in the way of the instrument, thus eliminating the risk of high blood loss and increasing the accuracy of the surgery, by providing the surgeon with better control and vision of the tissue to be removed. The high frequency is very important to avoid neuromuscular stimulation of other organs that may come into contact with the probe device.

Although electrosurgery is often confused with electrocautery, the two procedures are very different in terms of instruments. Electrocautery refers to an instrument that is itself heated to high tempratures by direct current, thus removing tissue by using the heat generated by direct current that heats up a pen like probe. Electrocautery instrument is much similar to a soldering iron, but is far more accurate than the normal soldering iron.

Below is an example of an electrosurgery procedure:

Anesthetics should be administered locally to the tissue surrounding the mole to ensure that the patient does not feel pain during the surgical procedure.

The electrosurgical instrument has to be properly sterilized before the procedure to avoid unwanted bacteria or foreign bodies to enter the wound during the procedure.

Non alcohol based antiseptics should be used lightly to the mole and skin surrounding the mole before and after the procedure. This is to ensure that the antiseptics does not get into a flame and cause damage to tissue.

A backup power supply or electric generator should be automatically switched on and available should there be any power failure during the surgical procedure.

Electrosurgery should strictly be done by a qualified medical surgeon and with proper operation equippment.

Making a Decision on the Mole Removal Procedure

The process of making an informative and good decision, whether to proceed with mole removal or to just let nature take its course is a very delicate one. It is a balance between taking a risk that things may not be as good as they were before the removal of a mole, and personal gratification of being able to be more presentable and an increase of self esteem, self consciousness and have a better appearance.

No doubt that it is a tough decision, however these are simple questions that you may want to ask yourself, with the help of a dermatologist or skin specialist as a counsellor.

1) What are the possibilities of unexpected surgery outcome ? Or the situation getting worse after surgery?

2) What are the risks involved during surgery?

3) What is the best method that is advised by the dermatologist / skin surgeon to tackle the issue?

4) Is mole removal the only known best option?

5) What is the success rate percentage of the mole removal procedure?

6) What preparation needs to be done before surgery?

7) How would the mole removal procedure affect my daily lifestyle and perception of other people towards my appearance?

8) Would it be better for me to leave it as it is, rather than to proceed with the removal of the mole?

9) What difference would it make to my appearance?

10) Could I live with a scar if things were to turn for the worse during surgery?

11) Does it really matter if I had this procedure done, and how would it matter most?

12) What are the other options available, besides mole removal surgery?

13) What are the different methods of mole removal, and what is the most suitable method that should be used in my specific case?

14) Would I be comfortable, going through such a procedure?

15) Last but not least , can I afford the treatment and post surgery cost of dressing and care that needs to be taken into account? Although money may not be the main concern, it does play its role in the ability to sustain post surgery treatment and rehabilitation.

Taking into account, the number of cases where scarring or infection during post surgery treatment can cause lifelong effects on the appearance, it is necessary for one to assess the situation thoroughly and look at the motivating factors before jumping into the wagon.  

One has to take full responsibility of the situation and decision before opting to proceed with the mole removal procedure.

One may  argue later on, that the surgeon had made a mistake, but ultimately, it is the person that is going through the mole removal procedure that has to live with the outcome for the rest of his or her life. As such it is better to assess the situation from all possible angles, with the best information available before making the decision, whether or not to go ahead with the mole removal surgery. The ultimate decision should make sense, be practical, made with the right guidance, and information from a qualified dermatologist, skin specialist or skin surgeon. 

However, you should never make a decision because you are forced into the decision by any internal or external factors. Remember, there is always a choice and you should always take ownership and responsibility to make the choice, as you would be the one to live with it for the rest of your life!

Being able to communicate freely with your skin specialist, dermatologist or skin surgeon about your feelings, anxiety, fear or doubt would make you feel more comfortable during the decision making process. If you have a spouse or a very close family member or friend that you are comfortable with and could share your feelings with, and if it could make you feel more confident about your decision, then you should try to share your decisions with them. However, never should you shift the responsibility of making the ultimate decision to them.

Early Signs and Symptoms of Skin Moles Formation

Skin moles can form on any part of the body including the scalp on the head and at the back of the ears, however skin moles form most commonly on the body, hands, face, arms, legs and parts of the body that have high exposure to sunlight. Some moles are even formed before birth.

Early symtoms of mole formation include itching, irritation, skin colour change, skin texture change and in severe cases, bleeding, and oozing of puss. In severe cases, it would be good to make an appointment with the dermatologist to do a skin biopsy procedure to ensure that the mole forming is not cancerous.

Skin moles in the early stages, are not obvious and only show as a small discolouration to the skin, however, over time, the discolouration builds up and mole cells get deposited in a layered manner allowing the surface of the skin to be raised compared to the surrounding parts of the skin.

People with lighter skin are more prone to have more skin moles as compared to people with darker skin colour.

Mole Removal Surgery

Below are a couple of examples showing how delicate mole removal surgery is performed by qualified medical practitioners. Procedures like these should only by performed under strictly qualified supervision and should never be tried at home by yourself.

Although these procedures look simple, proper anaesthesia needs to be administered to ensure that the patient does not feel the pain during the procedure.

Normally, the mole cells would be sent to the pathologist to examine whether the cells are cancerous before and immediately after the procedure has been performed to determine the next course of action for the patient.

How To Identify Cancerous Skin Moles

The general rule of ABCDE applies when trying to identify whether a mole is possibly related to skin cancer. However, this kind of identification is only convenient to the naked eye and may not be accurate. Further laboratory tests, skin biopsy and skin examination has to be done by a qualified skin dermatologist and pathologist to correctly identify whether a mole has cancerous cells.

A – Asymmetry.  Asymmetry shows that a mole is a possible cancer when one half of the mole takes a different shape, texture or form.

B – Border. Cancerous moles tend to have borders which are not regular.

C – Color. Cancerous moles do not have consistent color.  Most often, cancerous moles have different gradients of colors and are not even throughout the mole.

D – Diameter. Cancerous moles tend to have large diameters. Moles with diameters that are larger than a pencil’s eraser are more likely to be cancerous.

E – Evolving. Moles that grow and show continuous sign of changing shape have higher possibility to be skin cancer.

Below is a diagram showing examples of normal skin moles (left) and skin moles that are cancerous (right).

Is Skin Cancer Curable?

Yes, skin cancer is curable if found in its early stages. There are various treatment options available in the market, among a few are listed in the websites below. Though the results of different treatment may vary, it usually takes at least a combination of 3 kinds of expertise to be involved in the process of treatment, the dermatologist, the pathologist, and the oncologist. Some may even want to consult skin surgeons for second opinions.

Skin Cancer Treatment options:

http://www.webmd.com/melanoma-skin-cancer/detection-treatment-skin-cancer

http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/type/skin-cancer/treatment/which-treatment-for-skin-cancer