Moles, also known as nevi, are areas of hyperpigmented skin growth made of clusters of pigment called melanin. Although not typically harmful, moles on prominent areas of your face can make you self-conscious, and some moles can be a warning sign for skin cancer and should be checked by your medical doctor. Whether you'd like to remove a mole for medical or cosmetic reasons, after an examination your doctor may recommend one or more courses of treatment.
Step 1
Apply bloodroot paste to the mole and cover the area securely with a bandage. Bloodroot is an herb that is often used as an alternative treatment for moles. Apply the paste directly to the mole and cover securely with a bandage. Repeat this process every day for 3 consecutive days, washing the affected area between applications with hydrogen peroxide. Although bloodroot is a popular alternative remedy, currently not enough evidence supports its effectiveness in mole removal.
Step 2
Visit your doctor to remove the mole. Excision involves using an excision blade to cut the mole from your skin at the skin's surface. Excision removes only the top layer of the mole and may not get all the mole cells beneath the removed area. This process is not an appropriate option for the removal of cancerous or precancerous moles.
Step 3
Ask your doctor about having a punch excision, which involves using a sharp punch device to cut out a cylinder-shape piece of skin, including the mole tissue. Punch excisions remove not only the mole tissue on the outer layer of skin but also some of the tissue beneath the mole. This helps guarantee that all mole-affected cells are removed. Because a greater amount of skin is removed during this procedure, sutures are used to seal the wound after treatment, states the Mayo Clinic.
Step 4
Talk to your doctor about using laser energy to remove the mole from your skin. Laser mole removal is a relatively new addition to your mole treatment options. Laser removal uses specially calibrated lasers to target the mole tissue. A local anesthetic is applied to the mole, after which the laser energy is directed at the affected area, vaporizing the mole tissue from the skin. Several treatments may be necessary before full results are visible.
Things You'll Need
- Bloodroot paste
- Bandage
