How to Remove Moles?
Mole Removal Cream
The most effective way to remove moles is with a topical cream. There are many types of creams available for removing moles. Some creams contain ingredients such as glycolic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, hydroquinone and others. These creams work well when used at the right time.
Glycolic Acid: Glycolic acid is a chemical compound found in citrus fruits. It works well to kill the cells that produce melanin, which gives us our dark colored hair and skin color. When applied topically it helps to break down the outer layer of dead skin cells around the mole.
Salicylic Acid: Salicylic acid is another common ingredient in cosmetic products that are used to treat acne or other skin conditions. It works to destroy the pigment producing cells in the mole.
Lactic Acid: Lactic acid is a natural substance produced by bacteria in the body. It works to break down pigments that make up moles.
Hydroquinone: Hydroquinone is a synthetic chemical derived from plants and animals that’s been used as an insecticide since its discovery in 1875. It works to lighten dark scars or skin lesions.
As mentioned earlier, these moles removal creams work better when used at the right time. For best results use the cream on the mole twice a day for as long as directed. Sometime dark mole change in color but don’t come off completely; this may be because they were not applied long enough or used at the wrong time based on your skin type. Always consult with your physician before beginning any mole removal treatment.
How to Remove Flat Moles?
Flat moles can usually be seen easily on the skin’s surface. They can range in size from less than an inch to a few inches in diameter. There are two ways to get rid of flat moles: surgical excision and freezing.
Surgical Excision: At the dermatologist’s office, your mole will be numbed with a local anesthetic. Then, a small scalpel is used to remove the mole and attached tissue. The procedure only takes a few minutes and is often done on an outpatient basis; that means you can generally get back to your normal routine the next day.
Surgical excision is the most effective way to get rid of flat moles because the entire mole can be completely removed in a single session. The edges of the skin will be sutured and bandaged. Sutures are generally removed after a week, but the mole may continue to be irritated and pink for up to 3-4 weeks.
Freezing: This method uses ice to freeze and destroy the mole. The procedure is done in your dermatologist’s office and is the least invasive way to remove a mole. Only the mole you want to get rid of is treated. The freezing it is performed without anesthesia so you will feel a pinprick sensation when the treatment begins.
Ice is packed around the mole and a thin probe is placed on top of the ice. An electrical current runs through the probe and freezes the skin cells. As the skin cells freeze they explode, damaging the skin and reducing its color. The whole process takes about ten minutes.
Moles will scab for a few days as the skin heals. The scabs will gradually fall off over the course of 3-4 weeks and new flawless skin will be revealed. If you have a particularly dark skin complexion the mole may continue to be pink for about 3-4 months as the skin tone evens back out.
Most moles only require one treatment; however, some larger moles may need to be treated more than once. In most cases treatment can be performed in the same day; however, some patients may need a second treatment to get rid of all the mole.
These mole removal creams are only for use on moles that can be seen above the skin’s surface. Moles that have grown deep into the skin, are darker than the surrounding area, or have changed in size or shape should be checked by your physician. Don’t try to remove moles yourself; there is a risk of infection and the mole may indeed be more than a benign mole.
Sources & references used in this article:
Catching” moles” in sensor networks by F Ye, H Yang, Z Liu – 27th International Conference on …, 2007 – ieeexplore.ieee.org
Atypical moles by PR CyR – American family physician, 2008 – aafp.org
Moles by FR Henderson – 1994 – digitalcommons.unl.edu
