Table of contents:
- Various ways to get rid of moles
- 1. Mole removal cream
- 2. Cryotherapy (freezing)
- 3. Using a laser
- 4. Burned
- 5. Surgery
- 6.Ellipse Excision Surgery
Most moles are harmless and painless, so they don't need treatment. But sometimes, some people want to get rid of moles for cosmetic reasons or because their moles, especially those that arise, cause discomfort when rubbing against clothes or getting stuck in jewelry.
There are several ways to get rid of moles. Which one is the most effective?
Various ways to get rid of moles
Depending on the nature and size of the mole you have, there are a number of options for how to get rid of moles as follows:
1. Mole removal cream
There are several creams on the market that claim to remove moles. Mole removal creams are favored as a cheaper and surgery-free method of getting rid of annoying moles. However, such creams are usually ineffective.
Most mole removal creams require you to first scratch the surface of the mole's skin before applying it. Then, this cream is absorbed into the mole through the open wound and works to burn the skin from the inside, creating a scab under the mole. Over time, the kopeng will fall off and take your mole with it.
These creams can leave holes in your skin where your mole used to be, or cause scarring that is more obvious than the mole itself. Mole removal creams can also make your skin more susceptible to infection, and by removing moles on your own, you can be unaware of the early warning signs of cancer.
2. Cryotherapy (freezing)
The cryotherapy method for removing moles is carried out by a doctor. The doctor will dab or spray the area of your mole with a small dose of super cold liquid nitrogen. Generally, this method is used to remove raised moles or warts. This procedure can be a bit painful, but the doctor will anesthetize your skin with a local anesthetic before it starts.
After cryotherapy, you may notice the skin where your mole is slightly blistered, but it will heal on its own.
3. Using a laser
Lasers are usually recommended for moles that are smaller, flatter, and lighter to medium in color for cosmetic reasons. The main advantage of the laser is that it leaves a neat result with minimal scarring compared to surgical options.
This procedure can be a bit painful, but the doctor will anesthetize your skin with a local anesthetic before it starts. After the examination, the doctor or surgeon will choose the most appropriate laser technology depending on the mole. This procedure can be a bit painful, but the doctor will anesthetize your skin with a local anesthetic before it starts. Laser light emits specific wavelengths of light to target the dark pigments in the skin and vaporize them. The laser also burns the wound which means that the procedure causes almost no bleeding and can heal quickly.
However, lasers are not an effective method of choice for most deep moles because the laser light is not able to penetrate deeply enough, and there is no tissue left to check for early warning signs of cancer.
4. Burned
With the combustion technique, the doctor will use the help of an electric current to heat a sterile wire. This hot wire is then used to burn the top layer of your mole's skin. The heat generated will prevent bleeding. However, you may need more than one treatment session to completely remove a mole.
This procedure can be a bit painful, but the doctor will anesthetize your skin with a local anesthetic before it starts.
5. Surgery
A mole that protrudes or is raised from the skin (skin tag) is a suitable type to be removed by a surgical procedure using a surgical knife or scissors. Some moles can be "shaved" flat against the skin, while others may still have the mole cells under the skin so the doctor may need to cut deeper down to the root to prevent the mole from recurring.
This procedure can be a bit painful, but the doctor will anesthetize your skin with a local anesthetic before it starts. The surgery to remove the mole only takes a few minutes and the wound healing itself takes 7-10 days with a mild pink reddish mark over 3-4 weeks that gradually fades over the coming months.
6.Ellipse Excision Surgery
Elliptical excision surgery is the most invasive option of all. This procedure is usually chosen for suspicious moles (a symptom of cancer) or for people who are not suitable for laser or surgical cutting.
After local anesthesia, the doctor will remove the entire mole down to the root in one quick step, and then cover the wound with stitches and bandage it. This procedure takes about 20 minutes. After initial healing, the scar tissue from the surgery will continue to fade leaving a faint white streak.
Check with your doctor if you have a mole that looks different from your other moles. The doctor may need to do a mole biopsy, which means removing the mole and sending it to the laboratory to check for skin cancer.