Most moles are harmless and do not need to be removed. However, if a trusted medical professional thinks your mole looks suspicious, or if you would like it removed for cosmetic reasons. Knowing your options of how to get rid of moles and the types of moles may help you detect melanoma in early stages.
It is estimated that one in fifty Americans will be diagnosed with melanoma during their lives which can make it knowing how to get rid of moles more prudent. Moles can be found on any part of your skin, so don’t miss those hard to see areas, like your scalp and soles. For these areas, use a mirror or photography, or have someone look at them for you. Make sure to remove any polish when you check your fingernails and toenails, which can also be sites for melanoma.
On the other spectrum of how to get rid of moles, is to remove a mole surgically, a dermatologist will numb the mole and the area around it and cut it off. The tissue can be sent to a laboratory to confirm that it is not cancerous.
What Are Skin Moles?
How to get rid of moles should start with what are moles, to begin with. Moles are growths on the skin that happen when the skin cells grow in a cluster instead of being spread throughout the skin. These cells are called melanocytes, which causes the pigment that gives natural skin color. Moles can appear anywhere on the skin, alone or in groups, and are usually brown or black. However, moles can get darker during teenage years and pregnancy, and due to sun exposure.
Most moles appear early in childhood and during the first 25 years of a person’s life. It is considered normal to have between 10 to 40 moles by adulthood. As the year’s pass, moles can change slowly. Usually, they can become more raised and change in color; hairs may also develop making the desire to get rid of them and know how to get rid of moles important for your vanity. On the other hand, some may not change, and others may even disappear, making how to get rid of moles completely unnecessary, sadly that’s rarely the case.
Types of Moles
Most moles are harmless, but getting any suspicious ones checked out quickly will enable you to detect skin cancer when it is more treatable, in earlier stages. If an individual has 50 or more common moles, they are at an increased risk of developing melanoma.
Common moles are not cancerous and usually tan or brown and sometimes pink. They can also be flat or raised, round or oval, and typically smaller than a pencil eraser.
Atypical moles, also known as dysplastic nevi, are unusually large and multi-colored moles. The borders may be lighter or reddish, and uneven or black dots around the edge, with a dark brown center. Atypical moles tend to be genetic and may be at an increased risk of developing into skin cancer. Individuals with ten or more of these have a 12 times higher chance of developing melanoma.
Congenital nevi are moles that are present at birth. Only one in 100 people are born with moles. These are slightly more likely to develop melanoma than moles that appear after birth.
Possible Dangers
How to get rid of moles becomes extremely important when discussing the possibility of melanoma is a form of skin cancer that is most common in the chest and back areas in men and the lower leg region in women. However, the vast majority of moles are not dangerous. The ones that are more likely to be cancerous are those that look different from other existing moles or those that first appear after age 25. If there are any changes in color, height, size, or shape, it should be evaluated.
How to Check for Signs of Malignancy
Examine your skin in the mirror or have someone help you. It is recommended to use a full-length mirror and a hand mirror, in a well-lit room so that you can check the hard-to-see places. Pay special attention to areas exposed to the sun, along with the areas that don’t see much sun. All of which include: scalp, hairline, behind ears, back, underarms, legs, between toes, and genitals.
The ABCDEs of important characteristics to consider when examining a mole:
- Asymmetry
- Border
- Color
- Diameter
- Evolution
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In addition, the most dangerous form of melanoma (nodular melanoma) has its own characteristics:
- Elevated
- Firm
- Growing
If cancer spreads beyond the initial mole and into the lymph nodes or other organs, traditional cancer treatments may become necessary. Chemotherapy, radiation, and a variety of other treatments are available for treating skin cancer. Some of these options offer a chance to halt the disease while others are meant to improve and lengthen the patient’s life in incurable cases.
How to Get Rid of Moles?
Do not cut moles off at home. While natural remedies for moles are mostly harmless, attempting to cut a mole off yourself can leave a permanent scar or cause a dangerous infection. If the mole contains cancer, some cancer cells may stay in the skin and spread. You should also see a doctor before you try any natural remedies for your mole to ensure that it is not cancerous.
It is also important to know that self-treatment may lead to scarring. It is always best to see a dermatologist if you wish to remove a mole for cosmetic reasons. The treatments listed below have been used for decades, but they are not scientifically proven. Some may irritate your skin or even lead to deeper scarring than that from surgery. If you experience irritation, stop the treatment immediately and call your doctor.
Surgical Treatment
Mole removal is a simple kind of surgery. A doctor will do it in his office, clinic, or a hospital outpatient center. There are two types of mole surgery: surgical excision and surgical shave.
After numbing the area, the doctor will use a scalpel to cut out the mole and some healthy skin around it. The doctor will probably have to stitch it closed if needed. If caught early on before it has spread, melanoma can be eliminated entirely via the removal of the cancerous mole.
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A special type of excision procedure called Mohs Micrographic Surgery has become recognized as a very effective method in treating two of the most common types of skin cancer, Basal Cell Carcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma, as well as melanoma. In a Mohs Surgery, the doctor progressively removes small sections of effective tissue and examines these under a microscope until he finds that the sections no longer contain cancer cells.
Patients who undergo this type of surgery may need someone to help with their care for the wound after surgery if they have a large surgery site, like those that required a skin graft. Patients should talk with their doctor before surgery about what to expect. Follow the doctor’s instructions and keep any follow-up appointments.
A surgical shave is a type of mole surgery that is typically done on smaller moles. Stitches rarely needed as the doctor only shaves off the mole and some tissue under it.
Surgery will leave a scar, but it can heal better than those from mole removal creams. Those should be avoided. If the surgery site bleeds later that day, apply pressure with a clean cloth or bandage for 20 minutes.
A common mole won’t grow back after it is completely removed, but a cancerous one might. If not treated right away, the cancerous cells can spread. Let your doctor know of any changes in the area around the surgery site.
Non-Surgical Treatments
It is possible to use natural skin whiteners to fade out moles. There are a number of fruits and extracts that have been shown to whiten skin. Though each of these treatments will take several weeks to show aAsian pears contain arbutin, which has been proven to be an effective tyrosinase inhibitor. Tyrosinase is an enzyme that that helps produce melanin (a pigment that darkens skin), so inhibiting it will give a skin-whitening effect. The best pear varieties to use are Yaquang, Hongpi, Quingpi, or Guifei. Blend the peel and fruit together along with some honey as a binding agent and apply for 15 to 20 minutes a day and wash off with warm water.
Garlic contains sulfur-rich juices and enzymes that break down pigment-producing cells and lighten pigmentation. Garlic may help lighten a mole. Cut a clove of garlic in half, then place the cut side in contact with the mole, and secure it overnight with a bandage. The mole should begin to disappear within 5 days. Keep in mind that garlic can irritate and redden your skin if you feel any irritation stop right away and contact a doctor for further advice. You can also apply petroleum jelly to the area around the mole to protect it from the garlic juice.
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Conclusion
Excessive exposure to ultraviolet light (usually in the form of sunlight, but also from tanning beds, etc.) is a major contributor to the development of melanoma. To reduce your risk of developing the types of moles which can progress into melanoma, avoid activities that require staying in direct sunlight for long periods of time, like tanning, outdoor swimming, and so on. If you do spend time in the sun, use plenty of high-SPF sunscreen of at least SPF 30. This advice is especially important for pale-skinned individuals, as they are naturally more susceptible to skin damage from sun exposure.
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