Most moles are not a health threat, but if the spot is on the face it could be an aesthetic nuisance. The treatment of these "imperfections" is also quite complex, as some procedures may leave scars. While medical solutions are the most effective and safest way to get rid of a mole, there are some unverified home remedies you can try first so that you don't have any marks on your face.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Observe the Moles
Step 1. Perform a skin self-exam
This way you can tell if a new mole has grown. You should also check that the old moles have not increased in size or changed color.
Step 2. Count them
If you are over 100, then you are at risk for skin cancer and should make an appointment with your dermatologist.
Step 3. Recognize the different types of nevi
Before considering the idea of taking it off, you need to understand what type it is and what its symptoms are; some can be safely removed, but some cannot.
- Atypical nevus: This type of mole, also called dysplastic, has a suspicious color and size. Sometimes it can be bigger than a pencil eraser, have an abnormal shape or different colors. If you have this type of mole, visit your dermatologist to make sure it's not cancerous.
- Congenital nevus: This is a mole you have had since birth. About one in a hundred people are born with moles. These can take on different sizes, ranging from a pinhead to more than the diameter of a pencil eraser. Doctors suspect that people born with a very large mole run a very high risk of skin cancer.
- Spitz nevus: this is a pink, raised and dome-shaped mole. It often has the appearance of a melanoma; sometimes oozes fluid, itches or bleeds. Spitz nevus is uncommon, but is generally benign.
- Acquired nevus: this term indicates moles that appeared after birth. They are often referred to as "in the communes".
Step 4. Identify the signs of melanoma
A very simple way to proceed with the recognition of a melanoma is to respect the Melanoma_and_Regola_ABCDE "ABCDE" rule. If you suspect your mole is actually melanoma, make an appointment with a dermatologist immediately.
- TOsymmetry: the mole has an uneven appearance or one half does not match the other in terms of shape, size or color.
- B.irregular orders: the mole has jagged, indefinite or non-uniform contours.
- C.uneven color: the mole shows different shades and colors, including black, brown, tan or blue.
- D.iameter: the nevus has a large diameter, usually around 6 mm.
- ANDvolution: the mole changes shape, size and / or color over a period of weeks or months.
Part 2 of 3: Relying on a Professional Removal
Step 1. Undergo removal surgery
The nevi that are on the face can be removed thanks to a surgical cut. The dermatologist can remove it using the "shaving" technique (a sort of shaving flush with the skin) or by excision, depending on the nature of the mole itself.
- If it is a small mole above the surface of the skin, the surgeon will almost certainly opt for a "shaving" excision. He will first give you a local anesthetic, then with a sterile scalpel he will cut the surrounding skin and under the nevus. No stitches are required, but you may have a flat scar with a different color than the rest of your complexion when finished. This scar may be more or less visible than the removed mole.
- If the nevus is flat or has cells that go deep into the layers of the dermis, then the surgeon will proceed with an excision. During the procedure, both the mole and a portion of normal skin are removed with a scalpel or a sharp perforating instrument. Stitches will be applied to close the wound and in all likelihood a scar will remain in the shape of a clear thin line. Since this type of surgery leaves a scar, it is not often recommended for nevi on the face.
Step 2. Ask the dermatologist to freeze the mole
This procedure is also referred to as "cryosurgery". The doctor applies a small amount of liquid nitrogen directly to the nevus with the help of a cotton swab or with a spray device. Liquid nitrogen is so cold that it destroys the cells of the mole.
- This procedure usually leaves a small blister that replaces the mole and will heal on its own within a few days or weeks.
- Once the injury has healed, there is a risk that a light scar may remain. If this happens, however, the sign should still be much clearer and less evident than the original mole. For this reason this technique can also be used on the face.
Step 3. Check if your mole can be cauterized
The dermatologist may decide to burn the nevus using a laser or with a procedure called "electrosurgery".
- During the laser procedure, the surgeon uses a small specific laser to target the nevus. As soon as the beam comes into contact with the epithelial tissues, it destroys them by killing the cells. Typically a small blister forms that heals on its own and leaves no scar. Usually the laser technique is not used for very deep facial moles, since the beam does not have an adequate penetrating force.
- In an electrosurgical procedure, the doctor removes the upper part of the mole using a scalpel and destroys the underlying tissue with an electrified needle. A cord transmits electrical current to the needle, heating it, and in turn the needle burns the upper layers of the skin. Multiple sessions are typically required, but this procedure leaves very little scarring and is therefore perfect for facial blemishes.
Step 4. Undergo acid treatment
Weak acids can be used to eliminate moles, provided they are prepared and diluted for this purpose. You can try one of these over-the-counter kits or ask your dermatologist to prescribe the more concentrated version.
- Always follow the instructions on the label to avoid damaging the healthy skin surrounding the mole. As a general rule, you should apply the acid directly to the nevus and avoid it coming into contact with the rest of the skin.
- Salicylic acid is one of the most used for this purpose.
- Acid treatments are available in the form of lotions, liquids, sticks, creams and cleansing pads.
- In some cases the acid is able to eliminate the nevus completely, but the milder kits are only able to discolor it.
Step 5. Find out about a popular herbal treatment
The only herbal remedy that is occasionally used by dermatologists is BIO-T. It is a cream not available in Italy, but in the United States it is quite common. The ointment is simply smeared on the mole and will act on its own making the blemish disappear in about five days.
- It is a gentle solution that leaves no scar, so it is very useful for facial nevi.
- The usefulness of this remedy is still a matter of debate by some doctors, so your dermatologist may not even recommend it. If the doctor does not mention this solution, take the initiative and mention it to him, thus obtaining his professional opinion.
Part 3 of 3: Using Unverified Home Remedies
Step 1. Understand the limitations and risks of home remedies
Most home remedies are based on anecdotal evidence (or personal experience) and have little or no medical evidence to support their effectiveness. There is also the possibility that they can cause permanent damage to the skin of the face, leaving a scar or a mark of discoloration. Talk to your doctor before trying any of these remedies.
Step 2. Try garlic
The enzymes contained in this plant seem able to "dissolve" the mole by destroying the clusters of cells that compose it. They can also reduce pigmentation and, in some cases, eliminate the nevus altogether.
- Cut a thin slice of garlic, put it directly on the blemish and cover it with a plaster. This procedure should be repeated twice a day for seven days or until the mole disappears.
- Alternatively, you can mince a clove of garlic with a food processor until it becomes a paste. Put some on the mole and cover it with a band-aid. Let it work overnight before rinsing your face in the morning. Repeat the process for up to a week.
Step 3. Wet the mole with juice
There are several fruit and vegetable juices that you can apply on this type of blemish. Typically the acidic or astringent compounds in these liquids attack the cells of the mole causing it to fade and eventually disappear.
- Apply unripe apple juice three times a day for up to three weeks.
- Dab the onion juice onto the nevus two to four times a day for two to four weeks. Wash your face 40 minutes after applying the juice.
- Sprinkle some pineapple juice on the nevus and let it sit overnight before rinsing off in the morning. You can also try applying a few slices of the fruit directly to the skin. Repeat the treatment once a day for a couple of weeks.
- Chop some cilantro leaves until the juice comes out. Put a small amount on the mole, wait for it to dry and then wash the area. Follow this process once a day for a couple of weeks.
- Mix lime juice with an equal amount of roasted pomegranate until it forms a paste. Apply the mixture to the nevus overnight and protect it with a plaster. In the morning, remove the paste with water. Repeat the procedure for a week.
Step 4. Make a paste of baking soda and castor oil
Mix a pinch of baking soda with a drop or two of castor oil and use a toothpick to get a paste-like consistency. Apply the mixture to the mole just before bed and cover the area with a band-aid. In the morning, wash your face as usual.
Repeat the procedure for about a week or until the mole disappears or clears up
Step 5. Give the dandelion roots a try
Cut a root in half and squeeze it until a milky liquid comes out. Dab the liquid on the mole and let it sit for 30 minutes before washing the skin. Repeat the treatment once a day for at least a week.
There is no scientific evidence to support this remedy, but the milky liquid found inside the dandelion roots is believed to be able to lighten flat facial nerve
Step 6. Apply flaxseed paste
Mix equal parts of flaxseed oil and honey. Gradually add some ground flax seeds until a paste forms. Apply this to the mole and let it sit for an hour before washing. You can repeat the procedure once a day for about a week.
Again, there is no scientific explanation to support the method, but flax seeds are a popular folk remedy for various skin imperfections
Step 7. Try apple cider vinegar
This is a very mild natural acid. Just like acid treatment kits, it is believed to be able to gradually burn the nevus cells and kill them leading to the disappearance of the imperfection.
- Wash the mole for 15-20 minutes with warm water to soften the skin.
- Dip a cotton ball in apple cider vinegar and gently apply it to the nevus for 10-15 minutes.
- Finally wash the area again with water and dry the skin carefully.
- Repeat these steps four times a day for about a week.
- The nevus usually turns black and forms a scab that should eventually fall off leaving behind a clean, mole-free skin.
Step 8. Rub the nevus with iodine
There is a widespread belief that iodine can degrade the cells of a mole and thus eliminate it with a simple, mild chemical reaction.
- Apply some iodine right on the nevus before bed and protect the area with a band-aid. Rinse the area in the morning.
- Repeat the procedure for two to three days. The mole should begin to disappear during this time.
Step 9. Treat the mole with Asclepias
Leave the extract of this plant to infuse for ten minutes. Then apply the "herbal tea" to the mole on the face and let it work overnight. Wash as usual in the morning.
Follow this advice every night for a week
Step 10. Apply aloe vera gel
You can use a cotton ball to smear the product directly on the mole. Cover it with gauze or cotton bandage and let it sit for three hours. In this way the skin absorbs the gel completely. Finally put on a new clean bandage.
Repeat the treatment once a day for several weeks. In theory, the nevus should disappear within this period
Advice
- If an unsightly hair grows out of the mole, you can carefully trim it near the surface of the skin using a very small pair of scissors. A dermatologist might also remove it permanently.
- If you don't want to remove a mole completely due to the associated risks and costs, then you can hide it with cosmetic products. There are make-ups specifically formulated with the aim of hiding moles and similar imperfections.
