How to Remove a Mole: Can Home Remedies Help?

Home Remedies to Reduce the Mole’s Appearance

Cover the mole with makeup if you’re self-conscious about it. This is a quick fix to make moles less noticeable. Get a concealer that matches your skin tone. Then apply primer first so the concealer stays in place all day. Brush the concealer around the mole in a circular motion until it’s fully covered. Wash the makeup off at the end of the day to avoid acne breakouts or clogged pores.

Pluck or clip hair growing out of the mole. Some moles have hairs growing from them, which could make them more noticeable. Use tweezers to pluck the hairs out, or snip them off with scissors. Be very careful if you use clippers or scissors to cut the hair. If you get too close, you could cut the mole and cause an infection. Your dermatologist may also be able to use a procedure to permanently remove hair from the mole, so speak with them if you’re interested in trying this.

Apply 15 SPF sunblock to prevent moles from getting darker. Sunlight could make moles darker and more obvious. Prevent this by applying at least 15 SPF sunblock whenever you go out into the sun. Wearing sunblock in general is important for preventing skin cancer.

Clean the mole to avoid infections if you get a cut or abrasion. Like any other areas of your body, moles can get infected or inflamed, especially if you get a cut there. Wash the mole gently with soap and water to remove bacteria and dirt if you get cut. This prevents infections from making them darker or larger. Be gentle whenever you clean your moles. Too much pressure or friction could cause inflammation.

Removing Moles the Safe Way

Visit your dermatologist to discuss any moles you want removed. A dermatologist can easily remove moles, so make an appointment to discuss your options. Since mole removal is a simple procedure, the dermatologist will probably do it during your appointment after doing a quick visual exam of the mole.

Let the doctor shave shallow moles off with a razor. If the mole doesn’t look like it reaches below the skin surface, then the dermatologist will probably simply shave it off. They’ll numb the area with a local anesthetic and then cut the mole off with a razor blade. Then they'll cover the area with a sticky bandage. The procedure only takes a few minutes and you’ll be able to leave right after. For a surgical shaving, the dermatologist probably won’t give you stitches.

Have a surgical excision on deeper moles. If the mole stretches below the skin surface, then the dermatologist will probably do a surgical excision to remove the entire thing. This is a bit more involved, but still simple and quick. The dermatologist will numb the area and cut the mole out with a scalpel. After they close up the wound and cover it with a bandage, then you can go home. The dermatologist will probably use 2 or 3 stitches to close the wound and prevent a scar.

Keep the bandage on for as long as the doctor tells you to. Whether or not you have stitches, the dermatologist will probably tell you to keep the bandage on for 2-3 days after the procedure. During that time, keep the area dry and clean. Then remove the bandage when enough time passes. If the bandage starts to come off by itself, don’t pull it if it doesn't come off easily. If it’s stuck you could open the wound again. Sometimes wetting the bandage with warm water helps it come off easier. Ask the dermatologist if this is a safe way to remove your bandage.

Clean the wound every day with soap and water. After you remove the bandage, keep the wound clean to prevent an infection. Wet the area, rub it gently with soap, and then rinse and dab it dry it with a clean towel or paper towel. Clean the area at least once a day or according to the dermatologist’s instructions. If you have stitches, try not to clean directly over them. Rub soap as close to the stitches as you can without touching them. The dermatologist may also tell you to apply an antibacterial cream to the area. Follow their post-op care instructions to avoid an infection.

Moisturize the wound with antibacterial ointment or petroleum jelly. Your dermatologist may suggest keeping the wound moisturized with one of these products. This will prevent scabs and crust from forming around the wound. Apply the ointment or jelly after your clean the wound. You normally don't have to cover the wound with another bandage when the original one comes off, but you might want to put a bandage over the wound to keep the ointment on. Make sure none of the sticky parts touch the wound, or it might open when you pull the bandage off.

Take pain medication if the wound hurts. You’ll probably feel some pain around the area for a few days, so use OTC pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen to alleviate the discomfort while you heal.

Continue your daily care regimen until the wound fully heals. In most cases, the wound will take 1-3 weeks to heal completely. This depends on what type of procedure the dermatologist did. Continue washing and moisturizing the wound daily. When it looks fully healed, then you can stop the daily care regimen. Check the wound for signs of an infection while you're cleaning it each day. Any redness, swelling, heat, pain, or pus around the area could indicate that an infection is starting.