People wish to remove their moles, skin tags, or seborrheic keratoses for a variety of reasons. However, trips to the dermatologist’s office can be expensive. Removing moles at home might sound like an easy solution for taking care of blemishes, but it does more harm than good. Over-the-counter products and “natural” solutions may not only lead to scarring and infection, but may distract from underlying medical issues.
What are mole and skin tag removal products?
There are products on the shelves and online that claim to remove moles and skin tags safely and naturally without seeking out a healthcare provider. A healthcare provider may shave, burn, excise, or freeze a mole to remove it. Mole removal products attempt to replicate that doctor’s visit by slowly burning moles and skin tags off with an acid or by breaking down the skin cells.
The FDA released a statement (linked here) announcing there are no approved mole or skin tag removal products. Furthermore, there is currently no recommended way to remove moles at home. The same goes for skin tags and seborrheic keratoses.
Why wouldn’t these products be safe?
If done imprecisely, the skin surrounding the moles may come into contact with these mole removers and break down with it, resulting in a scar or infection. On the other hand, there’s a chance you won’t even remove the mole by using some of these products.
Terms like “all-natural” are not another way to say “completely safe” or “effective.” Mole removal products are capable of leaving scars and burns regardless of their label. They often consist of things that seem harmless— like apple cider vinegar, garlic, hydrogen peroxide, or frankincense— but none of these ingredients are proven to remove moles. Additionally, mole removal products may have strong chemicals in them, like salicylic acid and iodine, which are poisonous if ingested and may lead to injury.
So not only are the ingredients in these products inconsistently successful, but they may pose the risk of leaving a burn or scar. Using mole or skin tag removal products means running the risk of swapping the mole for a scar or even gaining a scar without getting rid of the mole.
Differences between moles, skin tags, and seborrheic keratoses
- Moles are clusters of pigment-producing skin cells. They can have a range of colors and sizes and appear anywhere on the body. They are typically raised, round, and symmetrical with defined borders. Most people have a few benign moles. However, moles can become cancerous over time.
- Skin tags are small, flexible bumps that often appear in high-friction areas of the body (like under folds of the abdomen, armpits, genitals, and breasts). Though typically benign, skin tags can get caught on things, chafe, get sore, or bleed if struck, which is why some people remove them.
- Seborrheic keratoses (SKs) are warty-looking but benign growths that appear as people age. They can be dry or itchy, but they never turn into cancer, normally appearing on the face, back, hands, or neck.
Why shouldn’t you remove moles at home?
Moles May Be Cancerous
The main reason why you should not do an at-home mole removal is that the mole could be cancerous. If you remove it or mess with it beyond recognition, you could be prolonging a much-needed diagnosis.
Early detection is critical to treating cancer in general. Skin cancer is one of the most treatable cancers, largely because of the visual aid afforded by the skin. Melanomas appear in places one generally doesn’t need an MRI to see. By removing moles at home, you rob yourself of an easy way to detect cancerous moles before they spread to the rest of the body.
Removing a mole on the skin’s surface will not remove an entire cancerous growth. If a mole is cancerous, the cancer will have gone deeper into the skin than what you can see on the surface and certainly farther than any mole or skin tag removal product could reach.
Mole Removal May Cause Infection
Skin tags and seborrheic keratoses are benign, meaning they never turn into cancer. Since these growths are so small, it certainly feels like you could take them off quickly. And if there’s no cancer risk, you might wonder what the harm is in using a skin tag remover.
Unfortunately, at-home mole removal may result in more immediate injuries than missing a melanoma. Removing a mole isn’t fast or done in a moment, like popping a zit; it involves cutting or burning, ultimately removing part of your skin. Sometimes, the mole or skin tag goes deeper into the body than you’d think. Additionally, if the mole removal site isn’t sterilized or properly taken care of, an infection can easily follow.
Removing a seborrheic keratosis at home is not recommended. If you are looking for how to remove moles on the skin or how to remove skin tags in one night, the only recommended option is to seek a medical professional. They can safely remove moles, minimize injury, and verify that the moles are cancer-free.
What do I do if I’ve been using a mole removal product?
If you’ve been using a mole removal product that is not recommended by your healthcare provider, stop using it immediately to avoid further scarring or injury. Most skin blemishes do not require immediate removal. But, if the mole has been changing or growing, contact your healthcare provider right away.
Trying to save money by removing a mole at home may end up costing you more in the long run. The best way to remove a mole is to have it done professionally.
If you have questions about the specific product you were using, one of the Missouri Poison Centers’s specialists are available any time of day to assist you. Call 1-800-222-1222.
