2 Reasons To Never Remove A Mole On Your Own
Posted on: 3 June 2015
If you have a large and unsightly mole on your body, then you may desire to rid yourself of the blemish. If you are desperate to erase one from your face, neck, or another highly visible area, then you may consider using an at-home type of treatment. At-home treatments feature creams and chemicals to destroy the mole tissue. This is extremely dangerous, and it is a much better option to seek out the assistance of a dermatologist. If you are still considering a cream, then read on to find out why this type of product is bad news.
Potential for Scarring
DIY creams and solutions sold online and at local markets claim to remove moles by cauterizing the area and removing the mole. However, the term cauterize really means that the product will burn away the mole tissues. You are asked to slice open the top surface of the mole first with a pin, nail file, or a syringe. Once the tissue is exposed, you are prompted to spread the cream over the mole. Most products contain acids within the creams to bore through them. Salicylic acid, bloodroot, glycolic acid, and trichloroacetic acid are few examples of the caustic materials added to mole removal creams.
Sometimes, the cream is meant to eat through the mole tissues until they disappear. Other times, the solution forms a hole through the mole and creates a scab underneath, and the scab is supposed to peel the mole away from the skin. The creams have the potential to damage healthy skin cells along with the mole tissues. The acid simply has no reason to stop burning the skin once the mole is gone. This can leave a noticeable scar, pot mark, or raised tissue behind.
How Will a Dermatologist Prevent This
A dermatologist will prevent scarring during mole removal by using a cutting, burning, or freezing method to remove the mole and only the mole. In many cases, the open area left behind will be closed with several small stitches. This helps to bring the two edges of the opening together so that collagen strands can form in between them. Collagen is lighter in shade and more coarse than the surrounding skin. However, only a small line will be noticed instead of a hole or a larger scar.
No Cancer Testing
You may think that it is good news to completely remove the offending tissues. This is not the case though. There will be no tissues left behind to test if you complete the removal yourself, and there certainly will not be any evidence of cancer either. Unfortunately, certain types of skin cancer lie deep in the tissues in areas underneath and around the mole and in other areas of the body as well. The skin may seem dry, red, sore, or irritated, but it is easy to attribute these things to dry skin conditions or allergic reactions. Cancerous moles are of course much more noticeable. The cancerous cells then have the opportunity to spread and symptoms may not show up until the condition has worsened.
How Will a Dermatologist Prevent This
A dermatologist can prevent skin cancer from going unnoticed by making sure to inspect every single mole that is removed. If the mole is oddly shaped, a red color, or if it is painful, then it will be sent to a laboratory for testing. Snipping or cutting techniques are used to make sure there is more than enough of the mole to be tested. The mole is stained and then examined underneath a microscope to see if cancer cells are present. If they are, then further testing will be scheduled and treatments will follow.
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