Moles: what can and cannot be done?

Moles are limited accumulations of melanocytes in the upper layer of the skin - special cells containing the protective pigment melanin. In connection with moles, which every person has, many questions arise. If they are combined into one large topic, it will have the wording given in the title of this publication. And the questions of what can and cannot be done with moles are answered by the leading specialists in this field - dermatologists.

Can moles be removed?

Mole removal is resorted to for medical reasons, in particular, if it is located “in the wrong place”, is subject to friction (there is a risk of damage to its integrity, bleeding and infection) and is the cause of discomfort. But especially if the dermatologist has doubts about the benign nature of the nevus, which changes color and shape or quickly increases in size, that is, there is a process of active proliferation of melanocytes.

For all issues related to changes and removal of moles, you should contact a dermatologist (or oncodermatologist), who will accurately determine whether moles need to be removed and choose the best method for this. For more information, see – Mole Removal: An Overview of the Main Methods

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Is it possible to remove moles during pregnancy?

During pregnancy, under the influence of adrenal hormones, melanin synthesis increases, which is why pregnant women experience darkening of the areolas of the nipples of the mammary glands, characteristic pigment spots appear on the face (melanosis of pregnant women), and new moles may appear. Remember that neither old nor new moles should be removed during pregnancy. Also read the article - Moles during pregnancy.

The experts' answer to the questions of whether it is possible to remove moles during breastfeeding, and also whether it is possible to remove moles during menstruation, is similar.

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Is it possible to remove moles from children?

In childhood, the formation of melanocytic nevi is more intense due to the high activity of somatropin (pituitary growth hormone) and the adrenal cortex hormone melonocortin, which ensures the metabolism of fats in the body and the production of skin pigment. That is why it is not recommended to remove moles in children, and, as a rule, there is no need for this.

But there is an exception, and it concerns moles on the soles of the feet, for which the probability of injury is very high. In addition, children can have a mole removed for the same reasons as adults, since even in childhood there are dangerous moles.

By the way, people ask if a mole can appear in one day? No, even in childhood this process lasts for a certain time, which is much longer than a day or a day.

Can moles be removed with celandine?

Among the names of celandine there is another - wart, and the folk method of removing warts with fresh juice of this plant is widely used today. By the way, buttercup, onion and garlic juice helps with warts (in particular, pointed condylomas). True, there is no reliable evidence that these remedies are effective for this purpose. But even folk healers do not recommend removing moles with celandine, because a wart is a formation caused by the papillomavirus (HPV), that is, the etiology is infectious. While moles, although they are related to skin anomalies, are simply a type of dermal cells with a significant amount of melanin.

Perhaps advice on removing moles with celandine appeared because some nevi look very similar to warts, and the difference between them - if you are not a dermatologist - may not be visible. In general, experts are unanimous: you should not remove moles with celandine.

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Can you get a mole wet after removal?

After the removal of a mole, the doctor gives each patient detailed instructions on how and with what to treat the skin in the place of the removed nevus. You are unlikely to be able to "wet the mole after removal" (after all, the mole is no longer there), but the scab (crust) should not be wetted or torn off. Doctors recommend not to get carried away with water procedures and sunbathing until the scab falls off.

Can moles be treated with ointment?

So, the next question is whether it is possible to smear a mole with something? More precisely, everyone wants to know whether it is possible to smear a mole with iodine and whether it is possible to smear a mole with brilliant green? That is, in essence, people are interested in a professional opinion regarding whether it is possible to cauterize moles.

Doctors also answer this question negatively, arguing that antiseptic alcohol solutions of iodine and brilliant green, when applied to a mole, cause the dilation of skin vessels and blood flow. The cells of the mole are thus stimulated, and its size can increase. In addition, iodine and brilliant green simply burn the top layer of the mole.

Is it possible to pick, tear off or rip off a mole?

Indeed, if you scratch your skin unsuccessfully, you can accidentally pick off a mole that protrudes significantly above the skin surface, and a hanging mole or a mole on a stalk can be inadvertently torn off, for example, when drying yourself after a shower. Find out more - What happens if you tear off a mole?

We hope that now you will answer the question yourself whether it is possible to rip off moles. And one more thing: to the question whether it is possible to make a tattoo on moles, doctors give a categorical negative answer, because the skin is quite badly injured during the tattooing process.

Is it okay to pluck hair from a mole or shave a mole?

If you have a mole with hairs growing on it, you should not pull out the hairs from the mole - again, because of the risk of damaging it. It is recommended to carefully trim these hairs with manicure scissors.

Shaving a mole is also dangerous: you can injure it and cause bleeding.

Is it possible to sunbathe with moles or go to a solarium?

Some experts say that you can sunbathe with moles: in the morning - only until 10 am, and in the afternoon - after 5 pm and provided that you apply sunscreen (with SPF) to the areas where moles accumulate.

However, most oncodermatologists classify ultraviolet radiation as a negative factor affecting the skin and believe that a strong tan is harmful. The fact is that UV radiation activates the production of melanin, which protects the DNA of skin cells (which is also our organ). And, since moles contain a lot of melanin, its additional production by melanocytes can cause darkening of moles and their proliferation, which can become malignant. For the same reason, you should not go to a solarium with moles.

In addition, the sun dehydrates skin cells, and the delicate surface of the mole may crack and begin to bleed.

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Is it possible to lighten moles?

According to dermatologists, it is impossible to lighten moles, since the UV-absorbing pigment melanin, which gives color to moles, is concentrated in melanosomes and the cytoplasm of melanocytes, and its "reserve" - due to constant replenishment (melanogenesis) - is difficult to reduce. Of course, you can use some lightening cream, but the effect of such products is short-lived. In addition, products with hydroquinone (the most common component of lightening creams) cause a lot of side effects in the form of reddening of the skin, dermatitis with itching and peeling, increased pigmentation and even acne.

Is it possible to bandage a mole?

A strange question, perhaps they confused moles with warts again...

Can a pimple appear on a mole?

A pimple can appear; how and why, read more here - Pimple on a mole

Can a mole fall off on its own?

According to experts, a mole can fall off on its own if it has died. This happens when the appearance of a mole is caused by changes in hormone levels, and as soon as everything is normal with the hormones, the mole dries up and falls off. In order to, as they say, sleep peacefully, go to a dermatologist so that he can examine the place where it was and advise what to do, or rather, what not to do (do not sunbathe, do not tear off the scab, etc.).

Can removing a mole cause melanoma?

The most serious question: can removing a mole cause cancer, particularly skin cancer such as melanoma?

The development of melanoma can be provoked by professionally irresponsible removal of a dysplastic nevus – without conducting a histological examination of the removed mole.

When the melanocytes of a malignant mole remain in the skin, melanoma can develop. And although this aggressive form of skin cancer can be cured in almost all cases in the early stages, each year more than 3% of melanoma cases worldwide end in death. So when oncologists are asked whether it is possible to die from a mole, they nod their heads affirmatively and recommend paying attention to congenital nevi, among which malignant moles may lurk.

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