Medical expert of the article
New publications
Removing moles at home
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025

All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.

Almost everyone has moles or nevi. They are almost invisible, but can cause significant discomfort. It is also very dangerous to damage a mole, because severe bleeding can begin. If a nevus is located on the body so that it can be damaged, has an unaesthetic appearance or causes other types of discomfort, it can be removed.
You can remove a mole yourself or by contacting a doctor. The problem of unwanted moles and their removal from different parts of the body has interested people before. Therefore, traditional medicine offers many ways and recipes to get rid of a nevus yourself and safely.
Before deciding to remove a mole, you need to analyze what the consequences may be and whether it bothers you so much. Most often, those moles that are on the face, neck, especially large in size or can develop into a malignant tumor are removed.
Removing a mole consists of preparation, the removal process itself of varying duration, and subsequent care and monitoring of the residual scar. With the right approach, removing a mole will be quite simple, safe, and effective.
Indications for the procedure
Indications for mole removal may vary, but they all boil down to a few main factors. Mole removal is recommended if:
- It is located on the face.
- If it is particularly large. Moles accumulate melanin, so large specimens can develop into melanoma.
- The mole constantly causes discomfort and is located in places of constant contact with clothing or jewelry.
- You constantly touch the mole with your nails or other objects, it is located in an extremely inconvenient place. For example, on the back of the hand, on the ankle, etc.
Moles are also removed because they can cause a malignant tumor. Those that are located in places most exposed to the sun are most susceptible to this risk. If you decide to remove a mole, be sure to see an oncologist. A mole can degenerate into melanoma, the doctor will immediately determine this. To avoid harming yourself and your body as a whole when removing a mole on your own, it is better to consult a specialist.
Preparation
Removing moles at home on your own is very dangerous. Doctors constantly warn about this. But if you still decide to get rid of an unwanted mole on your own, you should consider several things:
- Choose a method of removal. This can be an ointment, medications or tinctures. Very often, a mole is not only treated with ointment, but also tied with a thread at the base.
- Make sure that you are not allergic to any of the components of the selected drug.
- The mole being removed must be free of damage or suspicion of melanoma, namely, it must have smooth edges, a uniform color, a dry surface, and a normal size.
- The skin around the mole should not be inflamed. Also, there should be no rash, irritation, insect bites, fresh wounds or scratches near the mole.
Preparation for mole removal is a very important part of the entire procedure. It is important to choose the right method from the start so that there are no complications later. Otherwise, you can get an infection, there is a high risk of bleeding.
[ 3 ]
Technique home mole removal
There are different ways to remove a mole at home. You can choose a simpler method or a whole complex. Several recommendations on which method of removing moles at home is better:
- Before starting a course of procedures, no matter what product you decide to remove a mole, be sure to do a tolerance test. Apply the product to a small area of skin under the knee or on the inside of the wrist. Wait a day. If there is no allergy, rash, burning or itching, the medicine is suitable for you.
- Opt for simpler options. Choose several. If the first method does not work, you can safely try the next one.
- It is advisable to use recipes with available components. Onions, garlic, lemon, castor oil can be bought in any store and pharmacy.
- The removal course should not be too long.
- The result should be replaced as soon as possible. For example, after the first week of use.
- The chosen method should not take much time. Choose those methods where you need to apply the ointment or medicine before going to bed or in the morning and evening.
Below are the most common, effective and affordable ways to remove a mole at home. Each option has certain pros and cons. But the main advantage of each of them is that they have been tested by thousands of people over many years.
Mole Removal Products
Stefalin. This is a modern, very effective drug. It is made from a collection of medicinal herbs and roots, does not contain artificial additives. It consists of two components. A decoction is made from some of the herbs. The other part of the herbs and roots is dried, then ground into powder. The decoction and powder are combined, an ointment is obtained. Thus, the drug penetrates deeply into the mole and the root itself, providing a good result.
Use carefully and according to the instructions. Cover the skin around the mole with a plaster, because Stefalin cannot be applied to the skin. The ointment is applied once a day. It is better to choose the period before going to bed or apply it all night. The main thing is not to wet the mole. If you need to remove the mole quickly, apply it 2 times a day.
Malavit. The preparation consists of 37 herbs collected in Altai. It also includes mumiyo, minerals and acids. Using Malavit is quite simple. Apply a small amount of ointment to a cotton swab and apply it to the mole. Secure with adhesive tape. This should be done once every two days.
Collomak. This preparation is more suitable for removing a small mole. Collomak softens the tissue of the mole, then it can be easily removed. Duration of use is 3-4 days. Apply the preparation to the mole several times a day.
Cryopharma or Wartner. These preparations freeze the mole, after which it should gradually disappear from the surface of the skin. The product is applied to the mole, then it gradually disappears within 10 days. If the mole is very large, the procedure can be repeated again, but only after 14 days.
Viferon has one contraindication: it cannot be used during pregnancy and lactation.
Removing moles with hair
There is probably no simpler and safer method. But hair can only remove a small mole, larger specimens should be removed with creams, ointments or freezing. Hair can only remove a hanging mole that is raised well above the skin.
So, take a long hair and tie it around the mole at the very base. Tie a knot. You should tie the mole not too tightly, but not too loosely either. The hair should not cause pain or severe discomfort, but you should feel it. Walk around with the hair for a few days. Check the mole, it should dry out a little. Pull the hair so that it also holds well at the base. If the hair is lost, take a new one.
You can remove a mole with horse hair. The method is very effective and fast. You won't be able to tie the mole with hair on your own, so ask someone to help you. You need to tie the mole at the base as tightly as possible, but not too much. The blood will stop flowing into the mole, and it will quickly fall off. You need to wear the hair for 3-4 days, without removing it before going to bed or in the shower.
Removing moles with celandine
Celandine is a wonderful folk remedy for moles of various kinds. It acts as a "burner", gradually drying and removing the mole. It can be used to remove both hanging moles and mole-spots. Celandine also removes pigment spots. Here are some tips on how to remove moles with celandine:
- Take a celandine stem, cut off a piece and apply it to the mole with the cut side down. The juice should completely fall on the mole. It is also harmless to the skin and does not cause allergies.
- Make an ointment. Mix crushed celandine and Vaseline in equal proportions. Treat the mole with the resulting ointment every day.
- Celandine tincture. Fill any jar halfway with fresh celandine leaves. Then fill to the top with vodka. Infuse for 14 days. Strain well and store in the refrigerator or cellar. Before use, dilute the tincture 1:1 with water, moisten a cotton swab and apply to moles. Quite large moles can be removed in a couple of months. The main thing is not to interrupt the course.
Celandine acts slowly, but is almost always effective and painless. In some cases, a slight redness around the mole is noted, which quickly passes. Be sure to consult a doctor whether it is worth removing the mole.
Mole removal with acid
- Salicylic acid. Salicylic acid is quite affordable, it is widely used in many branches of medicine. The acid gradually dries out the mole, which leads to its complete disappearance. It is better to apply the acid only to the mole itself, without affecting the adjacent areas of the skin. The fact is that constant contact can lead to drying, peeling, reddening of the skin. Then it will become difficult to determine whether this is a negative reaction of the body to the acid or just irritation.
- Acetic acid. Vinegar is also great for removing moles and warts. Use a pipette to apply a few drops to the mole. Do this for 7 days, several times a day. The risk of using acetic acid is that the skin around the mole and the mole itself must be without any damage. If there is a wound or a fresh scratch on the skin, vinegar can corrode the damaged area even more.
- Citric acid. This method works almost the same as the previous one. Citric acid can be made from very concentrated juice. Apply it a couple of times a day to the mole for a week. Citric acid will not only help remove the mole, but also lighten pigment spots.
Removing moles with iodine
Removing moles with iodine is considered effective because this drug can penetrate the mole itself and destroy it completely. It dries and cauterizes the mole both from the outside and from the inside. There are several ways to remove a mole with iodine:
- Soak a cotton swab in iodine and apply it to the mole. Secure it with a bandage and leave it overnight. In the morning, be sure to remove the bandage and wash the mole. After a few days of such procedures, the mole will begin to disappear.
- Another way is to dilute iodine with water in a ratio of 1 to 5 and apply it to the mole. Leave it for no more than 5 minutes and wash it off with water. It is better not to touch the adjacent areas of skin.
- Hanging moles can also be removed with a regular alcohol solution of iodine. Treat such a mole with iodine several times a day, without touching the skin around it. Gradually, the mole will simply dry out and disappear. After this method of removal, there are no marks or scars left on the skin.
In general, removing moles with iodine is very safe and cheap. Even if you don’t have iodine at home, you can always buy it at the pharmacy. It doesn’t irritate the skin, there is no risk of bleeding or inflammation. The only downside is that iodine leaves marks on the skin. If the mole is in a visible place, it should be treated very carefully. If not, you can also touch the skin around it.
Removing a mole with vinegar
A mole can also be removed with vinegar. Apple cider vinegar is perfect for this purpose. It is more gentle, does not irritate the skin and has a mild effect. This method is designed to remove moles and pigment spots on the skin, but is not suitable for removing hanging or convex moles. The principle of action is that vinegar bleaches the spot on the skin, removing the pigment. Several options for use:
- Apply a few drops of vinegar to the mole. Do this for a week. The mole should gradually disappear without a trace. This method does not cause any skin rashes, allergies or itching.
- First, check if you are allergic to vinegar. Apply a small amount to the skin, do not wash off, hold for 24 hours. If the skin does not react to the acids of vinegar, you can begin to remove the mole. Make a small tampon out of cotton wool that will only cover the roller itself. Soak it in vinegar and apply it to the mole. Secure with adhesive tape. You need to wear the bandage constantly for a week. Change the cotton swab several times a day. The mole should disappear completely.
- If you have time, then you should try this effective method of removing moles.
First, you need to soften the skin. Hold the mole in water or under running water for 10-15 minutes. Soak a cotton swab in vinegar and apply to the mole. Hold for 15-20 minutes. Remove the swab and wash the mole. Do this 4 times a day for a week. The result will pleasantly surprise you. The mole will turn black and become covered with a crust. Then it will fall off, and clean skin without a trace will remain underneath.
Removing moles with laundry soap
Laundry soap dries and helps to remove a mole almost painlessly. This way you can get rid of a small hanging mole. This should be done like this:
- Before going to bed, apply a thick layer of soap to the mole. Repeat the procedure 3-4 nights. You need to apply the soap carefully so as not to damage the mole. After applying, it should become slightly inflamed. This means that the destruction process has begun. You do not need to apply more soap. Gradually, the mole will dry out and fall off on its own.
- If you can't apply soap at night, you can make a kind of compress. Cut a thin layer of soap and apply it to the mole. In this case, either the skin or the soap should be moistened with water. Put a bandage on top and fix it with adhesive tape. In the evening, be sure to remove the compress and wash the skin. Do this for 3 days.
After applying laundry soap, the skin will certainly become inflamed, there will be redness, a burning sensation and itching. But you should never touch the mole. You also cannot treat it with anything - cream or other preparations. You need to be patient for a few days, after which the mole will begin to dry out, the skin will become normal in color and the discomfort will disappear. After the mole falls off on its own, clean skin without scars will remain underneath. This method is not suitable for removing moles-spots or weakly expressed moles.
Removing moles using folk methods
- Soda. Soda dehydrates and corrodes the mole. Make a paste. To do this, mix a teaspoon of soda and 4 teaspoons of water. Leave the mixture on the mole for 1 hour. For 3 days, lubricate the mole 2 times a day. You can also mix soda and vitamin E. This will help achieve quick results.
- Flax. It has not been scientifically proven that flax helps remove moles, but it is considered one of the most effective means for removing moles of different types. You will need flaxseed oil, honey and flax flour. Mix oil and honey in equal parts. Add a little flour to make a cream. Apply to the mole, hold for an hour and wash off. Do this once a day for 7 days.
- Dandelion. This method will help remove flat moles, gradually bleaching them. Cut the dandelion root and smear the mole with the resulting white liquid. Leave for 30 minutes and wash off. The procedure should be repeated for at least a week, then the result will be noticeable. You can make an ointment. Mix 1 tbsp. juice with 4 tbsp. butter. Lubricate the mole several times a day.
- Vinegar and garlic. Cut 2 cloves of garlic and pour 100 g (half a glass) of apple cider vinegar. Leave for 14 days. Then soak a cotton swab in the infusion and apply it to the mole overnight. Do this until the mole disappears.
Mole removal with a loop
Another painless and quick method to remove a mole is a loop. This is the name of a special surgeon's instrument, which is used to perform the entire procedure. No side effects, irritation or bleeding have been observed before.
The device looks like this: it is a kind of pen, at the end of which there is a metal loop. It is very small, so it can remove the smallest moles. The loop is thrown over the mole, then a high-frequency current is applied.
How the removal is done: high-frequency current strongly heats up the mole and instantly cuts it off. Due to this, bleeding does not begin. Also, there is no infection of the tissues around, allergic rashes, etc.
After removing a mole with a loop, a small crust remains on the surface. It falls off on its own within a week. It may leave a small white spot, which soon disappears completely. If the mole was large or deep, a light scar will remain on the skin, which will gradually become barely noticeable.
Moles can be removed with a coagulator only after consulting a doctor. Any mole can degenerate into melanoma. If such a malignant mole is removed, it can aggravate the disease. Cancerous moles are removed by capturing the skin around them for several centimeters.
Contraindications to the procedure
If you decide to remove an annoying mole, you should know a number of cases when this should not be done. Contraindications to removing moles:
- Suspected malignant tumor.
- There are inflammations on the skin near the mole. First you need to treat them, and then remove the mole.
- Pregnancy. Women "in position" should postpone the removal of a mole until after childbirth.
- Allergy to some components of the drugs or suspicion of a negative reaction.
- Diabetes.
It is better to remove a mole at home only after consulting an oncologist. Any mole can develop into melanoma. Then surgery is necessary to remove not only the dangerous growth, but also its root. It is also very important to remove all damaged tissue around it. If you are absolutely healthy, you can choose any of the options for self-removal of the mole and proceed to it. But if there are any of the listed contraindications, remove the mole only in a medical center.
[ 4 ]
Consequences after the procedure
By removing a mole, you interfere with the well-coordinated work of the body and disrupt it. This can have consequences of varying degrees of complexity:
- There will certainly be a small fresh wound at the site of the mole at first. Its size depends on the size of the removed mole. This is a completely natural process, so do not panic.
- A crust appears on the wound. It should never be torn off or otherwise affected. The crust should fall off on its own. The tissues are undergoing restoration and healing processes underneath it.
- A light spot will remain in place of the crust. This is young skin, which is sensitive to direct sunlight. It is also forbidden to visit a solarium.
- It takes 2-3 weeks for the skin to change from white to normal color. The redness gradually goes away.
- For up to six months, discomfort may be felt, reminiscent of the removed mole.
If you decide to speed up healing with a cream or ointment, be sure to consult your doctor. The chosen product may contain components that are not suitable for you.
Complications after the procedure
Self-removal of moles at home has a number of complications, which it is recommended to familiarize yourself with before starting the course:
- No matter how hard you try, it is simply impossible to observe all hygiene standards at home. The probability of infection is very high. In a medical center, the surgeon's operating room, all the instruments and the doctor's clothes are completely sterile. And what about you?
- Some moles should not be touched at all. Otherwise, severe bleeding may begin.
- It is impossible to completely remove a mole on your own. You will not be able to determine the depth at which the root is located. Hanging and convex moles are especially deceptive. The upper part can be removed, but the root remains. A new mole can grow in the same place.
- Very often, a noticeable scar remains at the site of the removed mole. When removing a mole with a laser, nitrogen or other method, most often nothing remains on the skin.
- There is a big risk of choosing the wrong method of removal. The mole will remain in the same place, you will only harm the skin around it. Taking unknown infusions internally can harm the body as a whole.
[ 7 ]
Care after the procedure
The rehabilitation period takes about 2 to 6 months. During this time, the skin should fully recover, and the feeling of discomfort should disappear. In general, the rehabilitation period begins on the first day after removal by any chosen method.
Immediately after removal, a crust appears on the site of the mole. It should not be torn off or scratched. You should also avoid contact with water and applying any cosmetics. The only thing you can use is sunscreen. The protection level should be 60 or higher.
The crust should fall off on its own. The skin around the removal site will be red for about 15 days. This is completely natural and indicates that the recovery process is going well. Gradually, the removal site will become the same color as the skin around it. Feelings of discomfort may occur periodically, but they will gradually pass.
The rehabilitation period directly depends on the size and depth of the mole. A small mole is easier to remove and in a month you can safely forget about it. A larger mole will cause more trouble. Perhaps a small scar or mark on the skin will remain.
If the mole is removed correctly, it will not require any special care. On the contrary, it is advisable to disturb it as little as possible. The only thing that can be used to treat a mole is hydrogen peroxide. Gently wipe the removal site, but only after the crust falls off.
If a mole was removed carelessly and a scar remains in its place, it can be reduced using a special silicone-based patch. Attach it well to the area of skin with a scar and wear it for some time. It is believed that the patch presses on the scar, hindering blood flow. Therefore, the scar or cicatrice becomes less noticeable and decreases in size.
Care and observation for at least several months are necessary when a large mole with a deep root was removed. It may not have been completely removed, the root remained in the tissue. A new mole may form in its place. You cannot try to get rid of it yourself. Immediately consult a doctor, only he can decide what to do with the recurrence. It can be left or removed.