How To Remove a Mole at Home? (SAFELY!)

Moles are extremely common type of skin growths for people with light skin. People who have light skin tend to have around 10 to 40 moles, according to American Academy of Dermatology. Although there's several types of moles, but what most adults have is referred to as a common mole. Other types of moles are named as atypical moles, congenital moles, spitz nevus, and acquired moles.

Photo by Marco Verch (licensed)

Which type of mole do you have?

• Common mole: This is the type of mole which most adults with light skin have. A person may have between 10 to 40 moles on an average and these are generally harmless.
• Atypical mole: This type of mole may look like melanoma, even though it is not. However you should be careful if you have 4 or more of these moles as you could be at a higher risk of getting melanoma. Atypical mole is also referred to as dysplastic nevus.
• Congenital mole: On average 1 out of 100 people are born with a mole which is referred to as congenital mole. It could be small, medium, or even giant in size and increases the risks of developing melanoma.
• Spitz nevus: This one is usually pink in color, but it also may have some reddish, blackish, or brownish color to it as well. This type of mole looks pretty much like melanoma. However it is hard to tell even for a dermatologist just by looking at it. Which is why a sample might be taken for biopsy to further confirm if it is just a mole or melanoma.
• Acquired mole: This is where things might get a little serious. When a person is born with a mole, it is called as an acquired mole. But it ranges between 50-100 or even more number of moles. If someone has 50 or more of these types of moles, the chances of melanoma are way higher than any other type.

How to confirm if a mole is cancerous?

If you or your family members have a history of skin cancer, it is very important to get the screening done by a dermatologist before you decide to remove the mole at home. This might be the only way to know for sure if the skin growth that you have is a harmless mole or a cancerous one.

Some common signs are:

• The mole has different colors
• It is not in a symmetrical shape
• It has weird, rough, or irregular borders
• It is larger in size than usual
• It changes size, shape, and color often

When is it okay to use home remedies for mole removal?

If you want to get rid of the mole solely for cosmetic reasons, your insurance company most likely won't cover it and you'd have to pay the doctor's bill in full from your pocket. However, if the mole that you have poses a health risk such as the mole being cancerous or infectious, then the insurance company is most likely going to cover it. So it is important to get the initial diagnosis first before you take the next step of removing the mole at home.

Costs for mole removal may vary a lot as there are several factors involved such as the size, shape, and number of moles that you want removed. The range is usually from $200-$2,000 for each mole. That's right, this is how much it may end up costing if you want to get the mole removed for cosmetic reasons.

How to remove moles at home safely and effectively?

Although the home remedies are not backed by science but there are some natural remedies that are used by a lot of people to remove moles. Especially when the insurance does not cover the mole removal process. Some of the common ones are:

• Apple cider vinegar 
• Aven Buzz Mole Remover Pen
• Garlic
• Iodine
• Banana peel
• Castor oil
• Tea tree oil
• Baking soda
• Frankincense oil

A word of caution

Never use home remedies such as clipping or shaving the mole off. It can lead to severe bleeding and serious infection. If you are not sure about the type of mole that you have, you should always consider seeing your doctor first to find out if the mole is just a common skin growth which can be taken off by home remedies, or if it is something serious like melanoma and cancer.