Moles are common skin growths developing from clusters of pigment-producing cells called melanocytes. They vary in color, shape, and size, appearing as dark marks or flesh-colored bumps. While most moles are harmless, attempting self-removal is highly discouraged due to significant health risks and potential complications.
Immediate Consequences
Attempting to cut off a mole can lead to immediate and painful physical reactions. Moles contain blood vessels, and self-removal can result in significant and uncontrolled bleeding, especially if large or deep. An open wound created by unsterile tools introduces bacteria, leading to a high risk of infection. Infections can manifest as pain, redness, swelling, and pus, potentially escalating to serious systemic conditions like cellulitis. Such trauma also causes inflammation and localized tenderness.
Underlying Dangers
A serious risk of self-removing a mole is missing a cancer diagnosis. Moles can be benign or cancerous, including aggressive melanoma. Self-removal destroys the tissue, making it impossible for a pathologist to examine it for cancerous cells. This delay in diagnosis can allow melanoma to spread, becoming life-threatening.
Moles often have cells that extend deeper than what is visible on the skin’s surface. Self-removal is unlikely to extract the entire mole, which can lead to regrowth. If a cancerous mole regrows after incomplete removal, it might become more aggressive and difficult to treat. Self-inflicted wounds often heal poorly, resulting in prominent, permanent scars. There is also a potential for damaging superficial nerves during self-removal, which could lead to numbness or altered sensation in the affected area.
What to Do After Self-Removal
If you have attempted to cut off a mole, seeking immediate medical attention is necessary. Contact a dermatologist or general practitioner as soon as possible to assess the wound and any removed tissue. For immediate wound care, apply gentle pressure to stop bleeding and clean the area with mild soap and water. Cover the wound with a sterile dressing to protect it from contamination.
If any tissue was removed, place it in a clean, dry container or bag and bring it to the doctor. This can potentially allow for pathological examination, even if damaged. Be completely honest with your healthcare provider about what happened; accurate details enable appropriate care and risk evaluation, including infection and biopsy needs. Monitor the area for signs of complications, such as worsening pain, increased redness, pus, or fever, and report these to your doctor promptly.
Safe and Professional Mole Removal
For safe and effective mole removal, consulting a qualified medical professional, such as a dermatologist, is the recommended approach. Professionals assess moles for cosmetic concerns, irritation, or suspicion of malignancy, identifying if a mole is cancerous or has potential future problems.
Common, safe removal methods performed by doctors include surgical excision and shave excision. Surgical excision involves cutting out the entire mole, often with a margin of healthy skin, and then stitching the wound closed. This method allows for complete removal and thorough pathological examination of the tissue.
Shave excision is typically used for raised moles, where the mole is shaved down to skin level using a blade, also allowing for pathological analysis. Sometimes, a biopsy is performed first to determine if a mole is cancerous before proceeding with full removal. Professional mole removal minimizes scarring, maintains sterility, and allows for accurate pathological analysis to rule out or diagnose skin cancer.