Essential Oils for Mole

Moles are generally small-pigmented spots made up of melanocyte cells that appear on the surface of the skin. Melanocyte cells are those cells that are responsible for the pigmentation of the skin.

Moles are usually brown in color, however some might be dark brown or skin colored. They could be rough or smooth, raised or flat and few may have hair growing on them. While most of them are harmless and pose no health threat, they could be a problem from an aesthetic point of view.

What Is A Mole And Its Signs And Symptoms?

Think of it as an abnormal coming together of cells that produce the pigment that gives your skin its natural color. Normally, these cells, which are called melanocytes, are evenly spread all through the deepest layer of the epidermis.

Nobody is sure what causes these cells to form a cluster and lead to the dark spots known as moles. But experts suggest that UV damage may be responsible for acquired melanocytic nevus or moles. Generally, acquired moles are benign but congenital and atypical moles do have a higher risk of turning cancerous.

When And Why Do Moles Develop?

Some moles may be present from birth, while most of them appear during the first 30 years of someone’s life. People with darker complexion have fewer moles in comparison to those who have lighter complexion.

Whether you will have moles or not also depends on your family history, which means you are likely to develop moles or a certain kind of mole if they are common in your family.

Where you were brought up is also a factor that decides whether moles will appear on your body. For example, if you have had more exposure to the sun, then you have good chance of having several small moles. In most cases, many of the moles disappear on their own without you noticing them.

The reason behind the appearance of some of the moles may also be hormonal. Here are few of the periods of life where the likelihood of the appearance of moles is higher:

Teenage years – you might have large number of moles
Older age – they might start appearing after the age of 50 years
During pregnancy – your moles tend to become slightly darker

Facts About Moles

The two images below show 13 facts about moles.

When To See Your Doctor?

Most adults will sport 10 to 40 moles all over their body, and a large number of these will make their appearance through the first two decades of a person’s life. If you have more than 50 moles (acquired) or more than 5 atypical moles, get them checked.

A normal mole is perfectly round, 1mm-4mm in size and can be flat or slightly raised. Although it may fade or grow darker with time, significant changes in size, symmetry and color are cause for concern. A good way to keep a check on these dark spots is by following the “ABCDE” rule.

Asymmetry: No symmetry in shape between two halves of the dark area.
Border irregularities: Notched, ragged and blurred border with possible pigment bleeding into the surrounding skin
Color difference: Different colors and textures in the same mole, ranging from black to tan, brown and even reddish.
Diameter changes: A size of more than 5 mm and increase in diameter to 6 mm or more.
Evolves: Changes in the color, symmetry, feel, texture or size in the recent past.

Even if you don’t have atypical moles, or any moles to that matter, it is still recommended that you regularly do a self-exam to check for changes in existing moles and the appearance of new ones.

The one thing to remember is that not all melanomas (cancerous moles) have all the “ABCDE” features; many may only have one or two and in rare cases, some may not have any of these features.

In general, if you have a family history of melanoma or a congenital mole, regular medical examinations are highly recommended.

Natural Product To Get Rid Of Moles

Want a safe and natural product for benign moles or want to take care of nevi symptoms naturally without any pain or scars!

How To Use Essential Oils To Get Rid Of Moles?

Essential oils can help in multiple ways to deal with moles. What we know so far is that benign moles are essentially an aggregation of pigment producing cells. So, modern medicine deals with this problem by somehow killing (laser/cryogenics) or surgically removing this errant bunch.

Since moles are in essence hyper pigmentation of sorts, essential oils can be used to lighten them to the point where they can easily be concealed with makeup.

Also, you should not underestimate the ability of some strong oils to burn the abnormal cells. The only difference is that with the right blend of essential oils, you get the job done gradually and gently. So, there is a lower risk of scarring.

And if that isn’t enough, because essential oils minimize the damage caused by UV rays, heat exposure and free radicals, they help to prevent the formation of new moles. So, you not only get help with existing nevi but also those that may raise their heads in the future.

For this post, instead of explaining the benefits of each essential oil, then continue with the recipes, I have changed the format slightly…I list each essential oil together with the best application method to remove moles. Let’s dig in!

Best Essential Oils For Moles

1. Yarrow

A clinically studied hypopigmentation agent, yarrow essential oil helps to neutralize free radicals and inflammatory mediators. These benefits make it the perfect ingredient to tackle inflammation and oxidative stress related skin disorders, including moles. Yarrow oil is known to limit and treat hyper pigmentation caused by environmental factors and UV ray exposure.

The effects of this aromatic extract are more than just skin deep. The oil actually decreases the production of melanin by influencing tyrosinase activity at the cellular level in the melanocytes. Moreover, the small amount of thujone in the oil is just enough to deal with the abnormal melanocytes, without dealing a toxic blow to the body. Here is a recipe that provides visible results in a matter of weeks. You will need:

30 ml (1 oz.) castor oil
10 drops yarrow
4 drops sandalwood
5 drops lemon/lime

Method

Mix the oils and store in an amber glass bottle. Before applying this blend, protect the skin around the mole by layering it with a plant butter like shea/kokum or petrolatum. Personally, I always opt for plant butters that offer protection and are good for the skin.

Make a thick ring of your chosen lipid around the mole and then use a Q-tip dipped in the yarrow oil blend to apply the mixture directly on top of the mole. Cover the hyperpigmented spot completely but don’t let the blend drip outside the protective lipid ring.

Simply, dab away any runaway droplets and you should be fine. Use the blend twice a day on cleansed skin for up to 2 weeks then take a break of 1 week and continue application for another 2 weeks if required. Generally, one round of the treatment is enough to sort out most moles.

2. Vetiver

This is another essential oil that has earned clinical backing for its ability to suppress melanogenesis, in regular melanocytes as well as melanoma cells. The soothing oil is a potent antioxidant that limits oxidative stress and restores the levels of glutathione peroxidase, which is the body’s melanin controlling agent.

Moreover, the bioactive ingredients in the oil are known to strongly inhibit lipid peroxidation. Plus, vetiver essential oil boasts of superlative anti-inflammatory potential, which reduces the risk of new mole formation in response to UV ray exposure. If you have been looking for information on how to get rid of flat moles on face, here is a recipe that is both gentle and effective. You will need:

30 ml (1 oz.) castor oil
10 drops vetiver
8 drops sweet orange
7 drops cypress
½ tsp lemon/orange/pomegranate peel powder
Few drops of almond milk

Method

Mix 5-7 drops of the blend with the fruit peel powder and then add a few drops of almond milk/buttermilk to make a smooth paste that has the consistency of cake batter. You want the mixture to stay put on the mole, so make sure it isn’t runny. Apply on the mole using a Q tip or your finger.

Give the paste about 10 minutes and then apply a second layer. Let this one dry completely on your skin, then wash it off with warm water. Use this mixture once a day for a period of 3-4 weeks. You will have to make a new batch every day.

3. Thyme

In case you are wondering about the inclusion of so many herb oils, the explanation is simple and scientific. These essential oils are exceptionally rich sources of phenolic compounds. When used in high concentrations, these bioactives are known to cause the death of melanocytes, which is exactly the effect that you want when dealing with moles.

We are literally talking about botanical cauterizing here with a particularly strong phenolic compound known as thymol. So, you have to protect the skin that surrounds the mole while using this oil at a low dilution rate.

Also, you have to control inflammation after using this aromatic extract. Check out this two-part treatment that offers quick results. You will need:

For step 1: The treatment blend

30 ml (1 oz.) grapeseed carrier oil
10 drops thyme
2 drops calendula
3 drops lavender
4 drops lemon/lime

For step 2: The soothing blend

30 ml (1 oz.) jojoba/chia seed/safflower oil (chia seed preferred)
5 drops roman chamomile
3 drops sandalwood

Method

Mix the oils for step 1 and 2 separately and store both blends in dark glass bottles, away from exposure to heat and light. The thyme oil blend will cause some amount of stinging which can last for a few minutes to a few hours.

It is crucial to protect the non-treated areas from the effects of the oil. So, use petrolatum or shea butter on the skin around the mole. Apply the plant butter generously, covering an area of ½ inch diameter around the mole.

The thyme blend has to be applied directly on top of the mole. Use a Q tip for application. Keep the treatment blend on your skin for 2-3 hours then use a ball of cotton wool soaked in olive oil to clean the treated area. Simply dab at the mole instead of actually trying to wipe the treated skin, which will have signs of inflammation and redness.

After cleansing, apply the soothing blend on the treated and the surrounding areas and let it be on your skin till it is time for the second application of the treatment blend. You will have to use this blend twice a day. Ideally, you will see results within 7-10 days. But, it may take longer if you are dealing with a large mole or one that goes deeper than the juncture of the epidermis and the dermis.

However after 10 days, take a break for a week, and then go for round two of the treatment. Don’t do more than 2 rounds. Expect some amount of crusting/flaking as the melanocytes die. But at no point should there be any oozing, pus formation or weeping lesions.

Stop using the blend if the inflammation/redness seems to be spreading well beyond the treated area. While you are using this treatment, only use luke warm/room temperature water and a mild soap for cleansing once a day. Do not exfoliate the treated area before or after the treatment.

4. Frankincense

Rich in boswellic acid, frankincense essential oil has shown promise in halting cancerous cell growth. It may also come in handy in reducing mole growths. Due to its astringent properties, frankincense oil removes excess sebum and tightens the skin, which helps in drying out the mole.

Here is a recipe using frankincense essential oil I have personally tried and tested for its ability to remove moles. You will need:

30ml (1oz.) castor / coconut oil
16 drops frankincense

Method

Blend the above oils in a glass bottle.
Apply a few drops of the blend to your mole.
Repeat 1 to 2 times daily for a period of one month or until you get rid of the mole.

With consistent use, the mole will gradually become darker in color, dry out, scab, and fall off. You can keep using frankincense oil even after the mole has fallen off to help reduce the appearance of any scars.

5. Hyssop

The plant has derived its name from a Hebrew word that means “holy herb”. The pink and purple blooms of the shrub make it look like lavender, perhaps because both plants are closely related.

Hyssop is from the Lamiaceae/mint family, which also boasts of other medicinal herbs like basil, sage, lavender, rosemary and oregano. As you can see, several of these are already in our list. In case you are wondering, why bother with hyssop when you already have others?

Well, despite its extremely powerful antioxidant properties, this herb is surprisingly gentle on the skin and the body in general.

A healer of scars and wounds, this oil has also long been used to combat dermal hyper pigmentation. It works exceptionally well when used as a preventative measure for moles. If you already sport quite a few of these blemishes and would like to lighten those that already mark your skin and stop others from emerging, this recipe will help. You will need:

45 ml sesame seed oil
8 drops each of lime and lavender
6 drops hyssop
3 drops cinnamon leaf

Method

This one is easy. All you have to do is mix the oils and store the blend in a dark glass bottle. Use the mix as you would any body lotion. But remember to be a bit generous on mole covered areas and sun exposed parts of your body. Use for 2 months and then take a break of one week.

6. Clove

As far as antioxidant properties go, this is the strongest oil out there. But, we are not using this oil for its ability to fight off free radicals. In this case, we will put its ability to destroy cells when used at low dilution rates to use.

If you have ever used clove oil for toothache, I am sure you already have first-hand experience of how it stings, despite the nerve pain involved. So, I don’t have to tell you that this treatment does involve pain. Hence, reserve it for protruding nevi on the body, and not on the face. For the blend you will need:

1 drop each of clove and vetiver
4 drops of coconut oil
Aloe vera gel as required

Method

Preparation and application as above. But, be extra generous when covering the surrounding skin with a plant butter or petrolatum. Use this blend once a day for a week. Let your skin be for a few hours after using the blend. Do not wash off the blend. Instead, apply some chilled aloe vera gel, which will help with the inflammation as well as the risk of resulting infection.

Given the potency of this blend, you won’t have to use this one for more than 10 days. But, keep an eye out for inflammation that seems to be getting worse or any signs of an infection like pus formation/oozing.

It is normal to experience some amount of redness as well as peeling after a few days which results from the death of the cells. Go only for one round of this treatment.

7. Oregano

Just like frankincense, oregano essential oil is rich in monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes and phenols, which help to suppress melanocytes.

Oregano oil has antiseptic, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antifungal and antibacterial properties and is also a potent immune system stimulant, which makes it one of the most effective essential oils to remove unsightly blemishes including moles, warts, and skin tags.

Oregano can be harsh on the skin, therefore it must be diluted prior to application. Here is a tried and tested recipe for quick removal of flat or raised moles.

Method

Dilute 3-4 drops of oregano essential oil in a tablespoon of flaxseed oil.
Soak a cotton ball into the blend; let the excess drip.
Put the cotton ball on the skin and allow it to stay in position for at least 10-15 minutes using a band-aid.
Repeat twice daily and continue with this treatment for at least 3-4 weeks.

You can also dilute a drop of roman chamomile essential oil in a teaspoon of coconut or almond oil and apply it around the outer part of the mole to calm down any burning sensation. This slight tingling sensation is very common and does not last for more than a minute.

Few points to note when using oregano essential oil

Oregano oil is “hot” oil, so it will burn your skin if you do not weaken it with a carrier oil.
If you experience prolonged itching, swelling, redness or dry skin, stop using it immediately and wash the area with lukewarm water.

8. Cedarwood

This oil does not directly impact melanocytes or their function. However, it is an extremely potent anti-inflammatory agent that is often included in blends meant to treat inflammatory skin conditions.

Since the inflammation and the oxidative damage caused by sun exposure are among the primary causes of melanocytic abnormalities, this oil helps to stop the abnormal behavior of melanocytes before it turns into a problem. For this recipe, you will need:

25 ml raspberry seed oil
25 ml sesame seed oil
10 ml wheat germ oil
10 drops each of cedarwood and sandalwood
15 drops palma rosa
8 drops each of grapefruit and geranium

Method

Mix the oils and store in a dark glass bottle. Apply on sun exposed areas before using your sunscreen. Wait for 15 minutes after applying the blend and then cover with a generous layer of sunscreen. Use on the face and on your body.

If you have acne prone skin, reduce the quantity of wheat germ oil to 2 ml or replace with rice bran oil.

9. Sage

This oil has earned itself a bad rep owing to its content of thujone, a cytotoxic compound. Yet, aromatherapists and massage therapists continue to use this aromatic extract, albeit with caution.

Of all oils that contain thujone (all are contraindicated by Tisserand), sage is considered to be the safest if used for a short period of time and at topical administration rates that do not exceed 15 drops per day.

But, we are not going that far because you won’t be using 15 drops of oil and 7-10 days of application twice a day will usually get you the desired results. For this blend, you need:

1 tsp sesame seed oil
1 drop each of tea tree and lemon
2 drops sage

Method

Preparation, storage and use as above. Apply the blend on cleansed skin but only use a mild soap and room temperature water for cleansing.

For faster results, protect the surrounding skin with shea butter and put one drop of the blend on a piece of cotton wool. Place it on the mole such that the oil soaked part sits directly on top of the mole. Cover with a bandage and keep it on for 3-4 hours. Then, remove the bandage and the cotton but don’t wash your skin till it’s time for the second application.

Do not use this blend if you suffer from epilepsy, hysteria, chronic liver ailments, are pregnant or breastfeeding. Like all essential oils, keep this blend away from kids and pets and do not ingest it.

10. Rosemary

You already know that this popular kitchen herb also comes from the Lamiaceae family and like its other herby brethren, this oil too is rich in phenolic compounds.

In fact, recent studies have revealed that many of these essential oils, including that of rosemary have anti-angiogenic and pro-apoptotic properties, which work against abnormal cell growth.

In layman terms, these oils assist in keeping the programmed cellular death procedure working as it should and they prevent the body from giving blood supply to abnormal cell clusters.

Moreover, rosemary oil contains a potent photo protective agent called rosmarinic acid, which also boast of extraordinary anti-inflammatory and antioxidant powers. If you are dealing with flat melanocytic nevi on any part of the body, this spot treatment will help. You need:

30 ml (1 oz.) rosehip seed oil (if you have very sensitive skin, use 2 oz. carrier oil)
10 drops rosemary
5 drops lemon

Method

Mix the oils and store the blend in an amber glass bottle. Use a Q-tip to apply the blend on the mole. But, before application protect the surrounding skin by using a plant butter.

Use twice a day for a period of 2-3 weeks and then take a break for one week. You should not need more than two rounds of application. For the soothing blend use 2 drops of lavender essential oil in a carrier oil of your choice.

12 Natural Remedies For Moles

1. Roots to get rid of flat moles

Mix the root powders of licorice, Rubia cordifolia (Indian madder/Manjishta is available online) and lemon/orange rind powder in 1:1:2 proportion. Add enough buttermilk or yoghurt to the powder to make a thick paste.

Apply on the mole and let stay on the skin for 20-30 minutes. Wash off with warm water. Use this mask every day on flat moles on the face or elsewhere on the body.

2. Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV)

Mix a small quantity of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) with petroleum jelly and then apply this mix on the mole. Use a bandage to cover the spot. Repeat this procedure three times a day for two weeks for fast results.

What you need:

Bandage
Cotton ball
Petroleum jelly
Apple cider vinegar

Directions:

Apply a small amount of petroleum jelly around the mole to protect it from the acidic effect of vinegar. Pour a few drops of apple cider vinegar on the cotton ball and place it in a manner that the vinegar touches the skin of the mole. Secure it with a bandage and leave it in position for a couple of hours. Follow this process three times a week. After 7 days of use, you can expect the mole to begin drying up. Do not rub at this stage. Let it fall off naturally.

3. Coriander and cumin poultice

Grind a handful of coriander leaves and 1 tsp cumin seeds to a paste. Use just a bit of water when processing these ingredients because you don’t want the paste to be runny. Heat for 10 seconds in the microwave and apply a generous amount of the warm paste on the mole.

Cover with a bandage and let the poultice work on the mole for 30 to 60 minutes. Then remove the bandage and wash the treated area with room temperature water. Use every day for best results.

4. Garlic oil mix

Crush a garlic clove and prepare a paste from it. Combine it with petroleum jelly or coconut oil. Put it on your moles and leave it in position for 3-4 hours. Repeat daily for at least a week for effective results.

5. Onion and apple juice

Extract the juice of ½ onion (small) and ¼ highly acidic apple (Green) and use a piece of cotton wool or a Q-tip to apply it on the mole.

In about 5-7 minutes, the juice will dry on your skin, reapply and wait, and reapply again. Wash with room temperature water once dry. This is a slow treatment that is gentle but offers conspicuous results in time. So, patience and consistence are a part of this equation. Use the juice every day for best results.

6. Almond oil

Blend a few drops of almond oil with honey and put the mixture on your moles. Applying this blend twice on a daily basis will give you great results.

7. The fruity paste

You will need pomegranate rind powder for this paste, which can be hard to find online. So, once you are done enjoying the juicy arils, don’t discard the ruby red peel.

Either sun dry the rind or roast till hard and then powder. Mix ¼ tsp of this powder with a pinch of nutmeg and enough lemon juice to make a thick paste. Apply on the mole and allow to dry. Then, wash with room temperature water.

8. Extra virgin olive oil

Olive oil will certainly be useful in lightening your moles. Mix a few drops of it with frankincense essential oil and apply this blend 2-3 times a day on your moles.

9. Potassium for prevention

Increasing your intake of potassium can help to keep your skin free of moles. Instead of using a supplement, opt for potassium rich foods like avocados, bananas, apples, mushroom, grapefruit, tomatoes, spinach and tomatoes.

A 1% blend of Echinacea essential oil and raspberry seed/blackcurrant seed oil also helps to prevent moles.

10. Castor oil

Not only does castor oil soften and hydrate your skin but it can also penetrate deep into your dermal layers to help remove moles. So here how she goes…

Before going to bed every night, add a few drops of castor oil to a pinch of baking soda to form a thick paste. Apply this on your mole overnight. Castor oil helps protect the skin while baking soda dries out the mole.

After 3 days, you should see your mole beginning to lighten in color. It could take a week or so for the mole to start to face based on its size and color. Repeat daily for a couple of weeks until you get rid of it.

11. Coconut oil for facial moles

While most of us know that coconut oil is excellent for the hair, not many of us are unaware of its skin cleansing, healing and soothing properties.

A natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, coconut oil with its unique triglyceride profile easily gets through the upper layers of the skin to reach cells that are malfunctioning due to inflammation and oxidative damage.

In fact, coconut oil is one of the gentlest yet most effective solutions to protect your skin from accrued sun damage that eventually leads to the appearance of moles.

Even if you don’t blend essential oils with it, simply rubbing virgin coconut oil on blemishes, like moles, freckles, lentigines and brown / dark spots will help to gradually lighten them.

Coconut oil is also an excellent carrier for active ingredients as it can easily get past the dermal barrier and reach the deeper layers of the epidermis, which is where most moles start.

So, apply a small quantity of this oil once daily on your moles and you will see positive results in due course. If you want the oil to work faster, infuse it with licorice root powder.

12. Flaxseed oil

Flaxseed or linseed is well known for its skin healing effect due to the essential fatty acids (EFAs) present in it. The EFAs help to balance out the skin’s own oils and reduce inflammation and help the skin to repair.

Within a few days of using flaxseed oil on your moles, you should start seeing the edges of the mole loosening up before it falls off from your skin.

Here is a recipe using flaxseed oil that I recommend my friends to use. Mix a few drops of flaxseed oil, teaspoon honey and teaspoon flaxseed powder to prepare a paste. Apply this on your moles thrice a day until you get rid of them.

Flaxseed oil can also deal with chronic skin conditions, such as rosacea, dermatitis, eczema or psoriasis.

Remedies To Avoid For Moles

1. Pricking

Even if you use a sterilized needle, you are still creating an open wound, which has a very high potential of getting infected. And an infection will not make the mole go away, but it will add to unsightliness of it with a matching scar.

The worst part is that moles are not pimples/boils that require draining. There is no pus or blood to drain, so you could prick the hell out of that mole and it would still get you nowhere.

2. Using corrosive and abrasive substances on moles

I don’t know who came up with this harebrained idea but one kid suffered immensely because some stupid adult thought that using a corrosive chemical (read strongly acidic household cleaning agent) on the mole would make it burn right out of the body.

Guess, what happened? Yes, a big crater-like scar!

3. Cutting, shaving or using any sharp objects on the mole

Yes, that is what a doctor would do. In fact, the physician may even use a contraption that looks like a large pair of clippers or a stapler to cut/excise the mole out. But, he/she is trained to do this, you are not.

Your doctor will know how to handle any emergency that might crop up. You, on the other hand, won’t have any backup. Think about how embarrassing it would be to go to the ER, bleeding profusely, and tell them that you did it while trying to treat yourself.

4. Trying to kill a mole with dental floss

Yes, I have recommended the use of dental floss to get rid of skin tags. But moles are different. Technically, dental floss can still work because its sole purpose is to cut off blood supply to the troublesome part.

But, you are talking about a larger area here. So, it is going to be extremely painful and the risk of an infection will also be that much greater. It is simply not worth the risk.

Last but not the least, whether you choose to let that mole be or have it treated by a doctor or try natural remedies on it, the first thing you need to do is get it checked. You certainly don’t want to treat a cancerous mole or even one that has a high chance of turning cancerous with home remedies.

How Long Before I See Results?

Assuming that you are simply dealing with a pesky nevus that is not cancerous but an eyesore nonetheless, chances are that you have been yearning to get rid of it. Yes, I know that the internet is riddled with several shocking cures for moles. Hundreds of pages are devoted to teaching people how to get rid of skin moles overnight.

So, let me debunk that dangerous myth first – nothing that you do, and I mean nothing, will make that mole go away overnight or even in two nights or 5 nights.

And I am not just talking about DIY treatments here. Even if you were to get the mole surgically excised or removed through laser, there will be a scab/sutures/a burn-like wound, which take days to heal. Point is – there is no fairy dust for this one.

At this point, I bet, at least some of you are wondering – How much does it cost to remove a mole? Depending on the procedure, be willing to shell out between $150 and $1000 per mole. No wonder people are turning to DIY treatments to deal with these ungainly spots.

Typically, the incredulous techniques that are recommended for home mole removal range from pricking the dark spot to trying to shave it off/cut it off and then there is the gem that tells you how to remove a raised mole with dental floss. I admit that the technique does have some merit when it comes to dealing with skin tags.

But, a mole is a different animal. For one, these dark spots are not attached to the skin by a thin stem, which means you can’t just restrict the blood flow to the area by using dental floss. All you are going to do is end up with an infected wound and a bigger scar than your mole.

In a nutshell, whether you use one of the techniques listed in an article on “how to remove a mole yourself” or get medical help in the matter, it’s still going to be a few weeks before that mole announces its departure!