Pulling Hair from Moles

Q: Why shouldn't hair be pulled out of moles?

A: Actually, according to Dr. Bernard Cohen, who is the interim chair of dermatology at Johns-Hopkins School of Medicine, you can do pretty much anything to a mole that you want: pluck, wax, shave or use electrolysis. {This information is cited from the "Health Answers" column of "The Boston Globe" on April 17, 2006.}

There have been erroneous ideas and old wives' tales that plucking hairs from moles can cause them to turn cancerous, but physicians in the field of dermatology and oncology insist that this is merely because occasionally people have blamed the fact that they may have plucked a hair from a mole which later coincidentally became cancerous for causing the cancerous state.

It is advised that you always make sure to avoid exposing moles to the sun, and you should be sure to use sunscreen on any exposed moles (as well as the rest of the skin) when you plan to be outside.

Of course, the physical shape of a mole can dictate taking special precautions when dealing with that area of the skin. If the mole is textured or raised, you will want to use care when shaving over the area so that you prevent nicks and cuts that can become infected.

In a salon setting, plucking hairs from a mole should be done using the same sanitation and sterilization guidelines as are used for any hair removal process. Make sure to pay close attention to the mole after any plucking or shaving to prevent inflammation and potential subsequent infection.

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See also:

Hair myths

How to remove unwanted hair