Many people have moles, skin tags, and wart-like growths (seborrheic keratoses). Some people are born with these, but many skin growths develop as we get older. You should not try to remove these skin growths yourself. It is important to see a healthcare professional to evaluate and remove the growth if needed. The skin growth may be cancerous, but only a specially trained healthcare professional can tell.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) product to treat moles, skin tags, or other skin growths. There are a few OTC products that are sold in retail stores and online that claim to remove these lesions. These products are dangerous and can damage your skin even more. They are sold as ointments, gels, sticks, and liquids and may contain high levels of chemicals (e.g., salicylic acid) that can severely damage your skin. In fact, FDA has received reports of people who have permanent skin injuries and developed severe infections after using products marketed as mole and skin tag removers. Even products that claim to be “natural” or “organic” can be harmful; they may even make the mole or lesion more noticeable, especially if it is on your face.
In August of 2022, FDA issued a warning to consumers about the dangers of these products. They also issued a warning letter to several companies selling unapproved medicine for mole and skin tag removal. Since then, Amazon.com has removed all products claiming to remove skin tags and moles from their United States based website. However, some products can still be found on international Amazon.com websites and US based online stores and websites such as Ebay.com (Figure 1).
Here’s what you can do: If you have moles, skin tags or other skin growths, schedule an appointment with a healthcare professional, such as a dermatologist. They can evaluate your skin and help you decide how to treat the skin growth. It may need to be removed. Never try to treat a skin growth or remove a skin tag on your own. Products sold in retail stores and online that claim to treat moles, skin tags, and other skin growths should not be used.
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Published July 25, 2023
