# Should I cut this mole off? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 15, 2011, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-cut-this-mole-off/606290 "2011-12-15T11:11:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-cut-this-mole-off/606290/1 "2011-12-15T11:11:30Z")
I’ve got this gross “cocoa puff” mole on the side of my neck that I’ve been thinking of getting removed for a couple of years now. Earlier today I went to get my hair cut and the barber snagged it with the electric clippers. It hardly hurt at the time, but there was blood everywhere and it was hanging on my a thread. Two hours later the band aid he gave me was completely soaked with blood, so I took it off and it’s still hanging on by a thread and still bleeding slowly. Since it’s already mutilated, I’m tempted just to snip the fucker off with scissors and have done with it. What do you reckon? ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-cut-this-mole-off/606290/2 "2011-12-15T11:50:52Z")
Oh well. I boiled the hell out of some nail clippers, disinfected the area and went for it. Nasty but it worked. It’s bleeding neither more nor less than before. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-cut-this-mole-off/606290/3 "2011-12-15T11:53:07Z")
When it heals up, you might want to get a doc to look at it. Irritation and subcritical infection during healing can be a trigger for benign things to turn nasty, I believe. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-cut-this-mole-off/606290/4 "2011-12-15T12:01:31Z")
Thanks for the heads-up **Mangetout**. I will keep an eye on it and get a quack to look at it (once I’m in a country with cheap private medicine). I really need it to stop bleeding before I go to bed. May have to dig out my stiptic stick or whatever it’s called. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-cut-this-mole-off/606290/5 "2011-12-15T12:17:16Z")
I’ve cut off a number of small skin tags and moles. Key word here is small. I’d probably have done the same thing as the OP, if a mole had already been just hanging by a thread. Usually I’ve used cuticle scissors rather than fingernail clippers, though. I’ve also had some raised moles removed by doctors. The moles tended to snag and rub against things, and were constantly irritated. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-cut-this-mole-off/606290/6 "2011-12-15T12:25:16Z")
Glad I’m not alone in this. It didn’t hurt btw. The mole part actually seemed to have no nerves at all. The place where the barber got me was clearly the part of the neck pulled outwards by it because it did sting. I’m all disinfected and band-aided now, and the bleeding seems to have stopped. I shall call it serendipity. ---
**Author:** ![slm2955](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c6cbf5/32.png) [@slm2955](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slm2955)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-cut-this-mole-off/606290/7 "2011-12-15T19:47:53Z")
If it Buggs you out, then yes cut it off. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-cut-this-mole-off/606290/8 "2011-12-15T20:05:52Z")
I was kind of hoping this would be a John le Carré-esque discussion of when to stop paying a double agent. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Jaledin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jaledin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaledin)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-cut-this-mole-off/606290/9 "2011-12-15T20:24:13Z")
No, _I’m_ the wart. Growth. Cut it – here’s a quarter – off with supervision. I had a few of them – weird stuff. I usually shave harder next time, but ToeJam, lance that boil and report back, because I really NEED to know. Actually kind of interesting. I would say seriously cut it off and see what happens, but that’s my serious-minded uncle speaking. ---
**Author:** ![slm2955](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c6cbf5/32.png) [@slm2955](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slm2955)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-cut-this-mole-off/606290/10 "2011-12-15T21:12:08Z")
Ohhhhhh wow! I just realized you already cut it off…need to start reading all the posts b4 I reply:smack: ---
**Author:** ![rhubarbarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb9ed0/32.png) [@rhubarbarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhubarbarin)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-cut-this-mole-off/606290/11 "2011-12-15T21:55:56Z")
I’ve removed several moles and skin tags myself. Never had an issue besides the initial bleeding, and they all healed up with no scar and never grew back. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-cut-this-mole-off/606290/12 "2011-12-16T01:07:15Z")
Yes-if you don’t want the little lowlife to get any part of your inheritance, then you are under absolutely no obligation to do so. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-cut-this-mole-off/606290/13 "2011-12-16T01:16:09Z")
And get a new barber. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-cut-this-mole-off/606290/14 "2011-12-16T01:32:33Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > And get a new barber. Second! I’m glad it (seems to have) worked out okay for you in the end. I feel for you, though. I had a bad experience with an ear-lengthener when I went to get a haircut the day after I got my eyebrow pierced. It sucks! ☹ ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-cut-this-mole-off/606290/15 "2011-12-16T09:17:23Z")
Either the haircut sapped me of my mental prowess, or I’m having a bad brain day, or there are many things in this thread that make no objective sense. > [@](#): > > If it Buggs you out Autocorrect error? > [@](#): > > No, _I’m_ the wart. Growth. Cut it – here’s a quarter – off with supervision. > … > ToeJam, lance that boil and report back, because I really NEED to know. Er… > [@](#): > > I had a bad experience with an ear-lengthener WTF? I would get another barber, except where I am there are no others. He’s a really nice guy and was very embarrassed and apologetic. I didn’t tip him this time. Then he wished me a Merry Christmas. We waved at each other in the village today. ---
**Author:** ![brittekland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@brittekland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brittekland)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-cut-this-mole-off/606290/16 "2011-12-16T09:29:17Z")
> [@](#): > > the haircut sapped me of my mental prowess Perhaps it’s the removed mole? > [@jjimm](#): > > I would get another barber, except where I am there are no others. He’s a really nice guy and was very embarrassed and apologetic. I didn’t tip him this time. Then he wished me a Merry Christmas. We waved at each other in the village today. Mole mangler! ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-cut-this-mole-off/606290/17 "2011-12-16T09:41:05Z")
He molected me. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-cut-this-mole-off/606290/18 "2011-12-16T10:11:32Z")
Reading this message board is really enlightening in terms of seeing how other people treat their skin… ---
**Author:** ![BeaMyra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/2bfe46/32.png) [@BeaMyra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeaMyra)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-cut-this-mole-off/606290/19 "2011-12-16T10:49:39Z")
I also would snip it off. Make sure you alcohol the clippers or hold it under a flame to sterilize it. I will bet it grows back though. Moles usually do unless even when you get them professionally removed ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-cut-this-mole-off/606290/20 "2011-12-16T10:52:01Z")
> [@BeaMyra](#): > > I also would snip it off. Make sure you alcohol the clippers or hold it under a flame to sterilize it. I will bet it grows back though. Moles usually do unless even when you get them professionally removed Post #2. 😛 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-cut-this-mole-off/606290.md?page=2)