MamaBear (Toronto, Canada) on 12/16/2023:
Iodine for flat moles
I have a flat black mole between my fingers. I used generic brand 2% iodine bought in Walmart for $3ish. I put 1 drop of iodine around 6-8 times a day, randomly. I did not cover the mole. I did poke & scratch the mole before applying the iodine. Which means poking & scratching 6-8 times a day. After 2 days the mole began to scab. After 4 days the scab began to peel. I stopped iodine at that point. I didn't think anymore iodine can penetrate through the scab. After 10 days, the scab has completely peeled off but some of mole remained. Will have to do this again to completely remove the mole.
Pro: iodine method works.
Con: it takes time and effort. Also, the skin around the mole where the iodine spread became dry and discolored. See pics. I suspect with time, it will revert back to normal skin. This method will not be good for the face.
Catherine (Wellington, New Zealand) on 06/09/2013:
I have had good results with iodine painted on moles. From one huge black mole to a barely noticeable light brown mark now. I painted on the iodine at night, after a few weeks I was away on holiday and when I came back was not as regular with the routine but the mole was fading. I stopped for a while and the mole just kept on fading. I will start again now and see if the last bit disappears.
Sddave (Encinitas, Ca, Usa) on 05/21/2011:
When I first read about iodine being used for moles I was a little skeptical so I ran a test and the results so far are very interesting. Iodine definitely removes moles when applied the right way and with good frequency. I tested it on 6 moles and it removed each one. They were mostly flat, and I know most people like to remove the raised ones, but iodine seems to be a good solution for people like me with flat moes.
Mlh (Greenville, Sc) on 11/06/2010:
After having moles on my body all of my life I figured I was stuck with them. I had a few removed (surgically) when I was a teenager and the rest I figured I'd have forever. Until I saw this thread I figured why not give iodine a try. It couldn't hurt right? I can't believe it.
Within days the moles had dried up, and like others mentioned, formed a scab. I kept up with the iodine and low an behold the moles are gone! I had 3 prominent moles on my chest that I was always self conscious of. They're gone! Why didn't I know about this 20 years ago??? Thanks for an awesome tip!
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Krane (Los Angeles, CA) on 06/22/2009:
Iodine (liquid) worked for me to remove raised mole. I'd recommend puting vaseline around the area to avoid irriation of surrounding skin. I was skeptical, but iodine actually worked.
Susan (Port St. Lucie, FL) on 01/16/2009:
Iodine for Mole Removal:Iodine removed a scarey mole on my neck. I was really worried that it was a form of skin cancer as it was blistery looking, itchy and would turn reddish. I applied Iodine once or twice a day and almost immediately it sort of turned brown and dried up like a scab. Eventually after about 1 week it just flaked off. Iodine definitely works with no pain at all.
Emma (Berkeley, CA) on 07/16/2008:
Thanks for the info about using iodine to remove moles. It really works! I bought a $3 bottle of generic tincture of iodine and applied it to the mole 2 or 3 times daily and the moles came off usually within a week! I had one black mole and a few light toned moles and the iodine worked on all of them. Thank you!! This site is great.
Tim (Berkeley, California) on 05/21/2007:
PAINTED IODINE MAKES A MOLE OR SKIN TAG FALL OFF: I had just been checked for skin cancer at my HMO and was told that the blemishes on my skin were non-cancerous, so hving read all of the positive results with iodine, I decided to try it for myself. I ordered Lugol's online and applied it to a "mole" (for lack of a more specific term) on my hand which had appeared a few years ago. I applied it once per day for about 3 weeks and it disappeared. After about 2 weeks the skin started to get a bit dry and flakey so after 3 weeks I stopped applying the iodine. About 1 week later the flakey skin flaked off to reveal the lack of any "mole". I am going to try this again on a few more of these "moles" on other parts of my body. Thanks!
Donna (Dalton, GA) on 04/13/2007:
I had been reading about Iodine and how it could get rid of different skin lesions, so I decided to give it a try on several Sebaceous Keratoses on my torso, several quite large. It has worked wonderfully. It took about 2 weeks for them to go away, and I applied it 2x a day most days. I put it on with a q-tip and let it dry before getting dressed. I sometimes scratched them lightly first with a emery nail file before applying the iodine. I use the Lugols, because I also take it by drops internally each day.
Steve (Metairie, Louisiana) on 04/12/2007:
I have had at least 10 moles removed by my dermatologist, and after they were burned off (they usually burn, or freeze them), It took about 2 weeks for the cuts to heal (depending on the depth of the cut). Then, once the skin was basically healed, a pink mark was left behind. After a while (usually a month or two), my color would return and blend in with the surrounding area. Some of the areas that my dermatologist cut left a hole in my skin, which has never filled in. So far, Iodine has removed moles from my skin, but never left any holes (depressions) in my skin.
