is it possible to "shave off" scars and moles?

When i started with the straight a few months ago, I was often getting nicks (and blood) on a scar on my chin and some moles on my cheeks. Now, I hardly ever bleed anymore, and I swear it seems that that scar isn't nearly as raised up as it used to be!:shrug:

I'm sure that my (slowly) improving technique and honing have something to do with not drawing blood as often, but can it actually be that I gradually shaved away my scar?? can this be a new cheaper alternative to plastic surgery?!?:rolleyes:

seriously, anyone else had experience like this?

I do not know for sure(I know that SR shaving exfoliates) but I have heard that SR shaving will smooth a pock marked face over a period of time, I do not know this for certain, hopefully someone in a better position will post their experiences.

scar shouldn't be a problem . Moles please do avoid them. leave them a lone.hope this helps

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Originally Posted by MuzzleVelocity

When i started with the straight a few months ago, I was often getting nicks (and blood) on a scar on my chin and some moles on my cheeks. Now, I hardly ever bleed anymore, and I swear it seems that that scar isn't nearly as raised up as it used to be!:shrug:

I'm sure that my (slowly) improving technique and honing have something to do with not drawing blood as often, but can it actually be that I gradually shaved away my scar?? can this be a new cheaper alternative to plastic surgery?!?:rolleyes:

seriously, anyone else had experience like this?

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From my limited knowledge, i'd guess you shaved away the top layer of skin so it's now level with the rest. It's up in the air if it will grow back or not, because cutting it off may cause more scarring. You'll have to wait and see.

I wouldn't try this as a "cheap" alternative to surgery. Personally I have both scars and moles, and while you do learn to shave without nicking them, a razor should not be used to purposely alter them.

As far as moles are concerned. If you did happen to shave off a mole completely, it would hurt greatly, bleed a lot, and probably leave a scar itself (depending on how big the mole was to begin with). Just think of how much a little nick can bleed, and imagine a hole in your face.

In terms of scars. It's a little harder to get them down. Shaving them off COULD flatten them out, but most likely it wouldn't. It kind of works on the same principle as shaving a mole. Most likely scars flattening out is a combination of time, and better facial treatment (ie. your razor exfoliating your skin, and the attention you give to your skin). I know personally after I started straight shaving my skin was much nicer, due to the fact that I was using better shave cream, good aftershave, better cleansing to try and get good beard prep.

I still nick my scars from time to time, and I have a small mole on one side of my mouth that I nick once and a while, but it would be unwise to try and remove them with a razor. The consequences would most certainly outweigh the rewards.

It is possible to shave off moles. It will hurt and bleed like stink. Then there is always the possibility of infection and losing part of your face.

I suggest not trying this as others have stated.

I also suggest not sticking your finger into a meat grinder while it is running.

I have lots of other helpful suggestions for avoiding injury, disfigurement and death for those interested.:nj

Yes, it is possible to “shave off” a mole.
To quote myself :w in this tread:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...es-anyone.html

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Originally Posted by Otto

I had one on the side of my cheek. One morning my Dovo Bismarck removed it, free and painless.

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I would not advice you to try to do it on purpose.

Shaving exfoliates the skin and over time, you will have taken off a layer of skin. My facial skin looks better than ever because of straight shaving. So I can see what some shavers are seeing with scars and moles. As always, I would recommend a professional to deal with moles or scars.

Pabster

Scars do flatten out and so does the skin. If you have some moles that are in the way I think I would go to a dermatologist and have them removed first since they really need to be checked for malignancy. Yes, you can shave them off, but wouldn't it be better to know what type they are first?

Just my 2cents,

Ray

I have a scare on my shoulder that protruded out about 1/4 inch from an old motorcycle accident. I used to work in the ER were a doctor once told me that taping it down with scotch tape will reduce the size of the scar. I think he said it had something to do with a steroid reaction to the adhesive. It did work, and made my scare shrink in just a couple of days, but maybe it was just a fluke as well.
Ohh well just thought I'd throw that out there since we were talking about scars.

Just to go along with teh malignant theme, if it is malignant or could be and you shave it, you facilitate the malignancy by breaking it up.

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Originally Posted by khaos

Just to go along with teh malignant theme, if it is malignant or could be and you shave it, you facilitate the malignancy by breaking it up.

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uuhhh, no.

If its malignant and you shave it off. The cancer you are really afraid of is malignant melanoma.

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Surgery — In most patients, surgery is required to remove (or excise) the entire melanoma. Generally, one to two centimeters of normal skin surrounding the lesion must also be removed. This procedure is termed a wide local excision. This decreases the chance that the melanoma will recur at the same site.
The type of physician (eg, dermatologist or general surgeon) who will perform the surgery depends upon the location and size of the wide local excision. Most procedures are performed as a day surgery in a hospital or surgical center. Most patients are able to go home later the same day.
Occasionally, skin grafting may be necessary to promote healing and replace skin that has been removed. In some patients (such as those with a melanoma on the face or neck), it may be difficult to remove a sufficient amount of normal skin to ensure adequate margins. In this case, radiation therapy may be recommended after surgery.
If an enlarged lymph node (gland) is present, it may be biopsied at the time of the wide local excision. Even if enlarged lymph nodes cannot be detected, the lymph nodes may be evaluated during or after the surgical removal of the melanoma.

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UpToDate Inc.



INOW in order to guide therapy your Dr would need to have pathological confirmation that it is malignant and that the margins were clear.



If you shave it off you won't know you have cancer, if it was completely removed or know if and what kind of therapy might be needed.

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Originally Posted by Pyment

uuhhh, no.

If its malignant and you shave it off. The cancer you are really afraid of is malignant melanoma.

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I think we are actually on the same page.... I've had a couple moles removed because of potential cancer. The doctor always said that we have to watch it cus if it starts breaking up it spreads through your body. So if you shave it I would think you facilitate it cus you may leave chunks behind which will get into the open cut and go through your blood through your body.

Anyways. I'm not a doctor, I'm in engineering, so take what I say with grain of salt. I just was advised by my doctor not to scratch them or anything because the can "satellite" which is bad so...
I dunno. My opinion would be to try and avoid the moles.

That is exactly the point. A 'tumor' is a cluster of cells that grows and develops outside the control of the body (the body normally kills off any cells that show signs of going wrong). Cells may break loose of this cluster and spread through the body through the blood- or lymphsystem. Since such cells have the ability to keep dividing eternally, a tumor might develop where the cells land.

So yes, cutting into a mole (which is normally a non-malignant cluster of cells growing more or less independent) might cause spreading of uncontrolled cells into the body.

I have a couple of moles that I usually just shave over. As much as they protrude you would think that they would just shear off, but they don't. The one I can only shave in one direction with the DE, but I've been going the other way with the straight with some success. Just an ocassional nick and not shearing it off. I'll have to make a video showing that, amazing that it does not just get cut off.

Malignant or not it would take me all day to shave around them all.

:gl:

I've got a couple of moles, one on my neck and one on my cheek, and a scar on my chin from a combination of a bar, tight pants, a boyfriend who turned out to have a knife, and a rather inappropriate comment...
When I started with a straight razor, I found that I would tend to nick myself on my moles and not get as close a shave around the scar. Over time, I've stopped nicking my moles (which seem to have flattened out a bit) and I get a closer shave around the scar.
I sort of chalked it up to an improvement in technique and my face getting used to what I was doing.
I hope this helps.
-axx

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Originally Posted by axxter

I've got a couple of moles, one on my neck and one on my cheek, and a scar on my chin from a combination of a bar, tight pants, a boyfriend who turned out to have a knife, and a rather inappropriate comment...

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This sounds like a great first line for a book!

I hope that's the case bc it can look like war on some nights in my sink....

shave off a scar?..never heard of it..a mole..they grow back..you gotta have an MD get em off..freezing doesnt do it..moles require a blood supply...warts can be frozen off by yer MD...I have some moles..I pay no attention to em..they never changed size ever so im good..at least 10 yrs ;-)

pcdad

The mole on my chin is definitely flatter than it used to be....