No, moles aren’t build-ups of toxins and you can’t rub them off with pearl powder

The claim

A TikTok video from an alternative health brand claims you can eliminate moles by rubbing your skin with pearl powder. 

The person in the video says that moles are caused by "a build-up of toxins" and that pearl powder will "address the root cause" of moles by "nourishing the area," causing the moles to fall off.

However, there's no evidence that pearl powder can be used that way.

The facts

Moles are created when melanin-producing cells, melanocytes, grow in groups. Moles that are thicker also have nerve elements and connective tissue. They are not caused by a build-up of toxins, and most moles are not harmful to people. The only reason a person would need to have their mole removed is if it is showing signs of being cancerous or pre-cancerous; for example, if it changes in size, shape, color, or texture or starts to bleed, itch, or crust.

Several at-home mole removal methods are circulating online, such as cutting or burning off the mole or applying a variety of household ingredients like garlic, apple cider vinegar, baking soda, aloe vera gel, and chemicals like hydrogen peroxide. There are also mole remover creams and products that claim to break down the cells in the mole and allow them to peel off.

Pearl powder, which has been used in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine and cosmetics for centuries, has become a trendy – but scientifically unverified – superfood and skincare product in recent years. The health food brand that posted the video sells pearl powder on its website, where the product is described as a dietary supplement that is "not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease." Pearl powder is not mentioned in lists of common DIY mole removal methods, and there is no study indicating a link between the two.

Doctors do not recommend at-home mole removals as they generally do not have sufficient scientific evidence backing them up. Some methods, such as cutting or burning the mole, can lead to bleeding, infection, and scarring. Attempting to remove the mole at home could also delay a proper inspection and potential diagnosis, should the mole be cancerous.

"There are some very harmful products which damage the skin and superficially remove moles; however, most powders are unlikely to have a discernible impact in terms of mole removal," a spokesperson for the British Association of Dermatologists told Logically Facts, adding that those concerned about a mole should consult their doctor.

The verdict

Moles consist of groups of pigment-producing cells, not toxins. Pearl powder is not a method used to remove moles, and dermatologists advise against any type of at-home mole removal method. Therefore, we have rated this claim as false.