In recent years, apple cider vinegar (ACV) has become an essential part of home care and self-care. Many people see apple cider vinegar as their all-around natural solution to everything from all-purpose cleaners to reducing inflammation and even removing moles.
Moles, even when they are benign, can be a point of insecurity for anyone. You might spend years searching for an affordable solution that can boost your self-confidence practically overnight. So, when you see people touting the benefits of such a simple household ingredient, it’s natural to ask — can you really remove moles with ACV?
What Is the Apple Cider Vinegar Method?
The apple cider vinegar method may be described a little differently depending on the website you visit — the first sign that this method has no scientific backing or medical support. In general, though, the process involves covering the skin surrounding the mole with petroleum jelly, perforating the mole using a needle and applying apple cider vinegar to the mole, causing it to dry up and eventually flake off. When done every day, sources claim the mole should fall off on its own within about a week.
You will find countless internet users lauding the success of this home remedy on Reddit, beauty blogs and elsewhere. However, when it comes to medical care, you should verify this information with a medical professional, or at least check a certified blog like the one here at Berman Skin Institute.
The Drawbacks of Using Apple Vinegar to Remove Moles
Does apple cider vinegar remove moles? According to random online profiles, the answer is a resounding “yes.” What they don’t tell you about are the risks associated with doing so. For everyone who finds this “procedure” to be successful, others have experienced adverse side effects or put themselves at a larger risk for other conditions.
For starters, apple cider vinegar is highly acidic. That is why websites recommend protecting healthy skin with petroleum jelly. Extended exposure can lead to skin irritation, burns and even scars, which can become an even bigger insecurity than the original mole.
Perhaps an even larger concern is when you remove a mole at home, you have no way of knowing whether it was a benign growth or something more insidious. Moles can be an indicator of cancer, but if you remove them at home, you won’t be able to test them. Furthermore, just because you removed the visible part of the mole does not mean it is entirely gone. If it is cancerous, anything left behind can continue to grow and spread.
Gain a Professional’s Perspective — The ABCDE Method
While nearly every dermatologist will tell you to visit a professional to remove a mole, we recognize that many will choose to do it at home anyway. If that is the case for you, be as safe as possible by:
- Starting with clean hands, sanitized materials and a clean surface.
- Taking your time to follow instructions and protect healthy skin around the affected area.
- Using the ABCDE method to see how likely it is that your mole is cancerous.
Aside from a biopsy that tells doctors definitively whether a mole is cancerous, many professionals use the ABCDE pneumonic to determine the likelihood of a mole being cancerous. It stands for:
- Asymmetry: The more asymmetrical the mole appears, the more likely it is malignant.
- Border: If the border of the mole is fuzzy or questionable, visit a professional.
- Color: A benign mole has an even color throughout.
- Diameter: Moles larger than the tip of a pencil eraser should be examined by a dermatologist.
- Evolving: Is the mole changing in any of the ways listed above? Then, it’s time to visit your dermatologist for further testing.
Are There Safer Alternatives to Using Cider Vinegar on Moles?
Yes! There are many safer methods to remove moles without ACV, so why do people continue to attempt it?
The most obvious reason is because it’s easy. The ACV method only requires a few tools that most people already have on hand and boasts that it will solve the issue in about a week. However, non-professional mole removal methods can cause much more harm than good, both in the short and long term.
The best, safest ways to remove any mole always involve a certified dermatologist. These skin care experts can suggest a treatment that works best for your skin type and medical history. Working with a dermatologist for mole removal is especially important if you have sensitive skin or a family history of skin cancer, as only a professional can manage the care and testing these special circumstances require.
At Berman Skin Institute, our board-certified dermatologists have performed thousands of these procedures and have access to the necessary testing protocols to rule out cancer and other potential complications. We create a personalized treatment plan for each of our patients which may include treatments like:
- Laser removal: This is the most noninvasive option for mole removal. It involves removing your mole with directed beams of energy without affecting the surrounding skin.
- Surgical excision: A surgical excision may be required for larger moles or ones that go deeper into the skin.
- Mole biopsy: Whatever the mole’s appearance, once we’ve removed it, we will take it to our lab to biopsy it. We can find out if it’s benign, precancerous or cancerous and determine the next steps, if any are necessary.
Consult With a Professional Dermatologist at Berman Skin Institute
If you have questions about mole removal, you’ve come to the right place. Our medical professionals review all information on the Berman Skin Institute website, so you get the most up-to-date information and the safest advice for any skin-related concerns. When it comes to taking care of yourself, don’t rely on a generic online site — trust our dermatologists to put you first and schedule a consultation today.
Disclaimer: We are unable to guarantee any result, even though most of our patients do see success. The results of our services will vary greatly to each patient’s level of commitment and compliance with the program.
