(Updated 5/18/2017)
This is our personal story of how we removed a mole. We are not medical professionals, nor should this post be construed as medical advice.
Mrs. Crumbs and I have come to really like using apple cider vinegar (ACV) for a variety of reasons, including a daily detox drink and as a homemade produce wash. We even figured out how to make our own homemade apple cider vinegar!
We’re all about using homemade remedies whenever possible. We’ve healed spider bites using a potato, healed acne with bentonite clay, created flea and tick dog collars with essential oils, made our own homemade bug repellents and even figured out how to heal gum disease naturally.
Today, we’re documenting an apple cider vinegar mole removal tutorial.
THE MOLE (before)
If you can’t tell by the look on my face, I’m not exactly thrilled to have these “epic” photos on the internet. But it is important to display the magnitude of how large this mole grew over the years. I’m also willing to suffer for the greater good of everyone else removing moles with apple cider vinegar at home.
For as long as I can remember, this mole started out as a tiny speck near my ear. Obviously it has grown substantially over my 30+ years on earth.
This mole constantly got in the way of haircuts and would ALWAYS get nicked by clippers. It also caused my hair to grow sideways – yes, parallel with the ground (which was very annoying). Just a few days after a haircut, there would be 3 or 4 hairs sticking far out of my head because of this mole!
To make matters worse, every year I went to the doctor for a physical, the doctor would always say “let me remove that for you” or “let me zap it!” No, thank you. It wasn’t changing color and having it frozen off my head didn’t sound fun.
“No,” I replied. “It’s not hurting anything.”
Wanting the doctor to leave “the mole” alone, I set out to find a more natural or holistic way to remove this guy. “How to remove moles naturally” led to all sorts of Google generated responses, from expensive topical creams to using alcohol. Apple cider vinegar mole removal is a pretty common one too.
Plus we had some high quality apple cider vinegar in the kitchen cabinet. It seemed to be the least painful method, so Mrs. Crumbs and I thought it was worth a shot.
A Quick Side Note on the Quality of Apple Cider Vinegar…
When it comes to natural remedies, it’s good practice to use the highest quality ingredients you can find, and afford. As the level of processing goes up, the benefits of ingredients goes down. So ideally, you want your ingredients to be raw and unprocessed whenever possible.
Adding factors like non-GMO and organic are good, but they’re not necessary and they make the price tag go up.
For this apple cider vinegar mole removal, it means using vinegar that is raw AND contains the mother. It’s available locally in most areas, but I’ve found the best prices online. As of this posting:
- Amazon – Viva Naturals is 42¢ per ounce and if you have Prime, it has free 2-day free shipping. (If you don’t have Prime, you can sign up for a FREE 30-day trial of Amazon Prime right here.)
- Thrive Market – The famous Bragg apple cider vinegar is 18¢ per ounce, but if you don’t care about brands, the Thrive Market brand is the best bet at just 14¢ per ounce. Thrive Market requires a yearly membership. Click here to see the Exclusive Offer for Crumbs readers!
Various sites returned different protocols and instructions on how to implement the apple cider vinegar method. Not wanting a band aid on my head at work, we decided that the apple cider vinegar mole removal process could be done at night while sleeping.
Apple Cider Vinegar Mole Removal Tutorial
How to Remove Moles with Apple Cider Vinegar: Supplies
- Cotton balls
- Apple Cider Vinegar (see notes above)
- Band-Aids
How to Remove Moles with Apple Cider Vinegar: Method
- Dip half a cotton ball in apple cider vinegar, saturating yet squeezing out excess.
- Apply the cotton ball on top of mole.
- Use a band-aid to secure cotton ball over mole.
- Leave the secured cotton ball on the mole for up to 8 consecutive hours each day.
- Continue steps 1 though 4 until mole scabs up and falls off.
Note: Although weak, apple cider vinegar is acidic and it may cause skin sensitivity. Using apple cider vinegar to remove a mole also creates a “wound” on your skin, just like a scrape or a cut. Treat it like a wound, keep it clean and use your best judgement as it continues to heal.
Doesn’t that sound better than having a doctor freeze it off? Mrs. Crumbs would apply the saturated cotton ball right before bed time and would remove it in the morning before going to work the next day. The first morning the mole looked “white.”
Day 2 of Apple Cider Vinegar Treatment
The mole turned darker again during the day, but by day 3 it started scabbing up and “crusting over.”
Day 3 of Apple Cider Vinegar Treatment
Day 4 of Apple Cider Vinegar Treatment
After day 4, we decided not to apply any more ACV to the area. We weren’t really sure what was going on, but it appeared to be working.
Additionally, the area around the mole became a little red from the vinegar because it’s acidic.
One Month After Treatment
This method was painless. Maybe a little irritation from ripping the band-aid off of my scalp, or from the apple cider vinegar on the skin, but it was easy and I would definitely do it again.
Note: Although I did not experience any skin sensitivity to the ACV, some readers who tried this felt some burning and skin irritation. Using Aloe Vera or Coconut Oil around the mole before or after application of the ACV may help. If you experience pain that seems out of the ordinary quit treatment immediately and let your skin heal.
Here are a couple of shots of what the area looks like now six months later (with my hair shaved extra short so you can get a good look):
And that’s it!
UPDATE: Here’s another couple of shots, now 8-9 months later.
A funny side note: when I mentioned to a family member that we were going to attempt to remove moles ourselves, they were completely against it. Once we told them we were only using apple cider vinegar to remove the mole, their tone of voice changed and they figured “what’s the worst that could happen.”
And that was pretty much our view too, until it worked!
The apple cider vinegar mole removal process appears to be relatively safe, and you are not applying harsh chemicals on your skin. If you are looking for an alternative to mole removal, you might want to give this a try!
Other Non-food Related Uses for Apple Cider Vinegar:
- Facial Toning: Mix 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar with 1 – 3/4 cup water (Mrs. Crumbs has done this and liked it.)
- Treat Sinus Infections: Mix 1 tsp apple cider vinegar with 2-3 Tbsp water, gargle for 30 seconds and swallow. Repeat every hour for the first 6 hours, then every 2 (except while sleeping). Repeat until symptoms subside and the body heals itself. (I’ve actually done this myself. The sinus infection took about a full week to heal – which was how long it took to see a doctor – but I was able to heal it myself and the doctor confirmed it!) (ACV is shown to have anti-microbial effects)
- Manage Seasonal Allergies: Similar to treating a sinus infection with apple cider vinegar, mix 1 tsp with 2-3 Tbsp water, gargle for 30 seconds, and swallow. Repeat twice daily, or up to four times for more severe allergies. (Mrs. Crumbs did this and her symptoms were gone within two days).
- Rid Croup: My son had a strange cough that included no other symptoms. We waited for a week to see if the cough would go away, but it didn’t. It was harsh, loud and often. We gave him the same remedy as the sinus infection and his cough had reduced significantly within one day and was completely gone within three.
- Regular Immune and Detoxification Support: ACV contains polyphenols and polysaccharides, which help boost the immune system. Try it in a daily drink like this DIY Apple Cider Vinegar Drink.
- Bug Repellent: We make our own bug repellent with essential oils (Plant Therapy oils are a great option. You can find their shop here.). However, readers have suggested that drinking just 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar on a daily basis has kept bugs away too!
- Homemade Conditioner: Just 1 tablespoon and warm water can replace your typical shampoo. Not only does it work, but this will save you TONS of money too!
The anti-infective properties of ACV are amazing! The studies on vinegar show that it can help with a wide variety of infectious issues. Anytime you’re thinking about healing something naturally, definitely consider apple cider vinegar!
I removed a mole with apple cider vinegar!
- I know it sounds a little crazy, but it works!
- Typically we make our own apple cider vinegar using this method, but for this home remedy I used Bragg’s raw apple cider vinegar. (You can find it for a great price HERE.) I also recommend this brand and this one for their quality.
- I also recommend a little aloe vera or coconut oil around the mole you are trying to remove. This helps with any sensitivity you may experience from the ACV.
I LOVE when one item serves multiple purposes. Apple cider vinegar is no exception! I use it in the kitchen for cooking, but also homemade conditioner, a detox elixir, and now mole removal!
Written by Mr. Crumbs
Jackie
Just wanted to say thank you for a great informative post!
Cain
Hi Tiffany,
I have raised mole above my lips and I’ve tried to remove it with garlic, but it couldn’t help. Can I remove my raised mole with apple cider vinegar, and where can I find it to buy? Thanks
Best regards, Cain
Tiffany
Hi Cain,
I believe you can – you can see how we removed one in the photos above! We recommend Braggs ACV because it’s organic and contains “the mother”. You can buy it at any local store, but Amazon usually has a pretty good deal too:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B7E2D9Y/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00B7E2D9Y&linkCode=as2&tag=dontwasthecru-20
Selena
they sell it at trader joe’s too! i got my bragg from like this health store xD
Eddie
I have a small mole (anout half the size of en eraser on a pencil on the band of my neck. Am going to try this tonight and see if it works for me.
In order to get it removed, they told me it would cost m $400!! Just to use a scalpel and remove it! No way am I paying that much just for a small nick.
Thank you for posting about this, I will update in ~5 days.
Tiffany
Holy smokes Eddie! I had no idea it cost so much to have it removed by the doctor. We’re wishing you the best of luck, and looking forward to the update! 🙂 ~Tiffany
Windy
Amazing! I just had 3 moles removed today by the dermatologist and decided to google “natural mole removal” and found this! I have several moles that I still wanted removed but didn’t want to shell out the $$ today. What a money saver this will be and probably a lot less painful.
Tiffany
Oh yes, much less painful Windy! Good luck at home, and come back to let us know how it worked for you! 🙂 ~Tiffany
Carol
Hi Tiffany, do you think the ACV would work on those pesky little red dots that appear out of nowhere – they are called cherry angiomas.
Ashton
Great informative article! I’m a guy ( like your husband with the mole on the side of my head ) I’m going to try this method, it sounds simple, easy, and that it works. After day 4 when you stopped using the ACV because of the dark spot, did you use it again at all on the area? And When he got his hair cut for the first time after the mole falling off, did it affect the area? I’m very excited to try this, and use ACV for other uses! Thanks for posting!
Tiffany
Hi Ashton,
Nope, once we were done we never used ACV again. His first hair cut had no affect on the area at all. He may have been extra careful, only because of the sensitive skin around the area, but I don’t remember any “complaining” from him. 🙂 ~Tiffany
Selena
i tried this on a flat mole and it definitely works! but there was a dark hyperpigmentation after the mole was gone. it has been there for almost half a year now 🙁 also, how do we know when the mole is about to scab?
Tiffany
Hi Selena! Congratulations on removing your mole! I can’t explain the the pigmentation, other than it may just be how your skin is? The scab should form within 3-5 days, depending on how your body reacts to the ACV. 🙂 ~Tiffany
David
I recently attempted this on a couple moles. The end result is that I’m left with two raised bumps which are about the size of the mole, however they are definitely not as raised as the moles originally were. The bumps are redish, and don’t seem to have the pigment the mole used to have. I noticed in the picture you ended up with a hole in the skin… I don’t remember this occurring for me. I remember the mole being drawn out of the skin then popping off. Any suggestions on what I should do to remove this bump left on my skin? I’m not sure if it’s raised due to there still being some mole left, or if it’s raised because it’s a hypertropic scar. Either way I’ve been using silicone sheets to hopefully flatten it… but no results after about two weeks.
Tiffany
Hi David,
I must reiterate that we are not medical professionals, and some considers us a little cuckoo for experimenting on ourselves. So, bear that in mind…
I recently watched some fascinating yet extremely gross videos on black and yellow salve. Apparently black salve can remove foreign growths (cancer, tumors, etc.) and stings like mad. Yellow salve promotes healing and is soothing. If the bumps don’t bother you, I’d suggest leaving them alone. If they do, I’d try another round of AVC first. If unsuccessful, then I’d try yellow salve, only because it’s not suppose to hurt. If neither work and the spot isn’t harmful, I’d just deal with them. I don’t know if black salve would work if the spots weren’t foreign, and if it did, it looked very, very painful.
If you’re needing a recommendation for salve, this one comes with great reviews (both on Amazon and elsewhere): http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FVDY2A/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000FVDY2A&linkCode=as2&tag=dontwasthecru-20
David
Thanks, I appreciate the reply. I too was actually watching some videos on the black salve. It looked a bit too much for me, the hole it created in his face was pretty brutal. I’m probably just going to leave it alone for now and see what it does. If there’s no improvements in a month I’ll likely see if I can get some laser treatment to flatten the skin out.
k
Hi How excatly do you use it , i have been dabbing in on then puting a plaster on it and it for 2 days and its bigger than before but nothing else am i doing it wrong and how many times do you have to put it on and for how long before you put a plaster on .
any info you would give me would be great as i dont think mine is working .
Tiffany
Morning!
I’m not sure what you mean by plaster, but we used apple cider vinegar every night. It got slightly bigger on day 2, but scabbed up and fell off soon after. It took us a total of 3 applications in 4 days. ~Tiffany
Beth
A plaster is a band-aid. And K, are you saturating a half cotton ball and holding it to the mole with a plaster/band-aid for 8 hours? Or just dabbing the vinegar on and then putting a band-aid on?
Bella
David I have had the exact same result!
I know this is years later but do you have any updates?
Sam
Does White Vinegar work as well? Since i dont have ACV? Also got Rice vinegar
Tiffany
Hi Sam,
We haven’t tried white vinegar, but I also haven’t seen it used in any health-related home remedy thus far. Their original sources are different, so they’ll have different properties although still both vinegar. Kinda like how cheddar and swiss are both cheese, yet very different. I can’t vouch for anything but ACV, but do let us know if you go down the unbeaten path! ~Tiffany
Kiley
Is there still a mark?? I have a smaller one on my cheek and i dont want a dent or super noticeable mark since its so noticeable on my face! 🙂 thank you for this post, very helpful. I really want to try it, I’m just nervous about there being a way noticeable mark on my face. 🙁
Tiffany
Hi Kiley,
We just updated the post with a couple pictures from just this past week. Keep in mind that we’re getting EXTRA close for you guys so you can see how it looks. I can hardly tell it’s on his head to be honest. I have some acne scars from my younger days and his former mole spot looks WAY better than those, if that helps to gauge any.
Take a brief look at yellow salve when you get a chance. I haven’t researched it enough to post yet, but it may be what you’re looking for to help prevent even minor, tiny scarring. ~Tiffany
Mary
I have a very ugly mole with hairs growing out of it on the side of my face. I was wondering if acv will have any effect on the hair? If not, do you know of any additional steps or ingredients I can use to help reduce/stop the hair growth with the mole removal?
Tiffany
Hi Mary!
Since the hair that once grew crooked in my husband’s mole now grows straight, I don’t think ACV would have any effect on that. I don’t have any experience with hair removal, but I’d imagine it would be easier to manage once the mole was gone. 🙂 ~Tiffany
l. c. taylor
Once the mole is gone you can tweezers out the hairs. Over time they will thin and stop growing back.
Robin Anderson
I am trying the Remove moles with ACV. It is working!!!!! I am in Day 2 and my mole was larger than Mr Crumbs. It was an above the skin mole and my babies used to pick at it. It seemed to be getting larger so I googled how to remove moles and found your website. I am so thrilled!!! I have a couple more that I will need help with cause of the location. But the one I am working on now is in the bend of my arm and it is now just starting to look like the one Mr Crumb had. Thank you soooo much for posting this information. My finances are tight and I can’t afford to run to the Doctor for every little thing.
Thanks Robin Anderson
PS Next I have a few skin tags that are irritating. Would it work on that?
Tiffany
Way to go Robin! You are most welcome!
I don’t have personal experience with skin tags, but the dental floss trick seems to be popular. I have heard of ACV on those as well, but if it were me, I’d try the dental floss first. 🙂 Good luck!!! ~Tiffany
Robin Anderson
It worked!!!! After 4 days it was gone. I have a tiny pink mark where the mole was. I am working on the one on my back now, but there is not always someone home to apply it for me. So it is taking a bit longer plus it was much larger than the one in the crook of my arm.
Question: did you squeeze the excess AVC from the cotton ball?
Because the AVC does tend to irritate the good skin around the mole, I have been cutting the cotton ball down in size too. Thanks again for sharing!!!!
Tiffany
Congrats Robin! We squeeze just a bit extra ACV so it wouldn’t drop all over his head, but we did our best to keep it as saturated as we could. We cut the cotton ball in half as well. You’re most welcome! ~Tiffany
Matilda
I’m gonna try this on a mole that’s not so visible, and if that’s successful, maybe move on to one on my face.
Tiffany
Good luck Matilda!
Mia
(Hey, Matilda, have you tried it? If so, is everything alright?)
Matt
I used canned air to remove a skin tag. I just turned the can upside down, it freezes when you spray. Then I just cut it off.
Tiffany
Thanks Matt!
whisperingsage
I used ACV to get rid of gallstones. As it turned out, they were happening as a sign of hypothyroidism. But a quart taken over 3 days knocked the worst of them out.
Catherine
Interesting! And for those that have mentioned skin tags, I have successfully removed those with frankincense EO. You need to use the Boswellia Serrata variety though. Apply to it the tag 2-3 times daily, getting at the base of the tag. I had tags for years – really, decades on several – when I came across this online an decided to try it. I had to be careful with the tags on my eyelids, and it would sting for a few seconds, but it worked within a week. That was about a year ago and no sign yet of them growing back (doctors say they tend to do so). Tags usually appear in folds of skin and abrasion triggers them, it’s believed, as well as toxicity. So if you’re changing your diet for the good, they might not come back!
Rachelle
I have a mole on my chin. Have had it removed once beforehand by burning it off…yuck! I think I will try this! Thanks for the visuals!
Mysha
ive tried this before, glady i had remove my mole for only a few days applying the acv…
but i am frightened now because someone told me an incidents about removing moles that it can lead to death..
i’ve regretted my decision…
people out there just be thankful that you are given a healthy and good looking face
and also a complete body…
just ignore what people says…
just love your moles!
ScreaminMime
Here is a great way to get rid of spiders:
Supplies:
Apple Cider vinegar
banana
tissue
Method:
1) See spider
2)Mash spider with vinegar bottle
3) Use tissue to disgard corpse into trash can
4) Eat banana… who doesn’t like bananas?
Tiffany
I agree with #4 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Danute
You should not kill spiders. They are part of our ecosystem and very valuable in reducing many bad bugs.
Please don’t think it is funny to kill them.
We are all connected.
Cherie
When I am on the spider’s turf (outside) I leave them alone. BUT, when the spider is on MY turf (inside the house) I scream for my husband to kill it. I hate spiders.
cassandra
I wanting to remove a mole under my pits it have gotten bigger and irritated when i wear my bra.im on my 2nd day of the experiment.really hope it work for me.
Tiffany
Good luck Cassandra!! I hope it works too!