Apple cider vinegar can chemically burn skin, which may eliminate moles but also lead to complications. Physicians advise professional removal so removed tissue can be examined for skin cancer.
Moles — also known as nevi — are frequent skin lesions that usually appear as small, round, brownish spots.
Moles are formed by clusters of skin cells called melanocytes. Melanocytes generate and store melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color.
Apple cider vinegar for moles
Apple cider vinegar (ACV) begins with cider from pressed apples. It undergoes two stages of fermentation that produce acetic acid and the finished vinegar.
Many people tout ACV for a variety of health uses. One commonly mentioned home remedy is applying ACV to remove moles.
The idea behind ACV for mole removal is that the acetic acid in the vinegar will chemically cauterize the skin where the mole sits.
A 2015 case report of a young woman who tried ACV to remove a mole and experienced adverse effects concluded that “… many ‘home remedies’ are ineffective and potentially dangerous, resulting in scarring, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and even possible malignant transformation.”
ACV mole removal and cancer
Arguably the most important reason to avoid using apple cider vinegar or any DIY method to remove a mole is that you can’t determine whether the mole is cancerous.
If the mole had malignant cells, chemically burning it off with ACV could leave residual melanoma behind.
When a physician removes a cancerous mole, they excise the lesion along with a margin of surrounding tissue to ensure all malignant cells are removed.
When to see your doctor
If you want a mole removed, consult a dermatologist. Don’t attempt to take it off yourself.
Initially, your dermatologist will visually assess the mole for features that might suggest melanoma.
Then your dermatologist will usually remove the mole using either a surgical excision or a shave technique. In either case, the tissue will be sent for pathology to check for cancer.
The takeaway
If a mole is stable — not changing in color, shape, size, or scabbing — and isn’t a cosmetic concern, it’s best to leave it alone.
If the mole is changing, see your dermatologist promptly. Alterations can be a warning sign of melanoma.
When detected early, melanoma is almost always treatable. If not caught early, it can metastasize to other organs and can be fatal.
Per the Skin Cancer Foundation, melanoma accounts for over 9,000 deaths annually in the United States, more than any other skin cancer.
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