Fact Check: Can Apple Cider Vinegar remove moles, skin tags and warts?

Can Apple Cider Vinegar remove moles?

Claim: A Video on the Social Media site YouTube claims that Apple Cider Vinegar removes moles/skin tags. The video suggested applying apple cider vinegar on the mole covering it with a bandage and leaving it overnight to remove the moles/skin tag.

Fact check:

The claim is false. While fact-checking medical dialogues team consulted with Dr Amborish Nath Microvascular Reconstructive Surgeon at Cancer Research Institute,HIHT clarified that in the video it is a wart, not a mole. The video is made by a non-medico who identified the wart as a mole, explained Dr Nath.

Having said that, regarding the claim that Apple Cider Vinegar can remove moles/warts/skin tags, it's important to note that Apple cider vinegar has acetic acid, which burns the area on which it is applied. Therefore, it can neither cure moles/skin tags nor warts.

What are warts?

Warts are non-cancerous (benign) skin growths that come in various forms on different body parts. They are caused by viruses. Warts are contagious and very common: Most people will have one at some point in their lives. Most warts are harmless and will go away independently within a few weeks or months. (1)

What are skin tags?

According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, "Skin tags are harmless growths that can appear anywhere on your skin but often develop on the neck, eyelids, or underarms. They may be the same color as your skin or darker. Some are pink, while others turn red when irritated. You may see one dangling from a stalk while another is firmly fixed to the skin."(2)

What is a mole?

Moles are small, usually dark, skin growths that develop from pigment-producing cells in the skin (melanocytes). According to American Dermatology Association (ADA), most moles appear on the skin during childhood and adolescence. Moles will grow as the child (or teen) grows. Some moles will darken, and others will lighten. These changes are expected and seldom a sign of melanoma, the most serious skin cancer. (3) Nearly every adult has a few moles. Most adults have a type of mole called a common mole, which is harmless. 

Types of mole:

Moles can be of various types, including:

 Atypical mole: Atypical moles can appear anywhere on the body. They often appear on the trunk. You can also get them on your scalp, head, or neck. Atypical moles rarely appear on the face. Some people who have many atypical moles have a medical condition called familial atypical multiple mole-melanoma (FAMMM) syndrome.

Congenital mole:  When a person is born with a mole, the mole is called a congenital mole. Roughly, 1 out of 100 people is born with a mole. These moles vary in size from small to giant. Having a giant congenital mole increases a person’s risk of developing melanoma.

Acquired mole: When a mole appears on the skin after a person is born, it is called an acquired mole. Most people who have light skin have about 10 to 40 of these moles. These moles also are called common moles.

What causes moles?

Speaking to Medical Dialogues team Dr. Rinky Kapoor, Consultant Dermatologist, Cosmetic Dermatologist & Dermato-Surgeon, The Esthetic Clinics explained ” Moles on the skin are caused by a variety of factors, including genetics playing a significant role. If someone in your family has moles, you are more likely to have them. Sun exposure is another primary cause of moles, as UV radiation can trigger the development of these pigmented spots on the skin. Hormonal changes, such as during puberty or pregnancy, can also contribute to the formation of moles. While many moles are harmless and benign, it is important to monitor any changes in size, shape, or color that could indicate the presence of abnormal cells and seek the advice of an expert if necessary for proper evaluation and management.

What factors determine whether a mole should be removed?

When considering whether a mole should be removed, it's important to consider factors such as size, shape, colour, and any changes over time. Moles that are asymmetrical or have irregular borders may indicate a higher risk of skin cancer and should be evaluated by a dermatologist. Moles that have multiple colours may also warrant closer examination. Moles in areas that are constantly exposed to sunlight, such as the face or arms, may be at a higher risk for developing skin cancer and should be monitored closely. It's also important to pay attention to any symptoms associated with the mole, such as itching, bleeding, or pain, as these could be signs of underlying issues requiring a dermatologist's attention.

What is apple cider vinegar?

Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) is a subgroup in the vinegar family. Vinegar is generally produced from fruit juices such as grape, apple, plum, coconut, and tomato, rice and potato. While apple cider is made by crushing apples, and then bacteria and yeast are added to the liquid to start the alcoholic fermentation process. The sugars are converted to alcohol, and in the following second fermentation phase, the alcohol is converted into vinegar by acetic acid-forming bacteria (Acetobacter). (4)

Does Apple cider vinegar remove moles/skin tags/warts?

We couldn’t find any relevant scientific evidence that apple cider vinegar removes skin tags.

However, A study by Johnston et al mentioned that In the popular media, vinegar is commonly recommended for treating nail fungus, head lice, and warts, yet scientific support for these treatment strategies is lacking. (5)

Also According to an article by Feldstein, et al, A 14-year-old girl applied apple cider vinegar daily for three days to nevi (moles) on their nose, covering the area with bandages. On the second day, significant redness and irritation occurred however few days later, the nevi peeled off.(6)

However, there are no studies that show that apple cider vinegar can be used on all types of moles. In fact using apple cider vinegar may also have some serious side effects. 

Conversing with the Medical Dialogues team Dr Amborish Nath Microvascular Reconstructive Surgeon at Cancer Research Institute, HIHT  clarified “Apple cider vinegar contains up to 8 percent acetic acid [7]. Acetic acid is the active ingredient in chemical peels (15-20 per cent) [8], which can cause superficial burns and may find its use in wart removal. The applicability of apple cider vinegar in wart removal cannot be pharmacologically justified; the concentration of the product varies in different countries. Being a caustic agent, it should not be recommended as a home remedy as it may cause skin burns on the normal skin in the vicinity and if comes in contact with the eyes, may lead to keratitis or chemical conjunctivitis [9][10]. However, medical literature does not show any scientific evidence of the utility of apple cider vinegar in the management of warts.”

Medical Dialogues Final Take:

Apple cider vinegar may burn moles as it contains acetic acid. The process is risky and does not have any scientific evidence, so the claim that it can be used for moles/skin tags/warts removal is false. 

References:

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279586/.

2. https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/skin-tags.

3. https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/moles-overview.
4.  https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14786419.2017.1413567.
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1785201/.
6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4479370/.
7. Štornik A, Skok B, Trček J. Comparison of Cultivable Acetic Acid Bacterial Microbiota in Organic and Conventional Apple Cider Vinegar. Food Technol Biotechnol. 2016 Mar;54(1):113-119. doi: 10.17113/ftb.54.01.16.4082. PMID: 27904401; PMCID: PMC5105631.
8. S Sitohang IB, Legiawati L, Suseno LS, Safira FD. Trichloroacetic Acid Peeling for Treating Photoaging: A Systematic Review. Dermatol Res Pract. 2021 Aug 30;2021:3085670. doi: 10.1155/2021/3085670. PMID: 34504524; PMCID: PMC8423570.
9. Jester JV, Molai A, Petroll WM, Parker RD, Carr GJ, Cavanagh HD, Maurer JK. Quantitative characterization of acid- and alkali-induced corneal injury in the low-volume eye test. Toxicol Pathol. 2000 Sep-Oct;28(5):668-78. doi: 10.1177/019262330002800506. PMID: 11026602.
10. Dua, H.S., Ting, D.S.J., Al Saadi, A. et al. Chemical eye injury: pathophysiology, assessment and management. Eye 34, 2001–2019 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41433-020-1026-6.