Fact Check: Does a mix of castor oil, coconut oil, and baking soda make moles and warts disappear in three nights?

An Instagram post claims that applying a mixture of castor oil, coconut oil, and baking soda will make moles and warts disappear in three nights. The claim is False.

Claim

An Instagram post titled "chehre ke til masse asani see hataye (Remove moles and warts from the face easily)". In the post user jabeen_ki_jahaan explained "By applying this for just three nights, even the oldest moles and warts will disappear. Take two teaspoons of castor oil, one teaspoon of coconut oil, and half a teaspoon of baking soda, mix them well, and apply the mixture on the area with the mole or wart before sleeping at night. Leave it overnight and wash it off in the morning."

The post has 9,508 likes and can be accessed here.

Fact Check

The claim is False. Coconut oil, castor oil, and baking soda may benefit skincare, but no evidence supports their use in removing moles, warts, or skin tags in three nights. Always consult a professional for safe treatment.

Health benefits of Castor Oil, Coconut Oil and Baking Soda

Castor oil is a natural vegetable oil made from the Ricinus communis plant, often favoured for its safe, plant-based origins. While not commonly used in modern medicine, it’s FDA-approved as a laxative to relieve occasional constipation and is useful for colon cleansing before medical procedures like colonoscopies. Recent studies suggest castor oil, combined with other solutions, can improve bowel preparation with fewer side effects compared to traditional methods. It’s a key material in the chemical industry, creating eco-friendly products that are often better than petroleum-based ones. Its unique properties also help in drug delivery, such as in cancer treatments like paclitaxel, where it forms stable mixtures for non-water-soluble medicines. Additionally, castor oil is used in research to induce diarrhoea in animals for testing new natural medicines, making it an important tool in both science and industry.

Coconut, scientifically known as Cocos nucifera, is a tree celebrated for its rich nutritional and medicinal benefits, which have recently garnered renewed interest in Western medicine. Coconut oil, a staple tropical edible oil in many Asian cultures, consists of approximately 90-95% saturated fatty acids. It is extracted from the dried kernel or meat of the coconut, commonly referred to as copra. The oil is primarily composed of lauric acid (47.5%), a low molecular weight saturated fatty acid recognized as a healthier alternative to other saturated fats. Coconut oil is known for its antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and anti-dermatophytic properties. Traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine and various cultural practices worldwide, it also exhibits antiviral, anti-inflammatory, cardio-protective, and hepatoprotective effects.

Baking soda, also called sodium bicarbonate, breaks down into carbon dioxide, water, and a type of salt when used. The carbon dioxide gas helps dough rise quickly, making it ideal for baking cakes and bread. It also boosts athletic performance by helping the body manage acidity and reducing muscle fatigue. It helps lower bad cholesterol, and blood sugar and increases good cholesterol. For people with kidney issues, it helps slow disease progression and improves nutrition. It also helps reduce nausea and diarrhoea in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

What are Moles, Warts and Skin Tags?

A mole, a nevus (plural: nevi), is a small skin growth formed when pigment cells called melanocytes cluster together. Commonly found on sun-exposed areas like the arms, legs, and back, moles are usually round or oval, smooth, and less than 5 millimetres wide (pencil eraser size). They can be pink, tan, or brown and often appear in childhood, gradually fading with age.

Skin tags are harmless, soft growths that often appear on the neck, eyelids, or underarms. They can match your skin colour or appear darker and can turn pink or red if irritated. They usually form where skin rubs against skin, clothing, or jewellery, such as under the breasts, on the neck, eyelids, groin, or underarms. People with diabetes, metabolic syndrome, or a family history of skin tags are more likely to develop them.

Warts are non-cancerous skin growths caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). They are very common, contagious, and can appear at any age, though they are most frequent in children and teenagers. Warts occur when the virus enters the skin through small cuts, causing extra cell growth that thickens the outer skin layer. Most warts are harmless and often disappear on their own within weeks or months. While they usually cause no symptoms, some may itch, feel tight, or be painful, especially those on the soles of the feet. Some warts may have tiny black or brown dots, which are clotted blood from broken capillaries in the skin.

Dr Dharani Ravi, MD DVL, Consultant Dermatologist, Prashanth Hospitals, Chennai explained the causes of moles and warts to Medical Dialogues. She stated, "Moles and warts, though seemingly similar, are fundamentally different. Moles, also known as birthmarks, are harmless overgrowths of pigment-producing cells that can vary in type depending on their origin and may be present at birth or develop later in life. It is important to note that moles cannot be removed using creams. Warts, on the other hand, are caused by a viral infection from the Human papillomavirus (HPV). They are contagious and can spread through both direct and indirect contact."

Does a mix of castor oil, coconut oil, and baking soda make moles and warts disappear in three nights?

Studies highlight the health benefits and nutritional properties of coconut oil, castor oil, and baking soda, including their use as laxatives to relieve occasional constipation, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and anti-dermatophytic properties, help lower bad cholesterol, and blood sugar and increase good cholesterol. However, there is no scientific evidence or medical consensus to support the claim that applying a mix of castor oil, coconut oil, and baking soda makes moles and warts disappear in three nights.

There is no research article found that castor oil, coconut oil and baking soda have any potential to remove moles and warts in three nights, although there is evidence that demonstrates their role in dermatology and skin-related issues. One such study published in the Journal of Physics Conference Series concludes that both virgin coconut oil (VCO) cream and castor oil cream are effective in treating dry skin.

A narrative review published in the Journal of Indian System of Medicine mentioned that Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) offers numerous benefits for dermatological conditions. It possesses antifungal and antibacterial properties, acts as an immunomodulator, and demonstrates anti-inflammatory, angiogenic, wound-healing, and skin-protective effects. Yet this review did not mention anything about the ability of coconut oil to remove moles, warts or skin tags.

Yet another study published in the Journal of Integrative Dermatology where sodium bicarbonate (SB) demonstrates its potential as an effective and safe dermatologic agent, also may provide supportive benefits in managing conditions like psoriasis and aquagenic pruritus, but its use should be approached with caution and under medical guidance.

All these studies have featured the role of coconut oil, castor oil and baking soda for skin conditions but none of the studies has mentioned its role in making warts, moles and skin tags disappear in 3 nights and there is no medical consensus in the medical fraternity that recommend their use for removal of moles, warts and skin tag.

Dr Dharani Ravi, MD DVL, Consultant Dermatologist, Prashanth Hospitals, Chennai told Medical Dialogues, "The application of castor oil, coconut oil, baking soda, or similar substances is never recommended, as these can irritate the mole or wart and the surrounding skin. This irritation may lead to pigmentation and scarring, especially on the face and neck, which can cause cosmetic concerns."

To this Dr Amit Vij, MBBS, MD (Dermatology & Venereology), Senior Consultant Dermatologist, PSRI Hospital, New Delhi added, "Using such methods risks burning your skin, causing first-degree burns, and leaving scars. Traditional practices of removing growths with irritants like thuja, incense sticks (agarbati), lime, garlic, onions, or baking soda have been followed for ages but are highly inappropriate. These methods can result in irritation, redness, burns, pigmentation changes, and scarring."

Medical Dialogues Final Take

Coconut oil, castor oil, and baking soda are recognized for their beneficial properties in skin care, but no scientific evidence or medical consensus supports their effectiveness in removing moles, warts, or skin tags within three nights. It is important to seek medically approved treatments and consult a healthcare professional for safe and reliable options instead of relying on unproven remedies.

Hence the claim that applying a mix of castor oil, coconut oil, and baking soda makes moles and warts disappear in three nights is False.