Apple Cider Vinegar for Molluscum Contagiosum

After finding this site and reading the posts, I have been using the ACV on cotton balls secured by band aids for 5 days now. Almost all of my bumps have "gone black"! I imagine they will be completely gone in a day or two. I am so grateful to have found this page because my doctor told me the only way to get rid of them was to freeze them off, but dermatology (they only ones who have the freezy stuff) couldn't see me for 3 more months!! Can you imagine how much it would have spread in that time?! ?

For those who are interested:

1. I used the full 5% dilution as it came from the bottle. I didn't experience any stinging or scarring

2. I also took the ACV internally (it's good for all kinds of stuff and I figured it couldn't hurt, right?) 2tbsp in 8-12 oz of cold water every morning. If you/your children don't like the flavor, you can add a little honey and lemon. It masks the vinegar taste quite well.

3. For the first 2 days, I was using small pieces of paper towel, but that didn't hold the vinegar as well. On day 3 I switched to cotton balls and that's when I noticed the biggest change in the bumps. Perhaps this would've happened on day 3 anyway, but I think the switch was part of it.

4. I took 2 "detox" baths to include 1/2 cup each of baking soda and Epsom salts. I have no idea if this contributed to my healing or not, but I know it didn't hurt!

Thanks again for this site and for posting your experiences! You totally saved me :)

I had to post because this worked so well!

My little girl was about 15 months when I first noticed some spots on her leg. At first I thought it was from the eczema that she had on her legs, but once it spread to her tummy (an area that her leg touched at diaper changes etc.) I realized it was something else. A doctor confirmed it to be molluscum contagiosum and told me that it would go away with time. He said that it could be 'zapped' as a wart to try to kickstart the immune system, but it might not work and could possibly scar and be painful. I left it for a few months, but it of course spread to the point that she had approximately 50 spots on her leg and torso and they had begun to spread to an arm. I was looking for answers everywhere when I came across these posts and decided to give ACV a try as I worried they might spread to her face.

As another poster suggested, I purchased dot bandages (used for shots). I made a mixture of 50/50 ACV & water mixture and cut small squares (small enough to fit on the bandage pad) of a make-up pad to soak in the ACV mix. I squeezed out the excess mixture and applied the bandage to the spots before bedtime and removed in the morning. I told my daughter these were her 'special stickers', so she was mostly okay with them being on, though she did pull a few off here and there. I generally covered a dozen spots (usually the most mature looking ones) each time.

After about 3 nights of application the spots began to turn dark, and scab over. I also dabbed the ACV mix (using clean cotton swabs) on the unbandaged spots before putting on pajamas.

I became diligent about using clean towels after each bath/shower, putting on clean pajamas and keeping her nails short in case she scratched the spots.

I think the worst part for her was when I reapplied the bandage to the same spot more than once, the skin around got a bit tender in some places, but really this was only on one or two spots.

It has been over a month since my last application and I haven't seen another spot since. She does have some small dark scars from some spots, but they are clearing up too and I am sure they will be gone without a trace over the next few months. Perhaps this was what was needed to alert her immune system to kick in and fight any future spots, but I can say that I am 100% confident that the ACV was what helped us to clear up the existing molluscum contagiosum.

Thank you to everyone who posted their positive experiences, and good luck to those who are looking for help, I hope this is what works for you.

Some time ago, white spots started to show around my pubic area. I didn't think much of it since I shave that region and thought it might be ingrown hair or something similar. Then I shaved once and it started bleeding much more than usual. Like a lot.

I went on a vacation, came home and started seeing spots on the shaft. I got panic. Started researching. I had just recently tested myself for STDs but had several sexual partners after this time. Most of the time we used protection but I was scared I had caught something. After lots of research I was, like others here, confident in my self-diagnosis. I did detect the MC quite late, and started using AVC with makeup pads and tape around the shaft and pubic area. It burnt like hell and I got irritation on my penis, so I had to quit when it got burned. Now it's been three weeks and all the bumps swell, become white, and then yellow/black, scab and then they're gone. However new ones kept coming. Now it's three weeks with AVC and it's almost fully gone.

I am extremely thankful for finding this page and I hope that everyone reading mine and others' comments will find it helpful.

Wishing you all the best!

Maren,

It seems like colloidal silver (CS), grapefruit seed extrac t(GSE) or iodine would all be more pleasant than ACV and possibly more effective. A similar method of application, but using CS or GSE would definitely be more pleasant of an experience.

Art

I would try soaking in a tub with a cup of borax added. I know the solution helps mange and I believe it helps those with demodex mites. It's worth a try, you must be in agony!

I struggled with these ugly bumps for about eight months, and they re-appeared even after having them scapped off (which was terribly painful, so I was not down on doing it again). When I read about the apple cider vineger, I was a bit scared, seeing as the bumps were in my genital area, so I obviously could not leave cotton balls there taped with band-aids. So I wet a cotton ball on vinegar and left it pressed to each bump for 10 minutes every night for about five days. It totally worked wonders! I'm absolutely thrilled!

This is my story with molluscum on genitals cured with Apple Cider Vinegar.

I am a woman in my late 20's and I have no idea how, but ended up with molluscum on my genitals, at the top where your pubis bone is, and it spread down to my labia/around clitoris. Very distressing. What was the worst part, is not acting soon enough because I didn't know what it was. Anyway, go to the doctor and get a diagnosis!

how I fixed it:

I tried impromoid 5% from the doctor - didn't work. This is designed to make your body attack and kick start your immune system. Used for warts. No success.

I tried mollenol patches and mollenol sensitive liquid, also did nothing. Made it red, but the bumps didn't go away.

I was desperate, so after reading earth clinic I tried apple cider vinegar. I would put apple cider vinegar on a circle makeup pad, then put it inside tight underwear so it stayed in place. I didn't dilute it, it stung, so it's best if you dilute it in case you cause serious irritation.

I did this for 3 days, 3x a day or whenever I remembered. It stung like crazy by day 4 so I had to stop. I kept going with this for 2 weeks, stopping when it became irritated. All the molluscum gets big and white, absorbing the liquid, then it turns yellow and black, scabs, and that's the end.

I couldn't believe how quick it worked. It looks gross while healing, inflamed and marks from the scabs, but it gets rid of it. I'm so grateful. It's a quick solution and although it hurts, it's worth the pain.

MC seriously damaged my mental health. It's so hard because doctors don't really take it seriously because it just “goes away on its own” sometimes taking up to four years, I seriously couldn't have coped with that.

All up I was cured in 2 months. 2 weeks from the ACV.

Other things I did:

- took vitamin c tablets, zinc, lysine, turmeric.
- 1 shot of ACV and one glass of water daily.

Best of luck!!!

We found out last December 2016 that my son had contracted M.C. First it was a few bumps and when we thought they were almost gone in Sept 2017, about 100 more showed up. Very frustrating! My son is 4. We just recently moved from the desert of CA and now back to lots of green in Kansas. I kept hearing about ACV as a use to get rid of them. I will say the bandaids were not a hit so now we just run them down with ACV. We on on week 1.5 and they are drying up and going away. And this is with just one application at night. He has to wear long sleeved shirts for Pre-k.

There is one area that I think is the main source, bc it just keeps coming back over and over, no matter what is done. we are going to continue using the ACV for the next few weeks. When he got this last round of bumps, he also had swollen lymph nodes. I requested a full blood panel on my son to see if maybe he was deficient in anything. We find out the results on Wed. Did you notice any main source bumps where your son was concerned? Thank you for your useful information.

Megan, black should be a sign that they are on their way out. Keep doing what you're doing.

Yes, we have been using this on our son. We just used it about three nights in a row. We would put the apple cider vinegar on cottonball and secure with a bandaid. Didn't even do it during the day. It took about 2-3 days for each dot to turn black. We didn't take out the core. Once they turn black they are dead, and will go away on their own. I would say the less you pick at it the better.

I am so relieved to have found this website: I've had molluscum for almost a year now, and it has been such a hard time with the freeze-burns, doctors with no suggestions, and having to stop intimacy with others almost completely. I found this website just days ago and started using Apple Cider Vinegar and lemon myrtle just 4 days ago, and am already seeing major improvements! Every time I find a moment of the day at home (usually mornings and late evenings) I wipe my legs over with a cotton ball soaked in ACV. I spot treatment with the lemon myrtle, and it also masks the smell. It's been better every day.

Thank you everyone!

I would just like to post the progress I have made with my 6 year old to cure her MC with ACV. She has had them for over 10 months. The dermatologist said they would go away on their own, but could spread since she has eczema. I am a nurse and appreciate alternative or homeopathic medicine. The dermatologist told me that they could burn each one of the MC off, but it will hurt and they might come back. After hours of research, I decided to try the ACV suggesstions. I just wanted to post what I did. It took over a month, but all of the MC are gone!

1. Apply Zinc Oxide to all skin surrounding the MC to protect it from the ACV. ACV will burn and dry skin out, so keep it off healthy skin as much as possible.

2. Soak cotton ball with ACV. Cut small pieces to cover the MC. Apply soft roll gauze, then coban over the whole affected area, and leave it on over night. Take it off in the morning and shower. Be sure to use a new towel with each shower and do not rub the MC, just pat dry or air dry. I did this for 2 nights. The MC appeared to be wet and white. Some of them turned black also. I let the skin air out when no treatment was on the skin.

3. After all of the original MC were dead, there was an outbreak of all of the ones that must have been dormant. I treated them by dabbing a ACV soaked Q-tip on each one, 3 times a day, until they turned white or scabbed. I also added a cup of the ACV to the bath water once a week throughout this whole process.

4. I used Triamcinolone cream to the reddened areas of healthy skin that was damaged by the ACV.

5. After all the MC were obviously dead and dry, I began to put Vit E oil directly to the areas to help the healing process. These MC can leave awful purple scars. I did this twice a day for a week.

6. The skin was extremely dry after the treatment and my daughter wanted to scratch all of the time. After I knew the MC were all gone, I began to put Eucerin cream to the dry skin twice daily.

7. All of her MC are gone and the skin is nearly healed. I bathe her in Aveeno oatmeal bath once a week and keep the area moisturized.

This may not work for everyone, but it did for me. It took a little over a month, but I cannot see one MC anywhere. She has some scars, but I think they will fade. My advice about this treatment: be patient, do not pick them as I saw them spread when my daughter scratched, do not get ACV into open areas or on good skin, expect more to appear after the start of treatment, and be persistent.

I read your entry a few days ago after looking for suggestions for Mulluscum. I have noticed it on my son now for a few months with new spots occuring here and there, most recently a small one just above his lip. We have done the Apple Cider Vinegar for two nights now and all I can say is it's amazing. Each morning we have taken the cotton balls off, you can see the difference in the areas he has the spots. It is killing the papules. They are shrunk in size each day and have a white appearance which is the skin dying, therefore killing the virus. I'm very happy with this treatment and our Dr. gave us her full approval as it's a more natural approach.

Dear Mgcaptain,

I truly feel for your daughter and you wanting to help her.

I had a burn on the inside of my arm near the elbow that was painful and rubbed on everything. I found these wonderful latex free transparent, sterile waterproof bandages that can be kept on injuries for seven days and did not hurt at all when removed.

I haven't been shopping for awhile so I am unaware if larger bandages are available. The dimensions for what I have are 2 3/8" X 2 3/4". I only have the link on the box that I have, which is old. I hope this helps. http://www.nexcare.com/3M/en_US/nexcare/

KT

Hi there,

Can anyone tell me where you get the ACV? Is it just the stuff you buy in the supermarket and use in cooking, or is it a special health produce?! I live in England. Am desperate to help my 4 and 7 year old. Thanks so much.

I recently went to the doctor because I was worried about what the bumps were all over my torso, I figured out that it is molluscum and I got them treated with liquid nitrogen gas do you think the apple vinegar would work better?

When I was heavily infested with molluscum contagiosum they were removed by the doctor with the knife. After that when they sprout I used an AVC on the waterproof plastertape and tape it for 24h! Usually they dried up in that time. If they didn't dry out, I lifted them a little bit or just bruise them and then applied the AVC soaked pflastertape over for 24h (AVC has to get thru the outer shell). This was the only way to eradicate them. I used heavily antiseptic antiviral desinfecting soap, spray for the affected area. If you are doing self surgery use gloves all the time and spray antiseptic allover, becouse you bleed like pig you should use napkins to soake out the blood!

Thanks to all those that recommended Apple Cider vinegar for Molluscum Contagiosum. It totally worked.

We applied them using cotton balls soaked in the vinegar and plasters to keep them in place. We also used sea salts in the bath for a soak.

A tip would be to do it once overnight and then check the ones that have turned white or black. The black ones are then done and just need to heal and the white ones are probably done so don't do them again just monitor them. If you do them again it could hurt and maybe scar. Use a moisturizing cream with antibacterial elements for during the day.

Took about a week to turn them into feint marks and they look like they'll be gone soon.

This works well on the raised spots and not so much on any brand new ones, so if you have any new ones just wait it out and do them when they are ready.

Another thing to mention is that you should take steps to avoid it spreading as when they open up you are at most riks of spreading it. Just regularly wash bedding and towls and detoll your life up!

Thanks again.

The apple cider vinegar + soaked cotton balls + bandaids worked so well. It was a lifesaver. Thank you so much for posting this recommendation. Seriously a life saver.

Strange that the doctors don't know about this treatment. We told ours (after she told us there was not much we could do).

I have to say I have been a bit skeptical of these online diagnosis-type sites. This is the first time I have ever posted on a site like this before and I am doing so because I wanted to share my experience.

I had first noticed a few red spots on the shaft of my penis and thought it might be acne. I was in the middle of a road trip and showering wasn't happening too frequently.. I may have picked up the infection from one of the sleazy motels that I stayed at but anyway.. I thought they were pimples but they only got worse. During the day they weren't as visible so I thought they went away. Only when I returned from my road trip did I start thinking that something was wrong. I started freaking out thinking that I had herpes or genital warts. I did hours of research and read through this site's posts before I tried ACV. I've been doing it now for a few days and I can see a huge improvement. It started working immediately. I had cut my ACV with water quite a bit for the first few days. This is because I read a horror story of someone getting permanent skin scarring from using a 5% strength solution. On a side note this is what Bragg comes diluted at.. as long as you cut it a little I found that it works like a miracle. I wasn't fond of the idea of a doctors visit and I'm glad that this treatment worked out for me. Don't be nervous if it looks like more are popping up after you start. Its just the ACV doing its work. I think I am on day 5 and at a stronger dose than the first 4. I can see a huge improvement, It really works. Just be careful with your strength and you should be good.

I found this site after my son was diagnosed with molluscum on his face. The dr recommended CompoundW. However, I decided to try to ACV treatment and I cannot be more happy with the results.

I used a piece of a cotton ball moistened with full strength ACV, held in place with a bandaid. After the first night, the molluscum spots already showed signs of dying- the center turned black. We continued the treatment almost nightly for about three weeks. The area does become irritated and reddened, so we either cut the ACV with water, or only did the treatment every other night. Within three weeks they were completely gone, and only red marks remained- these lasted a few weeks but are now mostly gone and I expect will fade completely.

One excellent discovery: my other son had a plantar wart on his toe so I decided to try the treatment on that as well, and within the same amount of time his wart was GONE. We had had trouble with warts in the past and had a heck of a time getting rid of them-- months and months. I wish we had known about the ACV before.

I am amazed that my son's doctor had never heard about it.

I was so frustrated after my 4 year old got molluskum on his arms, chest and legs. Dermatologist had nothing to offer except a bill. After trying several creams ordered online and even salycilic acid wart remover which was painful and didnt work I discovered ACV. I used it full strength and just rubbed each spot with a soaked qtip a couple time a day. It's been about a month and they are almost completely gone. Wonderful painless and cheap.

I had to use the ACV for about 7 hours on any bumps... (usually left on while sleeping or while working during the day). I applied a waterproof bandage with cotton soaked in ACV - this prevented the ACV from drying out and maximizing the exposure. The bump should flatten out and turn black or brown (smaller ones seem to just go white, though). But if it is still a bump (i. e. you can feel it raised on the skin) be sure that it is still active and apply more ACV. This is how I did it- but others have used other methods such as makeup pads and whatnot.

Also try to minimize anything that might make them spread such as cutting them open or breaking the bump open.

Eventually it should go away if you treat the bumps as quickly as you detect them. Check for new ones every day until you are certain the virus has been destroyed.

I have noticed everyone saying there molluscum has scabbed over after they apply apple cider vinegar. Mine have not yet. I did do another treatment since my first one except I only did it over night and not 24 hrs like I had done before. All mine are red or have not changed :( its now 4 days since I first started doing the apple cider vinegar. Do they have to scab over for this to work? Only a few have disappeared. My bumps are also pretty new- about a couple weeks old and are very small.

Well I'm not sure if its the Apple Cider Vinegar but my molluscum is just multiplying. I have stopped shaving my legs and I'm a girl so it's embarassing and they are still multiplying! Since freezing is the only thing that works for me I made a appointment for today to get them frozen. After that I will continue to apply Apple Cider Vinegar to the bumps I'm getting frozen today since it did get rid of some of my bumps. Maybe it will prevent spreading it? Let's hope so! I dislike the scarring of getting them frozen though. But over time the scar fades and is not very noticable so I am glad it's fall. And by summer the scars will not be very noticeable.

Dear Dawn,

A friend of mine used burdock root and olive leaf to cure a chronic case of MC in her child. She used tinctures of each and used them internally. When I use tinctures for smaller children, I give them 10 drops of each in a little water, a couple of times a day. A vitamin C supplement can support the immune system and help the body to repair the skin more quickly. Yes, bandaids can be very hard on the skin. You might try 1 cup of apple cider vinegar in the bath and then loose cotton clothes to wear and not use bandaids. I wonder if some daily sunshine on the skin would be a help, also.

Mama to Many

Hi Joe, I am also 26. you writing all this out was not in vain.... I've been struggling with molluscum for the past 9 months and I am so depressed and hopeless. The dermatologist has tried freezing, scraping, and treating with acid. It helps for a few bumps and maybe I'm clear for a week or two but then they come back. Now 9 months in, it's worse than ever and has spread to multiple areas of my body (due to wearing a tight latex dress for work ... I'm a runway model). I've been soaking paper towels in apple cider vinegar and covering with plastic wrap and doing that for 8-9 hours at a time until I can't bear it anymore. In some spots it has caused them to turn brown and shrivel up... not sure what's going to be under the brown yet... I just ordered the mollelum online too that you mentioned.... It's such a time commitment and a mental game to ignore the fact that my skin is burning. I'm not getting any work done during the day (working from home so at least I can do this. I have had to turn down some modeling jobs because of this so it is literally impacting my income). My skin burning keeps me awake at night..... but just running a swab of it over the skin does nothing for me. I don't know how people just apply it to the skin with a cotton ball. That does nothing for me. Every day I look in the mirror and cry. I feel like it's a fulltime job just soaking my skin in ACV. I need to ask about the Veregen I hadn't heard of that yet.... so that gives me a little hope at least. Except for the fact that I don't have health insurance.... but I'm working on that. The emotional, mental and financial toll this is taking on me makes me so depressed... I don't know how to go on.

Our 8 year old daughter has had MC I believe since August/September. We didn't know what it was until a week ago. It started as a couple bumps on her inner thigh and within the last few weeks just spread to 30 bumps out of no where on the inside of both thighs, which is when we decided to seek a doctor diagnosis. We have been trying the apple cider vinegar since we were diagnosed a week ago today. I was just applying it to the skin with a cotton ball and wasn't noticing a change the first 3-4 days, so then I used cotton pads and bandaids and tape to secure them overnight and a lot of them turned black.

The problem we have now is after doing this for 3 days her entire inside of her leg is one big rash from the ACV and bandaids, so I can't tell what is new bumps and what is skin irritation because its such a large rectangle (large bandaid size) of an area that is now red and inflamed. I am worried to leave them uncovered at night because she tends to scratch in her sleep without knowing and because its so close to her genitals that I'm afraid when she goes to the bathroom she may accidentally hit it when wiping. Should I be leaving the bandaids off even if they could pop during the day on the inside of her clothing?

I was worried that might spread it more by not being covered. Her skin is so red and raw because of the large area we had to cover with a bandaid. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Now that we know what she has we are desperately trying to prevent her from spreading it to her siblings and to anymore areas of her body, it has taken a huge toll on her self esteem.

I want to thank everybody, who contributed, this website has really helped me, so I want give back by telling what helped for me.

I initially thought I had genital warts, but none of the bumps/warts were actually in the genitalia, although they were really close. Luckily, I only had about 10 bumps and I never squeeze/scratch them out of fear for scarring, so luckily they didn't spread. I've to be upfront here, this isn't an overnight solution, nor will they be gone in two weeks, but it won't take months either, if you manage to contain them.

Week 1 & 2

I treated the MC with ACV, using a Q-tip, several times a day. At night, I cut off tiny pieces of makeup pads, soaked them in ACV and used medical tape to secure them. I find medical tape to be less painful than bandaids, especially that area. The ACV stung a bit, but bearable, trick is to cut the makeup pads just a bit bigger than the bump itself, in order to not burn the healthy skin. I also took baths with Epsom salt and changed towels after every use. Nothing happened for 2 days, then the MC started to turn angry red and after a week started to scab over. My inner tights looked awful, red raised bumps with black cores. I continued applying ACV and taping even after the scab came up. I don't know whether that was the right thing or not, but better safe than sorry. I stopped the taping at night when they were all scabbed over, but continued using the q-tip soaked in ACV. Once the scabs started to fall off, I used Vaseline and after a tip from a friend, Aquaphore.

Week 3

At this point, most of the scabs have fallen off, however theres still a raised bump without a core and it's still red. I stopped the ACV and continued with Aquaphore several times a day and that made the skin heal quicker than Vaseline.

Week 4

Bumps are still there, some still red, but have flatten a bit, others are close to disappearing. I even tried this whole treatment on a bump on my leg that my dermatologist said is just a benign bump, which will just remain there. Not anymore thanks to ACV!

I want to stress that I wasn't feeling well when I started having the MC, but started to take more vitamins (B, Zinc, multi vitamins) and ate even healthier than I usually do, no processed food, lots of fruit, etc. and I think I'm almost cleared of it.

I hope this helps!

My daughter suffered with mollusum contagium for over a year..

None of the prescriptions seemed to be working, at my request my daughter began taking cimetidine twice a day. I saw this suggestions for Apple cider vinegar, we started bathing her in it daily. After one week half her bumps were gone. At this point we stopped the oral medication and used only the vinegar... Guess what - she is completely bump free!!!! It saved us from the constant itching and scratching...thank you for suggesting this . I'm one relieved mama.