Seborrheic Keratosis - Editor's Choice

Over the years, Earth Clinic readers have sent us many reports about their treatments for Seborrheic Keratosis. The editors at Earth Clinic consider the below posts to be some of the most helpful and informative and have named them 'Editor's Choice'. We hope that you will find this useful.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Steve (Durham, UK) on 03/04/2018
★★★★★

I have had one large area of Seborrhoea Keratosis on my face for nearly 20 years, growing slowly att the time, another one appeared above my eye brow last year, growing quickly. I had them both checked out by my Doctor and specialist, not harmful and no real treatment.

I read about Apple Cider Vinegar and started to apply with a cotton wool ball twice a day, the new growth above the eye brown completely disappeared within 3 weeks, the longer standing growth, after 3 months, most of it has gone and is probably about 10% of what it was and continues to reduce...amazing results!!!


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Njd (Nj) on 04/16/2016
★★★★★

Just adding my results here for anyone interested. I had a seborrheic keratosis on the side of my head. It first appeared out of nowhere about 1.5 years ago as what looked like a small flat discoloration (light brown). Over the course of 1.5 years it slowly grew in size, eventually became raised, and the color turned from light brown to dark brown. Like many seborrheic keratosis, it was also bumpy. I went to two dermatologists within a 1 year span to get opinions. The first one said not to bother with it unless it bothered me (at that time it didn't bother me, but as it grew to about 2cm in dia and became darker/raised, it did bother me). The 2nd dermatologist wanted to cut it off. Both said it would scar if cut off and I would not have hair regrowth in that area. It didn't seem to bother them, because they wouldn't be the ones walking around with a nickel sized bald spot on the side of their head. Neither suggested freezing it, or any other alternatives. Cutting/removing was the only way.

Frustrated, I came online to look for remedies. I tried tea tree oil, and that appeared to be working, but it was a VERY slow process. I read on this site about the Apple Cider Vinegar, so that morning I stopped at ShopRite and got a bottle of (their brand, $1.49) ACV. I dipped a q-tip in it and applied it when I could, but on average probably 3-5 times a day.

Literally, within 3 days the seborrheic keratosis had dried up into a scab-like form. By the end of the 3rd day it was partially peeling already. After 5 days, with my help, it came off completely. After, I did scrub it while in the shower to make sure it was all gone. What was left underneath was a reddish spot. At that time I stopped the ACV and switched to Neosporin twice daily. Today is the 8th day since I began with the ACV. The spot is healing nicely. It is still pink/reddish, but I imagine that will take a while to blend in. Will keep an eye on it, but I think I am cured. Very relieved as I will not be losing a chunk of my hair, and the unsightly growth is gone! Hopefully this helps someone else out there! No more anxiety of having to have a bald spot on the side of my head!


ACV, Hydrogen Peroxide, and Salicylic Acid

Posted by Bruce H (Hastings, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand) on 03/06/2016
★★★★★

I had a very large (3cm) "verruca seborrehic keratosis" on the back of my scalp and where I am balding. It was dark brown and barnacle like with a cauliflower surface. It caused me no discomfort but family and friends were forever questioning me about this ugly lesion. Because of its size, my skin specialist would not "freeze" it with liquid nitrogen as he said it would require multiple treatments and likely leave me with a cauterised area that would cause more problems than it solved. His solution was excision with a skin graft. I was not too happy with this diagnosis so researched for home remedies such as this site. 3 products were consistently quoted as having success, being Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV), Hydrogen Peroxide, and Salisylic Acid (over the counter wart remover). The common attribute of these products is "acid" which acts as a "keralytic" I.e it thins the skin on the lesion causing it to loosen and shed. My process was as follows:

  • Daily application, for 4 days, of ACV (a soaked cotton wool pad for 10 minutes), then a paint on of Hyd Peroxide 6% solution, followed by the salisylic acid (wart remover)
  • I waited about 15 minutes between the individual applications.
  • I then left it alone until the dead skin started to lift naturally (about 5 days later) and got wifey to pick the whole scab clean with a pair of tweezers.
  • At this point the ugly was as good as gone but I followed up with 3 more days of ACV and Hyd Peroxide 6% solution to kill off any underlying "root" structure. I did NOT reapply the wart remover as it is a very strong acid and I did not want to damage the good skin re growth.
  • My final product was Aloe Vera to the treated area for its known skin repair properties.

Voila...bye bye ugly...gone... and if it wants to come back I will be ready and waiting.

I would stress that you should clearly identify what sort of keratosis you are dealing with as there are many, and some types may not take too kindly to being treated with acid (particularly salisylic acid).

Cheers and good luck.


Eggplant and Vinegar

Posted by Robert Henry (Ten Mile , Tn) on 09/02/2015
★★★★★

I raise my own egg plant and use them to clean up my ole worn out arms of Keratosis. I missed one spot on the bottom of my arm and added the egg plant mixture to that one spot. I covered it with a sealed bandage and left it for a day and a half. I just took the bandage off and the raised spot was still there. I rubbed it and it came off with no resistance. Right down to the basic skin

It is unbelievable. I suggest folks forget ACV to address their skin cancers by going directly to the Eggplant and vinegar mixture.

None of this is original with me. I bought the book several years ago and Dr Cham's ointment cured two of my skin cancers. I decided to Redneck my arms before they turn to cancer and it has worked for me.

Here is the protocol:

  • Peel an eggplant and churn it up with a blender of some sort.
  • Add white vinegar, refrigerate and stir 2X a day.
  • On the 3rd day add this to your eruptions and cover with shrink wrap and an ole sock before bed.
  • Do this several days until the stuff is nothing but mush, and can be rubbed off with your fingers.

Do not tell your dermatologist what you have done, least he take you before the State Medical Board for practicing medicine without a license.

I have been at this site for many years and love ACV , but, it is not in the running with eggplant as far as skin cancer is concerned. Sorry, that's just the way I am. Old and Ornery as most know.

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