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Natural Remedies for Actinic Keratosis: Effective Home Treatments

| Modified on Mar 13, 2025
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Apple Cider Vinegar

Actinic Keratosis, or solar keratosis, is a prevalent skin condition from prolonged sun exposure. This condition can lead to skin cancer, making it a significant health concern. In addition to the health risks, actinic keratosis patches on the head, face, hands, and arms pose cosmetic issues. Fortunately, there are various effective, affordable, and easy-to-use home remedies. This guide covers several proven natural treatments, including apple cider vinegar, borax, iodine, vitamin C, and colloidal silver.

Natural Treatments for Actinic Keratosis

1. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar, particularly in its raw and organic form, is internally and externally beneficial for actinic keratosis.

External Application:

Apply raw, organic apple cider vinegar to the affected areas 2-4 times daily using a q-tip or cotton ball. For sensitive skin, dilute with an equal amount of water.

Internal Consumption:

Add 1-3 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar to a glass of water once or twice daily. This traditional remedy supports overall skin health.

2. Borax

Borax is an affordable, natural remedy for actinic keratosis. Create a paste with borax and water, and apply it to the lesions 2-4 times a day. Alternatively, mix borax with Listerine for a unique and effective treatment.

3. Vitamin C

Vitamin C is effective both as a topical and internal remedy for actinic keratosis.

Topical Application:

Mix 1/8 teaspoon of ascorbic acid (Vitamin C powder) with 1 teaspoon of water. Apply this solution to the lesions 2-4 times a day with a cotton ball or q-tip, preparing a fresh batch daily.

Internal Consumption:

Mix 1/4 teaspoon of ascorbic acid with 1/8 teaspoon of baking soda in 4 ounces of water. This mixture, which provides over 1 gram of Vitamin C in the form of sodium ascorbate, is gentler on the stomach and can be taken 2-3 times a day.

4. Iodine

Topical iodine application is an effective remedy for actinic keratosis. Apply iodine to the lesions twice daily using a q-tip. Since iodine temporarily stains the skin, consider using it at night.

5. Colloidal Silver

Colloidal silver, a colorless and odorless liquid, can be sprayed on actinic keratosis lesions at least twice a day for effective treatment.

Additional Recommendations and Precautions

Protect your skin from excessive sun exposure. While short sun exposures are beneficial, extended periods require protection through lightweight clothing and hats, as overuse of chemical sunscreens is linked to skin cancer.

Share Your Experience

If you've tried any natural remedies for actinic keratosis, we'd love to hear about your experience. Your insights can help others in their journey to find effective treatments. Keep reading to discover how others have successfully used these remedies for actinic keratosis.

Conclusion

Actinic Keratosis, though a common condition, requires attention and care. The natural remedies outlined in this guide offer safe, cost-effective, and easy-to-implement options for managing and treating solar keratosis. Remember, it's also crucial to protect your skin from further sun damage. Your feedback and experiences with these remedies are invaluable to our community. Share your story and continue exploring the power of natural healing.

The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
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Apple Cider Vinegar

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Posted by steve (roanoke, va) on 03/13/2025
 ★★★★★

That ugly brown raised spot on my right shoulder kept getting bigger over the past 20 years and I decided it had to go. Initially I started by dabbing it a few times a day with acv, this exfoliated it down to a light brown reddish color after a few weeks but that was it, no more progress. Now considering it still stung a little each time I applied the Apple Cider Vinegar I knew something was still going on a little deeper so I upped the ante by soaking it a little longer. I did so by cutting off 1.5" sections of 3m nexcare tape and carefully taping down a small piece of cotton saturated with acv. Once it was on there I would leave it on for a few hours prior to going to bed and then leave it alone for a few days. Over those few days it would scab and flake off, once it flaked off I would repeat the tape and cotton trick, each time it shrank. Did this 4x and it's gone, just a small reddish pink spot that's fading and no more sting when Apple Cider Vinegar is applied. Love this site!

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Deidre (QLD) on 08/19/2022
 ★★★★★

Three years ago I decided to tackle half a chickpea size Sebhorreic Keratosis on my facial hairline, after a doctor quoted me a lot to remove it surgically. I applied Apple Cider Vinegar with cotton wool to it for about 13 days, about 4 times a day. It started to become crumbly by day 8, and by the end of week 2, it started lifting in patches, and I could continue lift off the dried patches easily. After 2,5 weeks it was totally gone, with smooth, healthy pink skin underneath. A real miracle! Praise God for a natural, effective and super cheap solution.

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Doug (Seattle) on 10/30/2020
 ★★☆☆☆

WORKED TEMPORARILY

Doctor diagnosed Actinic Keratosis on face. Have tried ACV by applying tissue wetted in ACV on affected areas of face multiple times a day (including overnight), pausing if it gets too sore.

After say 10 days of treatment, the AKs will scab up and fall off. However, they all come back again. Have repeated the ACV treatment after a couple years with same result: the AKs come back again. I feel that, at least in my case, the ACV does not penetrate deep enough, or possibly it is just not effective enough to completely remove what causes the AKs.

I will try eggplant mixed with ACV next time, and perhaps olive oil with tea tree.

Replied by Wanda
(Spring, Texas)
10/04/2021
42 posts

You might try the ACV with some DMSO. The DMSO will deliver the ACV deeper and quicker. It actually does that to anything so be careful when using it because if you put anything on it, it will absorb that SS well into your skin, so be careful and definitely read about it first.

Replied by Jimmy
(Oregon)
12/10/2023
2 posts

Hello. I'm searching for natural ways to treat/cure actinic keratosis. I have a mild case of it on top of my head, but would like to get rid of it. I just very recently started spraying the area twice daily with a 50/50 solution of DMSO/ACV. Thanks.

Replied by noel
(california)
12/20/2023

I saw someone claiming Castor Oil mixed with Baking Soda worked for them in just 2 days. I think you make a paste, then apply it to the spot.

Replied by Steve
(Gloucestershire, UK)
12/21/2024
★★★★★

About 5 years ago I managed to completely cure a long standing patch (several years) of keratosis from my upper forehead using aubergine (eggplant) steeped in ACV. It took a couple on months of application at least twice a day, a smaller new patch only took a week or two as have the odd bits that has appeared since. None have come back. Now I have a new small patch which I'm treating with the same, but this time once the ACV/aubergine has dried a bit I am then applying a bit of neat 99.9% DMSO with a cotton bud, this causes the ACV type stinging to return within a minute so I am sure it's helping it penetrate the keratosis. It appears to be working nicely so far.

Hollyhock
(America)
02/21/2025

Interesting idea! Can you give the recipe? Do you use the eggplant peels or the inner fruit? How much ACV? How long do you steep the concoction before using? Thank you very much for the idea!

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Edith (USA - Midwest) on 05/26/2020
 ★★★★☆

BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS

Hi All, I just wanted to post my experience with Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) and possible Actinic Keratosis. I had not received a medical diagnosis for the small, irritated spots that appeared on my nose. I'm 47 years old, Irish ancestry, with a history of extreme sun exposure as a child. I would get one spot on my nose, it would get irritated and ulcerate, and then wouldn't heal like a pimple would. There was no pus and the spot turned black. I was worried that it was basal cancer, impetigo, or a staph infection. With some research, I thought that maybe this was actinic keratosis. The first spot took about a month to heal on its own with a lot of coconut oil. It was very unsightly. About a month later, I got another spot on the left side of the tip of my nose. It was very inflamed, itchy, and unsightly. I decided to treat this with ACV. I put ACV on a cotton ball and put it on the spot. It stung badly and felt like it was burning my skin. I continued with the treatment as I thought that I couldn't just leave the spot to fester on my face and that the ACV was probably a good treatment. After 3-4 weeks of applying the ACV, the spot was just so unsightly and raw. It had become an open ulcer and it appeared that I had burned through the skin and could see the dermis below. It was about .25 inches in diameter and circular. I decided to stop with the ACV and apply Aloe and coconut oil to see what would happen. After about a week, the spot seemed to begin to heal. Now, several months later, I have a very deep scar on my nose where the sore was. It is the deepest scar on my face and I have wondered if I overdid it with the ACV. I have since gotten new sores on my nose, usually one at a time, on the tip of my nose. I haven't been treating these with ACV because I'm afraid of unnecessarily scarring myself again. I have a new red, scaly, spot that has just developed beside the place where I have my scar from my first ACV treatment. I'm unsure of what to do now, but I think that I will try colloidal silver.

Replied by ORH
(TEN MILE, TN)
05/27/2020

EDITH,,,,,,,,,,, ORH here,,,,,,,,,, my mother was named Edith. Been down your trail all my 83 years and suggest that you first do 5% Fluorouraicil and if that does not work , use Curaderm. Otherwise , you likely to be talking skin cancer and a dermatologist. I was a life guard, played tournament tennis and gardener. Now am reaping the whirlwind with my skin. My Mississippi country grand dad always wore a long sleeve shirt and his skin was like ivory. I now wear long sleeve shirts in the hot Tn summers. Do as I say, and not like I did. Our ancestral wemmins wore bonnets and they were not weathered like the lassies of today. You need some sun for vitamin D, but only about half an hour a day. ====ORH====

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Skygirl (San Angelo, Texas) on 07/11/2018
 ★★★★★

The comments about apple cider viniger being uncomfortable, orther substances being painful, are unique to each individual. I think just treating a small part of the area at first would be common sense, why treat with a substance when you don't know how you will react. But it's proven that apple cider viniger and many of the other DIY remedies help with skin lesions such a actinic keratosis. In the absence of doctors who will aggressively people, especially older people afflicted with this condition, I think whatever we can do in a common sense way to help ourselves, is smart. I can tell you, as a former nurse, I saw people who just gave up on the lesions on their necks, face, scalp, and especially their backs. Those lesions itch and are unsightly and it's darn hard to put up with it. If you find a dermatologist who will welcome you, treat treat them, and you can afford it, please let us know. Most of us are met with the standard...Oh those things, like skin tags, and keratosis just come with age, they are harmless." You are left to live with it. So I get steamed when I see people try a remedy and just because they got uncomfortable, they beat the topic to death. As for me, I would much rather put on my big girl britches, use my cheap vinigar and be free of unsightly skin patches. I treat regularly and see results. I also make sure to get a yearly skin examination to make sure nothing is developing that needs a biopsy. I don't claim to be a doctor, but we'd be in sad shape if we just ignored common sense and proven helpful education to share here on other sites.

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Jodi (Florida) on 12/28/2017

OMG I put ACV on my entire nose and chin 2 times for actinic keratosis and will never use it again. My face is bright red and blistered bad. I even rinsed it off after the 2nd time. I don't know how anyone can apply ACV 4-5 times a day for weeks. They are a tougher person than I am (I am 60 years old)

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Jk (Uk) on 10/02/2017
 ★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I had a tiny scab that wouldn't heal on my upper lip and I had it for at least a year. I was slightly concerned that it may be a type of skin cancer and to be honest having already had moles removed in the past and the scars that were left, I didn't fancy going down the conventional doctor route as a first port of call. I came aross the reviews that folks kindly shared on this great site and saw that it was something called Actinic Keratosis - often caused by sun damage.

I was thinking about buying the curaderm cream which is based on the aubergine remedy however as a first off I thought I would try apple cider vinegar. I had seen some folks say it gets worse before it gets better. It stung a bit when I first applied it and then within about 24 hours of applying it neat a few times a day just using a bit of cotton wool ( I used the mother Apple Cider Vinegar ) I noticed that other scabs were appearing ( about 5 on my upper lip ) and my lower lip also scabbed over. My mouth was in a bit of a mess to be honest and I was really self conscious when I saw people as I thought it looked like I had a ton of cold sores.

I had read that the Apple Cider Vinegar can bring out the hidden stuff so I just gritted my teeth, kept a fairly low profile as much as possible and carried on in the good faith that if it had worked for all these other folks then it would work for me. Within about 5/ 6 days things were looking considerably better and I could see that my lips were actually healing. About another 3 days after that so about 9 or 10 days in total my lips were looking totally normal again. I finished the treatment about 2 months ago ( was extra careful putting on a high sunscreen when I went on holiday ) and glad to say they are still looking great.

ACV rocks. to think that I could have gone to doctors and quite possibly ended up with some chemical chemo type cream which would have side effects, what I can say? Thrilled that this worked.

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Bobbi (Pa) on 01/09/2017
 ★★★★★

Editor's Choice

The first Actinic Keratosis lesion I had was removed by my Dr. I had been applying a dissolved Vitamin C tablet covered by a Band-Aid to that lesion for a few weeks prior to removal, and it seemed to remained unchanged by that treatment.

About a year later, to my dismay, another lesion showed up. This time I decided I was going to give organic ACV a try. For the first few days I just applied the ACV to a swab and dabbed vinegar on in the am, dinnertime, pm, and bedtime. I did that for about a week, with no apparent changes. I wondered if I should be more aggressive, so I applied the ACV to a small piece of cotton and kept it in place on the lesion with a Band-Aid. I would re-wet when needed to keep the area moist, changing out the old cotton every day. The Band-Aid was removed at bath time. I kept it on almost continually, but did give the area fresh air a few hours per day or sometimes overnight. This is when changes started happening much more quickly. The lesion changed to a dark pink, and I would experience burning and stinging. I felt something was happening so kept up the routine. At around the two week mark, the lesion had begun to separate from the healthy surrounding tissue. I was amazed! It took about four more days for the lesion to let go.

That was about two weeks ago that the lesion let go completely. The spot is still a slightly pink color. It is flat and smooth. If I didn't point out the spot to you, you would not see it. I apply natural ointment and liquid Vitamin C to facilitate healing. Of course, I have no idea if will come back again, but I will leave another review if it does to state that has happened.

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Good Sam (Baltimore, Md) on 12/14/2016
 ★★★★★

I had a small spot of actinic keratosis on my face next to my nose about 1/4" diameter. The dermatologist performed cryosurgery on the spot three time without success. So, I tried apple cider vinegar and cured it myself. Now it's completely gone and the skin is smooth as silk. I used organic, raw, unfiltered ACV. I applied it undiluted with a Q-tip swab 4 times per day for 5 days. Held it on the spot for one minute each time.

I did not use the ACV internally. It stung a little. On the second day, I had a little bleeding and scabbing. On the fourth day, the scab floated off. It's been over a month now, and there are no signs of AK.

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Jeff (Bucerias, Mexico) on 11/08/2016
 ★★★★★

ACV for Solar Keratosis:

10 days into the treatment; 2-6 times a day, dabbed on with cotton wool, and the difference is amazing. Got worst before it got better. Uncomfortable/painful. The full extent of the problem was exposed by the ACV. That was worrisome. Now I only have scabs on my pate in a few places. They are diminishing daily. Could not be any happier or more relieved, after years of using diclofenac. I have toasted myself in the sun & on sunbeds all my life despite being blond and fair skinned. I say try it, persevere with it. Tell someone else about it.

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Gary (Calgary, Alberta) on 09/01/2016
 ★★★★★

Excellent results from apple cider vinegar. I had many sores on my bald head from sun damage accumulated over the years from overexposurer ( Actinic Keratosis). I applied the ACV with a q-tip soaked in the ACV three or four times a day for approximately four days. Scabs began to form within a few days and I was able to gently remove the scabs. So far so good. Actually, amazing .

Replied by Nigel
(Manchester)
10/31/2016

Hi, do you know whether you keep applying the ACV once the scab has formed or do you stop? I have AK on my nose, temple, cheek and a number on my scalp and want to get right Thanks Nigel

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Gary (Calgary, Alberta) on 08/30/2016
 ★★★★★

Excellent results from apple cider vinegar. I had many sores on my bald head from sun damage accumulated over the years from overexposurer ( Actinic Keratosis). I applied the ACV with a q-tip soaked in the ACV three or four times a day for approximately four days. Scabs began to form within a few days and I was able to gently remove the scabs. So far so good. Actually, amazing .

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Kat (NC, US) on 08/27/2014
 ★★★★★

Diagnosed with pre-cancerous Actinic Ketosis on my back. Read here, (thank you Earth Clinic for this site and all of you! ) that ACV could help this. Since I'm up for experimenting on myself, I tried it.

I used the ACV straight on the Ketosis after I took a picture of it. It is now healed completely. Also used the ACV straight, no dilution, on my face, and any bumps that I have on my body and under breasts. A small skin nodule under my lip fell off in one day. At first, my skin seemed to get very red, but I think that was the stuff coming out that needed healing. All other bumps (moles, etc.) are getting better but not healed yet.

My husband had a rash on the back of his knee and has been using ACV for the past month and it is much better but not healed yet. ACV rocks!

Replied by Shellie
(Grass Valley)
03/20/2016

How long did you use the ACV? I have been using it for 3 weeks and the scabs seem to come back so I'm thinking the area needs more work. ANY thoughts?

Replied by Rose
(Huntingdon Valley, Pa)
03/22/2016

Dear Shellie. My husband is fair-skinned and doesn't use sunblock so he gets actinic keratoses a lot. Have found: (1) exfoliate often..can use a rough washcloth or charcoal sponge (2) apply aloe vera gel AM and PM (3) always use sunblock.

Good Luck, Rose

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Blindedbyscience (Wnc) on 06/26/2014
 ★★★★★

ACV for solar keratosis, basal cell.

If you are not getting results with this, I suggest applying the ACV and leaving it open to air as much as possible. Also try not using oils (even coconut! ) for a while. For me my problem just continued when I used oils. Hydrogen peroxide seems fine. I'm getting much better result this way. You can use a soaked ACV cotton ball to cover the area or expose the problem but then it needs to dry out I believe. I have been messing with a spot for over 3 yrs. I feel I had a setback when I applied orange oil 3 months ago but I've almost knocked out the new area using the above. Yes I've tried almost all the home remedies including Efudex, twice daily x 3wk (probably should have done it longer). BTW I only recently quit applying oil completely because it dawned on me that the times I had the most improvement was when I didn't use oil. I just started experimenting with hemp oil on my good skin to see if it helps with age spots.

Replied by Blindedbyscience
(WNC)
07/04/2014

I'm disappointed to have to report that for some reason two tiny areas appeared on the lower edge of the old spot, like little white heads (after soaking with vinegar). I really thought I had it knocked out. I've decided to switch over to a "dryer" approach and start applying Sunspot Es to dry and peel them off. I used Sunspot on the old spot before and it seemed to work but I applied nothing for 4mos and it came back. I'm not sure what is exacerbating things.

Replied by Blindedbyscience
(Wnc)
07/07/2014

Finally some progress, I decided to only use tea tree oil. I dropped the oil over the spot frequently for the last couple days, it's nice because it dries it up. Well today after my shower I used peroxide to clean and then pulled on the dry skin which peeled off leaving a pretty clean looking pink ulcer. Luckily its only about 2mm so not so scary. Believe me I've had my share of scary. This spot was biopsied as Actinic keratosis 3 yrs ago but the report said it permeated all layers and might be something worse underneath. At that time I was using CO/melatonin paste. I'm gonna continue to tx with tto. And maybe moisture it with CO/TTO/melatonin. One nice thing about this treatment is it doesn't appear to spread things around like some of the other things seem to do. I don't know why the vinegar started giving me problems this time, but I would recommend TTO.

Fritzie
(SF)
09/06/2022

What's TTO?

EC: Tea Tree Oil.

Replied by Mmsg
(Somewhere, Europe)
07/07/2014

Thank you Blindedbyscience for your update. I've got something similar and have been very frustrated by some things causing the affected area to enlarge.

I am finally seeing some progress in halting the spread and seeing the bumpy area get a bit lower, by using Epsom Salt and French Green Clay. Once in a while I also dab on wet Baking Soda. None of these things are causing spreading so I am finally breathing easier on this!

Maybe I'll add Tea Tree Oil, although in the past it did nothing for me.

Replied by Jeff
(Portsmouth, Uk)
08/06/2014

I just wanted to reinforce the previous comment - do not use any oil based product on the area of skin you are treating with ACV. It prevents the healing process. I was treating Solar Keratosis for 6 weeks with only a little success. When I stopped using anything else the process took only two weeks!

Replied by Neall
(Campbell River, Bc, Canada)
08/07/2016

I had liquid nitrogen used about four years ago on four spots on my cheek; they all came back. Now I have just one spot on my right cheek, about 0.5" in diameter. I use coconut oil with frankincense essential oil, about five drops to a Tbsp. of coconut oil, then cover with it several times a day. I alternate with 'DMSO liquid (dimethyl sulfoxide) 99.9% pure', from the health store. It feels 'under control'.

Replied by Becky
(San Diego)
02/15/2017

I've used SunSpot ES for years ... spots always come back.

Replied by Martin W.
(Canada)
10/03/2017

Yes, liquid nitrogen will make a keratosis form a scab and peel off, leaving fresh-looking skin, but the keratosis will come back after a couple of years. So it's an effective medium-term remedy, but not a cure. I don't know about ACV ... I'll give it a try!

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by J.s.c. (Florida, US) on 06/23/2014
 ★☆☆☆☆

I gave ACV an good 8 weeks, applying 2 to 3 times a day, on a keratosis on my face. It was on the side of my nose, right under my left eye, right where the pads for your glasses would sit. It was the size of the pads of glasses, too.

It didn't work for this keratosis. I had had it biopsied, since I didn't know what it was, at first. Having those two puncture marks in it, I believe made it more difficult to treat, because it wasn't in one piece anymore, and had little grooves and difficult to get at areas.

So, I gave in and let my doctor freeze it with the liquid nitrogen. It was quick, and much less painful than the ACV treatments were. I am still waiting for the freezing to heal, and will let you know how it goes, but I think it does look much better than what I was doing with the ACV.

If I had another one to deal with, and didn't get the biopsy, I might try ACV again. I think that I had let this one go on too long, as it had been there for a couple of years. So, I'm not down on using ACV, but would def use it much sooner, if I ever had to....and hope I never, never need to deal with it again.


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