Apple Cider Vinegar for Molluscum Contagiosum

5 star (73) 
  88%
4 star (7) 
  8%
3 star (1) 
  1%
1 star (1) 
  1%
(1) 
  1%

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.

Mc (Troy, Ny) on 08/31/2011:
5 out of 5 stars

Just wanted to share my experience and say that Molluscum contagiosum treatment with Apple Cider Vinegar worked pretty well for me too. It seemed to work better when combined with other treatment options like evisceration and iodine, but worked well enough on its own.

My brother had them at one point and we found the ACV to work well because it wasn't painful or cause blisters. It did stink though!

 View Entire Thread

REPLY   1      

Cali Girl (Riverside, Ca) on 08/30/2011:
5 out of 5 stars

yes I just would cover them with the makeup pads and leave them for a couple of hours in the morning if I didnt go out. If I went out I would use a bandaid but would dab the q tip soaked with Apple Cider Vinegar and apply on the MC... When I did it at night I would leave it all night n take a shower in the morning.. just stay calm n this will all work out keep putting the Apple Cider Vinegar it truly works.

 View Entire Thread

REPLY   1      

William (Chicago, Il) on 08/30/2011:
5 out of 5 stars

I'm 40, and contracted MC about 2 months ago from my gf. The infection was in the pubic region. Being rather aware of things, after about a month I realized that the bumps were not just pimples, but something else. I did a lot of online research and came across Zymaderm as a possible treatment. I tried Zymaderm for about 4 weeks (twice a day) and unfortunately, no real progress was made using this treatment. In fact, I think it might have spread worse. I do think zymaderm worked better on the smaller "new" MC bumps. But the larger older "clusters" were not going away. After a few weeks the more infected area would itch pretty bad, but I resisted in scratching, knowing this would only spread the infection.

So in frustration I went back online to check for other home remedies and found Apple Cider Vinegar and in particular this page. I do remember ACV working for me about 3 years ago on a wart I had on my thumb that persisted for 8 months. The ACV killed it in about 4 days after all other treatments failed. Since MC is basically a variation of warts, I thought this might be a plausible treatment. Boy was I right!

I acquired some waterproof bandages from Walgreens that were large enough to cover the worst part of the infection (about 90% of the 30- 35 bumps that I had). I also purchased some cotton pads and cut them to fit into the bandage - so it could hold more ACV. I poured ACV into the bandages and then affixed them to my problem area. I reinforced it with some cloth medical tape. It was approximately noon in the day when I started treatment using ACV. The ACV did sting a bit, but was tolerable. I left it like this till I got home later that day and removed the bandages about 7 hours later. To my surprise the bumps had started turning black!!! Most that were under the bandage were already dead. I decided to prepare another new fresh bandage and applied it for the rest of the night and while I slept. I must say the stinging of the ACV was a bit intense at this point, as the good skin was getting red (like a sunburn). I took some advil and went to bed.

By morning the bumps had all turned black with a white part around it. I think the MC core (the white part that is the actual virus) had turned black and died. The good skin was red and irritated from the ACV like a sunburn really. NO big deal.

I plan to get the rest of them tonight. From what I read when they turn black, they are destroyed. I'm glad this is finally over with.

REPLY   1      



Cali Girl (Riverside, Ca) on 08/21/2011:
5 out of 5 stars

i have been dealing with molluscum for 8months now. This has been such a nightmare. I am 20 years old and it all started with one growing on my inner thigh. It gradually started to spread around my lady bits area. Some even appeared on my neck(dnt knw how). I was getting extremely frustrated with waiting for me to see the dermatologist to remove them, so I found this website and it helped me sooo much. It worked beautifully for me. I bought the apple cider vinegar with makeup pads remover & some tape (good tape). I would soak the pads & place it over the MC in the morning, remove and did the same at night. They soon began to dry up and some got white and the big ones got black. Now they are healing & I havnt spotted any new ones. I have been praying for this to end, its ruining my social life. For others with molluscum try this & pray & have patience.. It'l work out
REPLY   1      

Em (Tumbleweed City , Nm) on 08/03/2011:
5 out of 5 stars

when I first noticed this "bump" it looked like a white head. I did notice that it had a little dimple in the middle and not really a head/point. one bump was larger than the others, but in all there were about 4.

i went to 2 doctors and they told me the same thing--Molluscum Contagiousum. After a bit of research I decided to use ACV. here is what I did:

--got a needle and sterilized it with soap and water, 91% alcohol and then running through a flame.

--poked each bump with the needle till I could see a teeny bit of blood (confirmation that I had gone through the skin of the bump)

--soak q-tip/cotton ball with _____ ACV UNDILUTED and apply/rub on each bump for about 30 secs. Do this several times a day. (upon waking up, before bed, each time using the restroom when at home)

bumps scabbed up and were gone in less than 10 days. had no irriation, burning, etc, but that is because I didn't leave the cotton on my skin for a prolonged period of time (i see that others are taping the ACV soaked cotton onto their skin and getting irritation/burning).

i didn't wear gloves or anything, but I did make sure that I washed my hands thoroughly and even poured some alcohol on them and let it dry.

i also got another cotton ball soaked in ACV and swiped that over all the surrounding areas of skin. I did this to possibly "prevent" the spread of it and to also "treat" what others may have not yet popped up yet.

i think poking/piercing the bump allows the ACV to work with just a quick application as opposed to not piercing and leaving the cotton on for several hours.

if you are paranoid you can swipe down the area after the bumps/scabs have gone away. do this for about a week after ALL bumps have cleared (when you wake up and before bed).

 View Entire Thread

REPLY   1      

Daniellesoclopez (Cornelius, Oregon) on 07/07/2011:
5 out of 5 stars

I just wanted to say thank you I have two young kids one 3 one 4 they are both covered with mc I have gone to the dr and they said wait it out well it has been a year now and they are on there genitals on there face I decided to turn to the internet I saw this web sight by just searching and searching we have burned some off and that has been real trama for my babies but now I see apple cidar vinager so I told my husband what can it hurt I went to dollar store bought cotton balls makeup remover pads bandage raps 20 dollars later then whent to the store and bought the vinager .

i soaked the pads then rapped them up with the ace bandages left on all night and the next day they were white by that night they had started scabing so I did this for three night the boys cried saying it was bugging them but gess what it has been one week alot of hard area I just wiped and now they are mostly all gone maybe 5 left each before they had at least 200 each. no kidding thank you very much you have saved my children it was so bad they got infected they had pus in them they were soar and no more now they look normal thank you thank you god thank you to every one thank you with tears down my face thank you!!!!!!!!!! Good luck to everyone

 View Entire Thread

REPLY   2      

A Very Itchy Individual (Northeast, Usa) on 06/20/2011:
5 out of 5 stars

I have had molluscum ALL over my body for the last couple weeks. It is awful. I am a 20 yr old male and as you can imagine it is doing some serious damage on my social life. I have been using Retin-A since I was first diagnosed about 8 days ago. It did not seem to be doing too much although I understand it works slow. I read yesterday that apple cider vinegar will help fight the mollscum. I bought some cotton make up pads and soaked them in apple cider vinegar and taped them right onto the bumps with some medical tape, although that tape did not stick too too well (I heard duct tape would be stickier). Although there was too much mollscum to cover all of them, I put it on the cluster on my chin and the ones on my lower stomach/pubic area. I put them on in the morning and by the time I took them off at night, almost all of the bumps on my chin had scabbed over, and several of the ones on my abdomen (the biggest ones) had also scabbed and flattened. AMAZING!

I will keep trying this, but I am also going to have them removed by my Dermatologist in a few days. Hopefully he can get most of them, but it seems like I have a hundred. I will update on my progress, but I would DEFINITELY reccomend putting the apple cider vinegar on them. (I used regular stop and shop brand acv.)

 View Entire Thread

REPLY   1      

Anonymous ( USA) on 06/04/2011:
5 out of 5 stars

I was diagnosed with molluscum about a month ago, and now I am almost entirely clear. I went to the health clinic on my college campus, and they froze off the visible one with liquid nitrogen. However, the bumps were still present and just made my skin red. I started investigating and I first tried Zymaderm. It wasn't working as fast as I wanted it to, so I did more research and came across apple cider vinegar, which was a huge blessing! I went to Whole Foods and purchased _____'s Apple Cider Vinegar (Whole Foods' brand works as well). I had two clusters of these bumps between my thighs, very close to my panty line. I took circular cotton makeup pads and poured ACV on them, placing them over the bumps on each side. I then used big bandaids to cover them, but duct tape will also work. As for the individual ones that spread up both sides of my butt cheeks, I took cotton balls and broke them off into smaller balls, dipped them in the apple cider vinegar (which I poured into the cap) and took either duct tape or waterproof tape to cover the bumps. Within 24 hours, the bumps either turned white or scab. I went to the doctor and he told me what I was doing was working and said that they were most likely no longer contagious when they were scabbed, which makes sense because chicken pox are no longer contagious when they are scabbed over and molluscum is part of the same family of virus. I'm keeping an eye on the area but ACV and prayer really works, so please give it a try. Good luck!
REPLY   2      



Kendra (Richland, Wa) on 05/21/2011:
5 out of 5 stars

Hi,

I just wanted to vote YES for apple cider vinegar treating molluscum contagiosum. My 3 year old daughter had two flesh colored bumps on her left buttock that no cream I applied to would help. Unfortunately, we were busy with moving and Christmas, so it wasn't until 2 months later that it was diagnosed. The doctor made no big deal about it, and said it would go away on its own in months to years. Unfortunately, my daughter had itched open the bumps and my son and I had taken baths with her beforehand. We all ended up with molluscum, but I was able to treat all of my bumps and my 7 year old son's bumps with soaking in apple cider vinegar for 1-2 days. I would cut out a small piece of a cotton makeup remover pad and soak it in apple cider vinegar, remove the excess liquid and put it on the bumps under a waterproof band-aid. I do have to say that I still have scars from this treatment, but it has only been a month or so.

My daughter's case has been much more difficult. Unfortunately, the dermatologist's receptionist recommended salicilic acid, so I tried that on my daughter which was very painful for her and turned her skin purple. I do not recommend this! Of course, her skin was too sensitive after that for apple cider vinegar, so I bought some colloidal silver water and salve that I am applying to her. I do give her baths with apple cider vinegar, tea tree oil, ravintasara oil, and lavendar oil. Every now and then I try to treat one of her bumps with apple cider vinegar, and the treatment works. My daughter sometimes cries and complains that it stings her, however, in which case I will take off the band-aid. We have also treated the bumps by popping them like a pimple, and then washing thoroughly with alcohol. She cries for this, too, because it hurts. Needless to say, it is taking longer for her bumps to go away, but things are much better and are mostly confined to her left buttock, although she did have bumps on her legs, stomach, back, and chest. It has been 6 months since I initially saw the original bumps on her butt.

I should also mention that we do not share towels or clothes now. We do not bathe together anymore. We use a towel or wash cloth once and then it is laundered. The same goes for clothes. Everything is laundered using the "sanitary" cycle (hot water) in my wash machine. I have removed all hand towels in the bathrooms and replaced them with paper towels. I am using tea tree oil soap, colloidal silver shampoo, colloidal silver water spray, colloidal silver lotion and salve when needed. I also mix olive oil with tea tree oil, raventasara oil, and lavendar oil as a moisturizer. My husband has not contracted this virus (thank God).

I read a pediatric journal study using Tagamet to succesfully treat molluscum, but this did not work for my children. Apparently this treatment may only work for atopic children.

We also took thuja occidentalis, but I did not notice any improvement afterwards.

My bumps were very itchy, so I would use a Q-tip dipped in silver salve to "itch" the bumps - especially those I thought I had on my scalp and ears. Of course I threw it away once I had used both sides of the Q-tip.

I appreciate this website so very much. I use it now all the time!

Thanks, Kendra

 View Entire Thread

REPLY   3      

Rocketgirl (Houston, Tx, Usa) on 04/18/2011:
4 out of 5 stars

I've been dealing with MC for what feels like forever now. For the longest time, I honestly didn't know what it was. I was terrified that I had contracted herpes or hpv, the usual fears. Went to the gyno for the standard check-up and she didn't mention anything about this. Waited for all of the STD tests to come back and they all came up clean, so I went back in to talk to her about what was going on with my lady business.

She then told me I had something called MC and failed to explain what it even was, but told me how to treat it; my options were cryotherpay or the aldera cream, which, if we're being honest, is just way too expensive, especially considering I haven't found much positive feedback on it. So, I call her up and schedule an appointment for the cryo. I go in on Friday and she tells me that she thinks we should wait a little while because MC will usually clear on it own, mind you I've been dealing with this for AT LEAST 6 months, if not longer. I tell her I'll think about it, so I leave and I'm panicking because let's face it, nobody feels very awesome with little, itchy bumps all over their lady parts. So I use my resources that I started out with in the beginning.

I found this lovely little gem of a website and I figured, apple cider vinegar, what the hell, it can't hurt anything, right? Right, I was. I've been doing the ACV every night for around probably 12 hours, I originally did this as a test run and planned on maybe doing it once, figuring it wouldn't work. I was definitely wrong. I've done it three nights in a row and the size and number of my MC has gone down substantially. The areas that I'm treating seems to be a little irritated and the ACV burns like hell, but my body is in survival mode at this point and I can handle a little burning if it means I can get rid of these pesky bumps that have been driving me crazy so long. I'm actually going in today to get some cryo done on the areas that are harder to cover and take care of, but the areas that I've been treating are looking better each day. So hey guys, thanks for sharing the secret wonder cure. I don't think I would wish MC on my worst enemy.

 View Entire Thread

REPLY   4      

Shaina (Pahrump, Nv) on 03/04/2011:
4 out of 5 stars

Hi, My daughter and I have been dealing with this for almost a Full year... We went to the doctor many times in Nevada. They gave her Amox. And we still had the bumps. They slowly spread everywhere (torso, arms, legs, tummy, ect. ) over time. We are down to 3 bumps right now. I do not know where she caught it from at all!!

We have been using ACV for the last couple months and what a miracle.. A couple of the bumps were along where her pants rub and boy did they get swollen. I have been soaking her in a hot tub and ACV. And in the tub the bumps popped on their own. I hope it helps someone else :) Keep your fingers crossed.

 View Entire Thread

REPLY   2      

Steve'o (Rochester, Ny) on 01/07/2011:
5 out of 5 stars

I have been struggling with what I recently to be muscullum contagiom for nearly a year now.... Until this week when I finally figured out that I did not have folliculitis... And in fact had this horrible disease. However, I was elated to find all of this great information from everyday people, and horrifying stories regarding encounters with dermatologists and general practitioners who only want to make money by scraping burning and freezing in their office. Shame on them all.

I tried the most commonly reported success story on this and other forums, apple cider vinegar... And wow!!!!!!!!! I taped on the Apple Cider Vinegar soaked cotton balls, woke up they were white, went to work and two hours later they were dark red and black... Yeah!!!!! I treated smaller and more remote ones over next two days... And now all I have left is black scabs... Which are beginning to fall away leaving no scars or any sign of mc. Thank you everyone for your taking the time to post and share your knowledge. This is the simplest, most effective, shortest, least invasive or damaging remedy there is... And your doctor will not treat you this way.... Shame shame shame. I wish you all luck, and my god.... this really works and has changed my life.

 View Entire Thread

REPLY         

Dcm (Surrey, Bc Canada) on 12/20/2010:
5 out of 5 stars

Go see a homeopathic doctor, treatment is inexpensive and was effective for three of my neices and my son, I'm on day 3 with my daughter. The homeopathic doctor recommended thuja (small white sugary tasting pellets taken under the tongue) and silver in a spray form, which get applied to the affected areas. It is all painless and usually is effective within a couple of weeks.

 View Entire Thread

REPLY         



Nate (Nw Suburbs Of Chicago, Illinois Usa) on 11/15/2010:
5 out of 5 stars

Hands down yes this works if you do it correctly. I used podofilox which is a topical solution given to me by a doctor and it only managed to clear one but it left it very large and scabbed. ALl the other ones that I used apple cider vinegar on went away, peacefully. First you must take a pin or needle and sterilize it with a flame then once its cool pick at the little buggers until they are open and remove the white hard part if you can. Then (this may burn) wipe the buggers with ACV. If you wet some cotton balls with Acv and bandaid them to the effected area over night this helps too although can be a little uncomfortable. Also it is possible to burn yourself with the acid overnight if it sits on sensitive skin so make sure it is taped down securely. Do this for maybe three days it will look more red but then dont wipe them for a couple days and make sure you rinse off the Apple Cider Vinegar every morning. Once they are not irritated Then just wipe them everyday once and they should clear and go down relatively fast. I treated my infection in about a week and a half with this stuff. ITS A MIRACLE!
REPLY   1      

Jen (Blaine, Mn) on 11/11/2010:
5 out of 5 stars

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.

 View Entire Thread

REPLY   7      

Worried Mom (Birmingham, Uk) on 10/14/2010:
4 out of 5 stars

My 4 year old daughter has been suffering from MC for around 2 months now at first they didn't bother her but they have started to spread they first appeared on her lower abdomen and now her torso is covered and I have noticed some appearing on the pelvic area. Every time she gets hot she complains they itch. Doctors have told me they cannot do anything for them and they will clear up in 6 months or so! I have since discovered they can take upto 5 years to go! So thank you everyone who has posted on here with their stories. 2 days ago I started the apple cider vinegar putting some on cotton wool and then taping over the mc and omg what a result the following morning just as I read the mc's had turned black and scabby. She has soo many of them and also suffers from ezcema so the ACV doesn't help that. But I'm doing a few spots each night now hopefully they will all clear soon. Thankyou everyone for the advise on this site. I AM TEMPTED TO TRY THE CLEAR NAIL VARNISH ON A COUPLE JUST SIMPLY BECAUSE ITS LESS HASSLE THAN THE TAPING OF COTTON WOOL AND THE SMELL OF VINEGAR. I WILL UPDATE ON HERE.
REPLY   3      

Mary Jane (Ireland) on 06/14/2010:
5 out of 5 stars

All 3 of my young children contracted molluscum contagiosum between the ages of 2 and 6 (at different times) - presumably at the swimming pool. The youngest child got it the worst and having been told by our gp that it was harmless and would go in due course (all very well but it was irritating her and spreading quite fast from her arms to her body) I read about apple cider vinegar on the net. What I did was prick a few of the wart like things with a sterile needle, remove the white gunk, clean the site and then apply the (double strength - neat) vinegar on a cotton wool pad for about 10 seconds each place, and then put a plaster (band-aid)on it. It did sting but didn't last long or upset them too much. In all 3 cases the little warts went away - not just the few I treated but all of them - within a few weeks. I probably did 2 treatments with the vinegar per child about 1 week apart. I am so thankful that I did treat it myself rather than let it run it's course over many months or years, which can happen.
REPLY   5      

It Happened To Me Too:( (Orlando, Fl/u.s.) on 06/11/2010:
5 out of 5 stars

First, Thank you for this website..I use it for everything, since I don't believe in medication anymore. Anyway, My boyfriend and I both got Molluscum and we both applied apple cider vingear straight to a baby wipe and left it on the affected area all day and night..stung alot at first but it was gone within 4days..his hasn't returned, while my molluscum just fell off last night.

 View Entire Thread

REPLY   1      



Gnomelover (Houston, Tx) on 08/23/2009:
5 out of 5 stars

Hi Everyone. I just wanted to say two things about my experience with ACV. I've had MC for about 5 months now. It started with one lesion on my thigh that turned into about 10 autoinnoculated spots on my privates. Thanks to my Dr that told me it was a *YEAST* infection on my skin!!!!! This is why I kept shaving. Note: do NOT NOT NOT shave when you have MC. It *will* spread like wildfire! :(

To the poster that asked if the MC got worse before it was better using ACV, I am thinking you might have just had some bumps that hadn't surfaced yet and the ACV made them more visible.

I have been using Heinz diluted to 5% ACV since last night. I soaked a cotton ball in it and then covered the area with one of those huge bandaids and left it on about 12 hours. I woke up this morning. My MC is WHITE with black in the middle!!! Even with the diluted version this is already working. I discovered about 10 bumps on my buttocks last night :( Had no idea that they were there. I am going to be doing this method to them all day today and all night to help them on their way OUT the door.

I have popped my other MC but I gave this a try and this is great. Everyone says it burns but my ACV does not burn (probably due to dilution) and is still seemingly effective.

I am also trying DRINKING this horrible stuff. I mean it's really awful tasting to me but I figure drinking and topically applying will be better than just one or the other.

Bless you all and speedy healing!

 View Entire Thread

REPLY   2      

Bumpy (Columbia, SC) on 05/16/2009:
0 out of 5 stars

Did anyone's molluscum get worse before it got better when you used apple cider vinegar? I've noticed that I've broken out with LOTS of bumps, especially on my arms. Just curious. Also, did anyone have it on their face?
REPLY   1      

Erica R (Miami, Florida) on 09/25/2008:
5 out of 5 stars

Apple Cider Vinegar cured my Molluscum Contagiosum. I'm not sure where I got the virus, but I did. It started off as one pimple-like thing on my leg, and began spreading. I went to the doctor. She told me I had Molluscum Contagiosum, so I immediately began researching natural cures for it. Rather than going to a dermatologist who would possibly burn them and leave scars, I instead bought a $4 bottle of Organic Apple Cider Vinegar. I would tape small cotton balls to the infected area. The pimple-like things turn black and eventually fall out. It's unbelievable, and really works!
REPLY   2      

Theresa Corzatt (Lacrosse, Kansas) on 08/08/2008:
5 out of 5 stars

My 7 year old grand son contracted molluscum at the swimming pool. It covered his back and was spreading fast. I researched cures and found that Doctors in other countries use apple cider vinegar to cure this ailment along with vitamin E. We wore gloves and saturated cotton balls with apple cider vinegar. We taped pieces of the saturated cotton balls on each wart. We put this on every night at bed time and also gave him vitamin E twice daily. This took two weeks. The warts blister and the core comes to the surface. We removed the core and continued the treatment. He is completely healed and has no scars. The vinegar does sting a little bit at first. Thank God for apple cider vinegar.
REPLY   1      

May (Iowa City, Iowa) on 06/18/2008:
5 out of 5 stars

Hi there! A while ago I was diagnosed with Molluscum Contagiosum, an itchy fungus sort of thing that showed up around my vagina. It's not considered an STD but I no doubt contracted it from God-knows-who during a one night stand. So anyway, I couldn't stop itching it and the stuff was spreading like mad. My gyno reccomended that I have it burned off with acid. Ouch! No thanks! So, having heard of the healing properties of ACV, I gave it a shot. I applied a little bit to the affected area twice a day with a q-tip. In 2 weeks it was completely gone! Just dried right up. Totally easy and painless. It has now been over 6 months and it hasn't come back. Thank God for ACV!
EC: Thank you for your feedback! A new page has been created for this condition...
REPLY   4      
1.. 2

Go Back