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Jack (College Station, Texas) on 01/16/2016:
Fast forward a month later and I discovered that I had 11 bumps in that region after trimming. I freaked out and spent the next couple of hours researching it on the internet. I never heard of molluscum contagiosum (MC) before but I was pretty certain of my self-diagnosis. I scheduled an appointment with my doctor ASAP just in case. I wanted to be sure before I made the calls to the girls I've... touched skin with in the recent past.
After my hours of research over the internet, I came to the conclusion that apple cider vinegar (ACV) was the best remedy for this ailment. It was cheaper, natural, seemed to work quicker, and had no alarming side effects (the only two are 1) the smell and 2) burning of the skin if you get ACV that's too strong for you). So I ran to the store and bought what I didn't already have from this list:
* apple cider vinegar (5%)
* cotton balls
* band-aids
* Neosporin/triple anti-biotic
* daily multi-vitamin
I applied cotton balls lightly soaked with ACV to the bumps using band-aids twice a day: in the morning before work (I'd use less since the smell was pretty bad), and at night after a shower (the more ACV, the better). I essentially had them covered all day. I did this until the bumps became really big and easy to remove (1-3 days depending on their size). I extracted the white stuff using my finger nails - trying to be careful not to spread it or cause scars by removing too much skin. Some turned black before I removed the core but I removed the stuff from them anyway. After I de-cored them, they scabbed over and became "infected" with red circles around them (no big deal, though). I applied Neosporin/triple anti-biotic to them twice a day. The scabs fell off after about a week. It took another week for the red circles to completely disappear. The healing process would have probably been quicker had I realized I was using expired (by 3 years) triple anti-biotic. My wounds healed faster in a day than they did in a week once I started using a brand new bottle.
All in all, it took about 2 weeks to rid myself from this without a trace after discovering it. However, I was probably not contagious after the first 3 days. That is, once I removed the last core. I'm going to have to check my body for the next 6 months, though.
Wish me luck and good luck to you!
Other tips:
* Don't use the same towel twice to dry off after taking a shower during this period (to help prevent the spread of it)
* Drink 4 tbsp max of ACV (diluted in water to your liking) before, during or after meals (to help boost your immune system)
* Take a daily multivitamin (to help boost your immune system)
* Drink lots of water (to help boost your immune system)
* Get an adequate amount of sleep (to help boost your immune system)
M (Eu) on 11/20/2015:
Anonymous (San Luis Obispo, Ca) on 10/29/2015:
Thank you everyone!
Beryl (Surrey) on 09/08/2015:
I began using cider vinegar on 20.8.15. I began by giving my daughter a shower and she washed in a tea tree body wash, once fully dried I applied the cider vinegar on pads and used medical tape to secure them, but she found them too irritating so we took them off.
As it was the school holidays, I would wipe her legs over in the morning and after showering again at night with cider vinegar, I also popped some of the spots but made sure that I kept the vinegar away from these.
I am amazed to say that the spots have nearly all gone and I now only apply the cider vinegar in the evenings, she moisturizes her legs every morning with coca butter cream.
I also changed her bedding, towels and nightwear every other night.
If you're not sure how your child's skin may react to vinegar, perhaps do a test on a out of sight area.
Lori (San Diego, Ca) on 05/01/2015:
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 :)
Sara (Portland, Oregon) on 03/31/2015:
Strange that the doctors don't know about this treatment. We told ours (after she told us there was not much we could do).
Squiffle (England) on 01/06/2015:
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.
Cooper (Victoria, British Columbia) on 12/03/2014:
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.
Ambitious Girl (Co) on 11/23/2014:
Believer (New York) on 11/10/2014:
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.