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Natural Remedies for Moles: Safe Application and Community Reports

| Modified on Jun 08, 2026
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Apple Cider Vinegar.

Many people search for natural remedies for moles hoping to flatten, fade, or remove a spot at home. Earth Clinic readers have reported using apple cider vinegar, garlic, iodine, castor oil, hydrogen peroxide, coconut oil, and other remedies for moles and mole-like skin growths. However, moles require more caution than many other skin concerns because some skin cancers can look like ordinary moles early on.

The most important first step is not a DIY remover. It is making sure the spot is a benign mole or benign mole-like growth, not a suspicious lesion that needs medical evaluation. A mole that is new, changing, bleeding, crusting, painful, persistently itchy, irregular, or unusual should be checked by a healthcare professional before any home treatment is attempted.

This Earth Clinic guide combines reader-reported mole remedies with safety-first guidance, dermatologist options, practical aftercare, and a clear explanation of why some popular “natural mole removers” can burn, scar, or distort the skin.

At a Glance

  • Most Popular Earth Clinic Remedy: Apple cider vinegar, with 161 reader reports
  • Other Popular Reader Remedies: Garlic, iodine, castor oil, hydrogen peroxide, coconut oil, and castor oil with baking soda
  • Gentler Options: Iodine, castor oil, coconut oil, and conservative skincare support
  • Highest-Risk Methods: Garlic, apple cider vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, and bloodroot/black salve if used aggressively
  • Safety First: Do not treat any new, changing, bleeding, crusting, painful, itchy, or unusual mole at home
  • Best Medical Option: Dermatology evaluation and removal when cosmetic removal or diagnosis is needed

Quick Nav

What Counts as a “Mole”?

In everyday language, people use the word “mole” for many different skin spots. This matters because a remedy that appears to remove a raised spot may not be appropriate for a true pigmented mole, a seborrheic keratosis, a skin tag, a sun spot, or a suspicious lesion.

True Moles

Also called: Melanocytic nevi.

Typical appearance: Flat or raised brown, tan, pink, or flesh-colored spots formed by pigment-producing cells.

Safety note: True moles should be monitored for changes in shape, border, color, size, symptoms, or behavior.

Skin Tags

Typical appearance: Soft, flesh-colored growths that may hang from a small stalk.

Common areas: Neck, underarms, eyelids, groin folds, and under the breasts.

Why it matters: Many “mole removal” success stories may actually involve skin tags or other benign raised growths.

Seborrheic Keratoses

Typical appearance: Waxy, rough, raised, or “stuck-on” spots that become common with age.

Why it matters: These are often mistaken for moles and may respond differently to home remedies.

Sun Spots and Liver Spots

Typical appearance: Flat brown patches caused by sun exposure and pigmentation changes.

Why it matters: These are not true moles. Some reader reports using hydrogen peroxide describe sun spots or liver spots rather than moles.

Before using any removal method, be clear about what you are treating. If there is any doubt, have the spot checked.

Red Flags: When Not to Treat a Mole at Home

Do not attempt to shrink, burn, fade, scratch, or remove any mole that has suspicious features. Dermatologists commonly use the ABCDE guide to help identify moles or pigmented lesions that should be evaluated.

ABCDE Warning Signs

  • A - Asymmetry: One half does not match the other.
  • B - Border: Edges are irregular, blurred, notched, or uneven.
  • C - Color: Multiple colors or uneven color, including black, blue, red, white, or gray.
  • D - Diameter: Larger than a pencil eraser or growing.
  • E - Evolving: Any change in size, shape, color, height, symptoms, or behavior.

The Ugly Duckling Sign

Most people have a personal “signature style” of moles. Their moles may all be small and tan, or larger and raised, or clustered in a similar pattern.

The “ugly duckling” is the one spot that looks different from all the others. Even if it does not meet every ABCDE warning sign, a mole or spot that stands out from your normal pattern deserves attention and may need evaluation.

Also seek medical evaluation if a mole or spot is bleeding, crusting, painful, persistently itchy, inflamed, non-healing, rapidly growing, or looks different from your other moles.

Practical rule: If you feel tempted to treat a mole because it suddenly looks strange, that is the exact reason to have it examined instead.

Earth Clinic reader reports show that apple cider vinegar is by far the most discussed remedy for moles, followed by garlic, iodine, bloodroot paste, hydrogen peroxide, coconut oil, castor oil, and castor oil with baking soda.

Because mole treatment carries safety risks, these remedies are presented as reader-reported experiences, not medical recommendations. They are most appropriate to discuss only after a spot has been confirmed benign or is clearly a harmless mole-like growth.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Reader Reports: 161

Reader Pattern: Raised moles or mole-like spots flatten, darken, scab, and fall away.

How It May Work: ACV contains acetic acid. Repeated application can act like an uncontrolled chemical peel or cauterizing agent, damaging surface tissue and causing it to scab.

Main Risk: Chemical burns, scarring, irritation of surrounding skin, and possible delay in diagnosis if the mole was suspicious.

Garlic

Reader Reports: 24

Reader Pattern: Fast action on some raised spots, often with burning or blistering.

How It May Work: Fresh garlic contains sulfur compounds that can irritate and damage skin tissue, especially when crushed and covered.

Main Risk: Garlic can cause chemical burns, especially under a bandage.

Iodine

Reader Reports: 16

Reader Pattern: Slower flaking or drying, with less burning than ACV or garlic.

How It May Work: Iodine is drying and antiseptic. Reader reports describe gradual drying or flaking rather than rapid chemical burning.

Main Risk: Skin irritation, staining, and caution for people with thyroid disease or iodine sensitivity.

Castor Oil and Baking Soda

Reader Reports: 8

Reader Pattern: Slower softening or gradual breakdown of raised moles or skin tags.

How It May Work: Castor oil is rich in ricinoleic acid and is traditionally used to soften thickened or rough skin. Baking soda adds mild abrasion and alkalinity, which may irritate or dry some raised growths.

Main Risk: Irritation if skin is scored or treated too aggressively.

Hydrogen Peroxide

Reader Reports: 7

Reader Pattern: Lightening or crusting of flat sun spots or pigmented spots.

How It May Work: Hydrogen peroxide is an oxidizing agent that can bleach pigment and irritate tissue, depending on strength and exposure.

Main Risk: Burns from high-strength peroxide and confusion between sun spots, moles, and suspicious lesions.

Reader-Reported Remedy Timelines

Timelines vary widely depending on whether the spot is a true mole, skin tag, seborrheic keratosis, sun spot, or another growth. The following reflects common reader patterns, not guaranteed results.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Typical Reader Timeline: About 5 to 10 days in several reports.

Common Observation: The spot darkens, scabs, flattens, and separates.

Common Problem: Burning or discoloration of surrounding skin.

Garlic

Typical Reader Timeline: Sometimes 1 to 3 days for dramatic changes.

Common Observation: Blistering, puffing up, and scabbing.

Common Problem: Garlic burns and strong odor.

Iodine

Typical Reader Timeline: Around 1 week or longer in some reports.

Common Observation: Gradual drying, flaking, or shrinking.

Common Problem: Staining and thyroid-related cautions.

Castor Oil and Baking Soda

Typical Reader Timeline: Often slower and more gradual.

Common Observation: Softening, flattening, or breakdown of raised spots.

Common Problem: Unclear results on true flat moles.

Coconut Oil

Typical Reader Use: Mostly aftercare.

Common Observation: Soothing, moisturizing, and support for scab healing.

Common Problem: Not a reliable mole remover.

Apple Cider Vinegar for Moles

Apple cider vinegar is the most popular Earth Clinic remedy for moles, with 161 reader reports. Readers often describe using ACV on raised moles or mole-like growths that had previously been checked or appeared stable for many years.

Common reader reports describe a similar process: the mole is gently roughened, ACV is applied with a cotton pad or swab, the area is covered, the mole changes color, scabs, and eventually falls off. Some readers report improvement in about five to ten days. Others report irritation, discoloration, or scarring.

One reader reported removing numerous moles and skin spots using apple cider vinegar with the mother. The method included lightly roughing up the mole, protecting surrounding skin with petroleum jelly, applying an ACV-soaked pad, securing it with tape, and repeating morning and night until the spot scabbed and fell away. Another reader described using ACV on a doctor-checked benign chin mole, noting that it scabbed, shrank, and separated after several days, followed by careful moist healing with Aquaphor.

Reader-Reported ACV Method

  1. Confirm the mole is benign before attempting treatment.
  2. Clean the area gently.
  3. Protect surrounding skin with petroleum jelly, zinc oxide, or a thick balm.
  4. Apply apple cider vinegar to a very small piece of cotton or pad cut to the size of the mole.
  5. Place only on the mole, not the surrounding skin.
  6. Cover with tape or a bandage if tolerated.
  7. Remove after several hours or overnight, depending on skin sensitivity.
  8. Let the skin rest if redness, burning, or irritation develops.

How ACV Appears to Work

Apple cider vinegar contains acetic acid. When repeatedly applied to skin under a bandage, it can damage surface tissue, denature proteins, and create a scab. This is why reader reports often describe darkening, crusting, and eventual separation.

This is not a precise mole-removal technique. It is an uncontrolled chemical cauterization process. It cannot confirm whether a lesion was benign, whether deeper mole cells remain, or whether the treated area should have been biopsied.

What Readers Commonly Report With ACV

  • The mole may look larger, paler, darker, or scabbed during treatment.
  • Some moles turn black; others may turn brown, greenish, yellowish, or crusted.
  • Surrounding skin can burn if not protected.
  • The area may look pink after the mole separates.
  • Healing may take weeks or months for color to blend fully.

Important: Apple cider vinegar is acidic and can cause chemical burns and scars. Do not use ACV on suspicious moles, changing spots, eyelids, lips, genitals, or areas where scarring would be especially concerning.

Garlic for Moles

Garlic is the second most popular Earth Clinic mole remedy. It is also one of the most irritating. Readers report that garlic can act quickly on some raised spots, but burning, blistering, and skin damage are common risks.

One reader compared apple cider vinegar, garlic, and iodine on three different moles. The garlic reportedly worked within two days on a pea-sized mole, causing it to puff up, blister, and come off like a scab. However, the reader also reported burning the surrounding skin and warned others to protect healthy skin carefully.

How Garlic Appears to Work

Fresh garlic contains sulfur compounds, including allicin-related compounds, that can strongly irritate skin. When crushed garlic is taped over a spot, it may create blistering and tissue damage. This can make a raised growth appear to “come off,” but it also increases the risk of burns and scarring.

Garlic Burn Warning

Fresh garlic can cause chemical burns, especially when crushed and taped to the skin. This risk increases with overnight use, sensitive skin, facial use, and failure to protect surrounding skin.

If garlic is used at all, it should be applied only to a confirmed benign spot, for short periods, with surrounding skin protected, and stopped immediately if burning becomes intense.

Iodine for Moles

Iodine is a slower, gentler reader-reported remedy for some moles and mole-like spots. In the reader comparison mentioned above, iodine was applied three times daily to a slightly raised mole, which reportedly flaked off after about seven days without burning.

Iodine does not appear to work through the same corrosive mechanism as ACV or garlic. Reader reports more commonly describe gradual drying, flaking, or shrinking of certain benign growths.

Reader-Reported Iodine Method

  • Apply iodine directly to a confirmed benign spot.
  • Repeat daily as tolerated.
  • Expect slower changes than ACV or garlic.
  • Protect clothing and bedding from staining.

Caution: Iodine can stain and irritate skin. People with thyroid disease, iodine sensitivity, pregnancy, or those taking thyroid medication should consult a healthcare provider before repeated iodine use.

Castor Oil and Baking Soda for Moles

Castor oil and baking soda are popular traditional remedies for raised moles, skin tags, and rough skin growths. Compared with ACV and garlic, it is usually less painful and less likely to burn surrounding skin, though results may be slower.

One Earth Clinic reader with many moles and skin tags reported using a thick castor oil and baking soda paste. The reader described the best texture as gum-like rather than runny, so it could be placed directly over the mole and covered without leaking. The same reader noted that some raised moles appeared to disintegrate gradually, while skin tags responded differently.

How Castor Oil and Baking Soda May Help

Castor oil contains ricinoleic acid and is traditionally used to soften rough, thickened, or irritated skin. Baking soda adds mild abrasion and drying action. This may explain why some readers see gradual changes in raised or rough spots, while flat true moles may be less responsive.

Castor Oil and Baking Soda Paste

  1. Mix castor oil with baking soda to make a thick paste.
  2. Apply a small amount directly to the confirmed benign mole or skin tag.
  3. Cover with a bandage if desired.
  4. Leave on for several hours or overnight if tolerated.
  5. Repeat consistently and stop if irritation develops.

Note: Scoring or scraping a mole before treatment increases irritation and infection risk. It should not be done on uncertain or suspicious lesions.

Hydrogen Peroxide for Sun Spots and Mole-Like Spots

Some Earth Clinic reader reports under moles involve sun spots or liver spots rather than true moles. One reader described using 12% food-grade hydrogen peroxide on a flat, round, dark brown sun spot. The spot whitened, crusted, and later fell off, leaving a lighter brown area.

This is not the same as treating a true mole. Flat pigmented lesions should be evaluated if they are changing, irregular, darkening, or unusual.

Hydrogen Peroxide Caution

High-strength hydrogen peroxide can burn skin. Do not use concentrated hydrogen peroxide on moles, suspicious lesions, facial areas, or sensitive skin without professional guidance.

Coconut Oil for Healing Support

Coconut oil appears in reader reports most often as aftercare rather than as the primary mole-removal remedy. Readers have used coconut oil after ACV or other treatments to soothe irritated skin, soften scabs, and support healing.

One reader whose benign mole responded to ACV reported switching to extra virgin coconut oil during the scab stage. The oil helped soothe the area, and the reader reported that the mole, scab, and scar were gone by the end of the process, leaving only pinker skin.

Coconut oil may be helpful for dryness and irritation, but it should not be used to delay evaluation of suspicious spots.

Why Some Moles Come Back

A surface scab falling off does not always mean that all mole cells are gone. Many true moles include pigment-producing cells deeper in the skin. A home remedy may remove the visible raised surface while leaving deeper cells behind.

The “Root” Illusion

Readers often describe a mole “falling out by the root.” In reality, home treatments do not show whether deeper melanocyte nests remain in the skin. This is one reason moles may appear to grow back months or years later.

Medical removal is different because a clinician can remove the lesion in a controlled way and, when appropriate, send tissue to pathology.

Another concern is that burning or scarring a suspicious lesion can change its appearance and make later visual tracking more difficult. If a mole is atypical or changing, it should be evaluated before any attempt to remove it.

What Readers Report During Mole Treatment

Reader reports describe a range of visible changes during DIY mole treatment. These changes can be alarming, and they do not prove that a treatment is safe or appropriate.

Common Reader-Reported Changes

  • Flattening of a raised mole or mole-like growth
  • Color changes: black, brown, greenish, yellowish, pale, or crusted
  • Scabbing or hardening
  • Blistering with garlic or stronger remedies
  • Pink skin after a scab falls off
  • Temporary redness or irritation around the treated area
  • Scarring, especially after aggressive treatment or picking

Stop and seek care if the area becomes increasingly painful, swollen, hot, infected-looking, bleeding, or fails to heal.

Remedies to Avoid or Use With Extreme Caution

Many “natural mole removal” methods are actually forms of chemical cauterization. They can burn tissue, scar, and obscure warning signs that should have been checked.

Avoid Black Salve and Bloodroot Paste

Bloodroot paste and black salve are corrosive products sometimes promoted for moles, skin tags, and skin cancer. They can destroy healthy skin, cause severe scarring and disfigurement, and delay proper diagnosis or treatment.

Earth Clinic does not recommend black salve or bloodroot paste for moles.

Use Extreme Caution With These Methods

  • Apple cider vinegar: Can burn and scar.
  • Garlic: Can blister and chemically burn skin.
  • High-strength hydrogen peroxide: Can cause burns and tissue damage.
  • Scraping, scoring, or needling: Increases irritation, infection risk, and diagnostic confusion.
  • Unapproved mole remover liquids: May contain caustic acids or corrosive chemicals.

Safe-First Natural Approaches for Appearance

These approaches do not reliably remove true moles, but they may reduce irritation, protect surrounding skin, and make the area look calmer while you monitor it.

1. Daily Sun Protection

UV exposure can darken pigmented spots and make moles appear more contrasted against surrounding skin.

  • Use broad-spectrum SPF on exposed skin.
  • Many people prefer a mineral sunscreen with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, especially for sensitive or recently irritated skin.
  • Wear hats and protective clothing.
  • Avoid tanning and repeated sunburns.

2. Photograph and Measure

Tracking a mole can help you detect changes early.

  • Take a clear photo in consistent lighting once a month.
  • Include a ruler or coin for scale.
  • Note any changes in color, border, height, symptoms, or size.

3. Reduce Friction

Moles in high-friction areas may look more irritated or raised.

  • Avoid repeatedly shaving over the spot.
  • Use clothing adjustments if a mole rubs against a waistband, bra line, or collar.
  • Use a temporary protective bandage if needed.

4. Support Surrounding Skin Tone

Some people prefer to improve the surrounding skin rather than trying to remove the mole itself.

  • Niacinamide
  • Vitamin C serum
  • Licorice root extract
  • Gentle moisturizers

These are cosmetic approaches and should not be applied to suspicious or irritated lesions.

Aftercare and Scar Prevention

Many reader reports mention scabbing, pink skin, irritation, or scars after mole treatment. Good aftercare may reduce the chance of a lasting mark.

Aftercare Checklist

  • Do not pick or pull off scabs.
  • Keep the area clean.
  • Use a bland healing ointment or moisturizer if the skin is dry or irritated.
  • Protect newly healed pink skin from ultraviolet exposure.
  • Use a broad-spectrum mineral sunscreen with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide when the area is exposed to daylight.
  • Continue sun protection to reduce the risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, also called PIH.
  • Avoid acids, exfoliants, retinoids, and scrubs until fully healed.
  • Watch for infection: increasing redness, heat, swelling, pus, or worsening pain.

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is darkening that can occur after skin injury or inflammation. It is more likely after burns, aggressive picking, sun exposure, and irritation. Sun protection is especially important on the face, chest, shoulders, arms, and other frequently exposed areas.

If a treated area leaves a raised scar, depression, persistent redness, or abnormal pigmentation, consult a dermatologist.

Dermatology Options for Mole Removal

If a mole is confirmed benign but bothers you cosmetically, medical removal is the safest and most predictable option. It also allows tissue to be sent for pathology when needed.

Common Dermatology Options

  • Shave removal: Often used for raised benign moles.
  • Excision: Removes the full lesion and may be preferred when pathology is needed.
  • Biopsy: Used when a mole is suspicious or changing.
  • Cryotherapy or other methods: May be used for non-mole growths such as seborrheic keratoses.

Dermatology removal can still leave a scar, but it avoids the uncertainty of burning a mole at home and missing important diagnostic information.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most popular Earth Clinic remedy for moles?

Apple cider vinegar is the most popular Earth Clinic remedy for moles, with 161 reader reports. Readers often describe raised moles darkening, scabbing, flattening, and falling away. However, ACV can burn and scar and should not be used on suspicious or changing moles.

Can you safely remove a mole at home?

Home removal is not considered the safest option for true moles because melanoma and other skin cancers can resemble benign moles. A mole should be checked before removal, especially if it is new, changing, bleeding, painful, itchy, crusting, irregular, or unusual.

Is apple cider vinegar safe for mole removal?

Apple cider vinegar can cause chemical burns, scarring, and irritation. Earth Clinic has many reader reports, but ACV should only be considered for a spot already confirmed benign, and surrounding skin must be protected carefully.

How does apple cider vinegar remove a mole?

Apple cider vinegar contains acetic acid. Repeated application can damage surface tissue, causing the area to scab and sometimes separate. This is an uncontrolled chemical cauterization process, not a precise medical removal method.

Why did my mole turn black after ACV?

Readers often report that treated raised moles or mole-like spots darken and scab before separating. However, a mole turning black on its own, changing rapidly, or becoming irregular should be medically evaluated.

Is garlic safer than apple cider vinegar?

No. Garlic can burn skin, especially when crushed and taped under a bandage. It may act quickly but carries a high irritation and blistering risk.

Does iodine remove moles?

Some Earth Clinic readers report that iodine slowly dried or flaked off slightly raised moles or mole-like spots. It appears gentler than garlic or ACV for some users, but it can irritate skin and may not be appropriate for people with thyroid issues.

Can castor oil and baking soda remove moles?

Some readers report gradual changes in raised moles or skin tags with castor oil and baking soda paste. It is usually less irritating than ACV or garlic but may take longer and is not appropriate for suspicious lesions.

Why do some moles come back after home treatment?

Some true moles have cells deeper in the skin. A home remedy may remove the visible raised surface while deeper mole cells remain. This can allow the spot to recur later.

Should bloodroot paste be used for moles?

No. Bloodroot paste and black salve are corrosive and can cause severe scarring, tissue destruction, infection, and delayed cancer diagnosis. They are not recommended.

What is the Ugly Duckling Sign?

The Ugly Duckling Sign means one mole or spot looks different from your other moles. Because most people have a personal mole pattern, a spot that stands out as unusual should be checked even if it does not meet every ABCDE criterion.

What is the ABCDE rule for moles?

ABCDE stands for asymmetry, border irregularity, color variation, diameter change, and evolving. Any mole showing these signs should be evaluated by a healthcare professional.

What sunscreen is best after mole treatment?

Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen. Many people prefer mineral sunscreens containing zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, especially on newly healed pink skin, to reduce the risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

What is the safest way to remove a mole?

The safest and most reliable option is evaluation and removal by a dermatologist or qualified clinician. This allows proper diagnosis and pathology testing when needed.

Reader Experiences

Earth Clinic readers have reported many different experiences with mole and mole-like growth remedies. Some describe fast results with apple cider vinegar or garlic. Others prefer iodine, castor oil, coconut oil, or more conservative aftercare. Many reader reports emphasize the importance of protecting surrounding skin, avoiding picking, and expecting pink new skin after a scab separates.

If you share your experience, please include:

  • Whether the spot was checked by a doctor first
  • Whether it was a true mole, skin tag, sun spot, or other growth
  • Where it was located
  • What remedy you used
  • How often you applied it
  • What changes occurred and how long they took
  • Whether there was burning, scarring, irritation, recurrence, or pigmentation change

Final Thoughts

Earth Clinic readers have shared extensive experiences with natural mole remedies, especially apple cider vinegar, garlic, iodine, castor oil, hydrogen peroxide, and coconut oil. These reports are valuable, but mole treatment requires more caution than many other home-remedy topics because suspicious lesions can resemble ordinary moles.

For any new, changing, bleeding, crusting, painful, itchy, or unusual mole, the safest first step is medical evaluation. For confirmed benign spots, reader-reported remedies may be of interest, but the risks of burns, scarring, infection, recurrence, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and delayed diagnosis should be taken seriously.

Continue reading below to discover which mole remedies have worked for Earth Clinic readers, and please share your own experience with us.

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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ACV, Garlic and Iodine

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Posted by Jessica (Kansas City, MO) on 08/07/2007
 ★★★★★

After reading the mole remedies on this site, I decided to seperately test the Apple Cider Vinegar, Garlic and Iodine on three different moles. These are my results:

ACV--It completely removed one mole in 5 days. After "scratching" the mole with a clean needle, I soaked a small piece of cotton in ACV and placed it on the mole with a bandaid on it overnight (did this for 5 nights). During the day, I dabbed ACV on it a few times. During this time period, the once raised mole (the size of a pea) became flat, then black, then peeled off like a scab. The only problem was that I did not protect the skin around the mole with vaseline, because I couldn't get the bandaid to stick to my skin if I used it. Because of this, the skin around the mole became quite burned. It looks pretty bad! I'm trying to heal it up with Coconut Oil. But, personally I'd rather have a little burned skin than a nasty mole!

Garlic--the garlic worked pretty fast on another pea-sized mole, but again, I burned myself by not protecting the surrounding skin. And I really disliked smelling like garlic all day! The garlic worked in two days. The mole puffed up and blistered and then came off like a scab. Beware--this stuff really burns, so watch out for the healthy skin!

Iodine--I had a slightly-raised mole that basically flaked off after 7 days of using iodine on it 3 times per day. It takes a little longer to work than garlic or ACV, but NO burning!

With each of these remedies, I scratched the mole with a needle before applying the stuff. I think that helps to really get the substance in the mole in order to breat it down. Also, where the moles have fallen off I have scars. One of the rather large moles made a keloid-type (red, raised) scar. I'm applying Coconut Oil to all of these hoping to speed along the process. Finally, I tried these remedies on moles on my body--not my face. I can't recommend doing that, unless you understand you will have a noticable scar.

Replied by Rivercrosser
(Brunei)
06/22/2008

Hi Jessica, I tried the garlic method on my moles for 2 days only. I do not perceive any sign of them becoming scabs, rather, they become more protruding and bigger! Is that normal? I get a bit worried and feel like trying the iodine method instead. Any advice? Thanks much.

Replied by Kelly
(New Market, Tennessee)
06/30/2008

Hi, I'm trying the acv thing now after reading your account. I have a pea-sized mole on my cheek, and I think the acv is really working, but I was not careful enough the first time I applied it and got on my cheek around the mole. It left tiny little spots on my face that look like burns... is this something will fade with time?? I've been using aloe to try to clear it up. Thanks for any info.

Replied by Jenjen321
(Edmonds, WA)
05/30/2009

For those who got burned with the ACV on the skin surrounding the mole, did the redness and irritation finally heal. If so, how long did it take and what did you use to speed it up. Thanks, Jen

Replied by Dinah
(Hendersonville, Nc, Usa)
06/29/2010

I'm thinking about using this method on a mole on my face... what kind of ACV do you use? Organic or Diluted from grocery stores?

Replied by Danniella
(Essex, Uk)
08/17/2010

I used the cheapest Apple Cider Vinegar I found in the supermarket. In fact it only says cider vinegar on the bottle. Don't know whether it was suppose to say apple in front?! Either way, the cheapest Apple Cider Vinegar got rid of my moles after about a week. Read my comments below though (and any other comments) about the scarring afterwards.

Replied by Jeje
(Sabah, Malaysia)
10/07/2010

Hey... I want to know the kind of iodine you used to remove the mole. If I used the one for first aid that I can buy at pharmacy, will it work?
Please answer this... Means a lot to me.. :)

Replied by Brittany
(Melbourne, Vic, Australia)
11/23/2010

I have been using the Apple Cider Vinegar for 3 days pretty much most of the day and night. The moles turned black quickly but now they have a white ring around them one seems to be a little indented but there soft to touch and not dry and scabby at all is this normal? thanks

Replied by R.b.
(Ct)
05/13/2011
★★★★☆

After reading the posts I decided to give the remedy a try on a mole ive had on my nose since I was born. The mole was raise and very darkly pigmented, about the size of a pea.

I used a safety pin to make laserations on te surface of the mole and at the base. Fair warning, there was bleeding and stinging. Using a cotton swab I applied petroleum jelly around the perimeter of the mole. Throughout the day, I dabbed the mole with vinegar, every couple of hours or so.

At night, I cut a thin slice of garlic about the size of the mole. Using the point of the knife I poked at it to get it juicy. I placed the little garlic piece over the mole and secured it into place with a bandaid. I left it on over night.

I repeated this method for five days. On the second day the mole began to scab over. After five days the mole looked pretty shriveled and was completely scabbed.

I let the scab fall off and heal. The mole was not completely removed, but I would say it is about 65% gone and the voulume of it was reduced significantly. I will be repeating the procedure to further remove the mole.

Replied by Zobo
(Fresno, Ca)
04/13/2012

When you guys say "roughen up" the area first before applying ACV... do you just scratch the mole with a needle but make sure it doesnt bleed or what? Can you be a little more descriptive? Thank you.

Replied by Mikey
(Mission Viejo, Ca)
06/04/2012

I found that instead of using a needle or a pin to roughen the edges before you apply ACV or garlic, using a nail file works well too and you won't bleed. Gently scratch the surface but make sure you dont't get the surrounding skin! Once the scab is formed don't pick it! Apply coconut oil or shea butter over the scab and surrounding skin to minimize scarring! Good luck

Replied by Bambi85
(England)
06/08/2012

What do you guys think about dabbing some more avc or garlic in the crater, to prevent the mole from coming back? I presume it would leave a bigger scar... But it should also "burn" the root.. Right? Anyone tried it?

Replied by Patounett
(Cannes, France)
11/22/2012

Used garlic to remove a mole for two days. Protected the area with vaseline but got badly burned around it... Not good... Shouldn't have tried it on my face. Would probably need days to heal. Not sure if the mole will fall off... turned black and dry...

Replied by Patounett
(Cannes, France)
11/24/2012

The mole fall off... But still really red around it and a yellow scab where the mole was. Will probably use again this method with garlic juice only applied on the mole few times a day.... Garlic applied directly is just too strong...

Replied by Lesaccali
(Sacramento, California)
12/21/2012

Ive been using Apple Cider Vinegar now for 5 days on a mole the size of a pea its raised.. I used an emry bord to rough mine up.. Not to the point of bleeding tho.. I think its working but the first few days it swelled up 2-3x its size.. Also mine is not forming a scab? Am I supposed to alow it to drie out.. Cause I thit you continue the process till it falls off.. In addition my mole is looking white not black.. But it didnt have a dark pigmant to begin with.. Any ideas or suggestion on whats going on.. Or a step by step instructions

Replied by Nobodo
(Douglas County, Co)
08/01/2013

For those planning to use ACV on their moles: roughing up the mole ahead of time is completely unnecessary and does not help the process at all. Just apply the ACV to the mole for a few days and you will get results. You do need to be careful of the skin around the mole, though.

Replied by Nadia
(Malaysia)
10/21/2013

Well, I do try a lots of thing to remove my moles: Avc, garlic. None of them working. Then I try put a fabric bleacher on my mole. The mole does removed but it came back.it leave a very dark scar and burning :'( and it almost 6 months now. Doesn't change a bit. Is the scar permenant? I really want to fade the scar. Does mederma can fade the scar?

Replied by Oscar
(Syracuse, New York)
10/23/2013

To Nadia from Malaysia, You state you had a mole, tried treating it with ACV, garlic, and other things including bleach The mole came back and now you have a dark scar.

You NEED to see a dermatologist. You are playing around with what may now be skin cancer. Skin cancer can and will cause other cancers. Quit playing around and have a qualified doctor take a look at what is going on. You have been playing around with this for over 6 months now with no improvement, but a worsening of what may now be skin cancer. A dermatologist can effectively resolve this. IF YOU DON`T wait too long....Oscar

Replied by Kit
(Colorado, US)
03/17/2015
★☆☆☆☆

WARNING!

A CAUTION about scratching or poking holes in moles. Cells absorb. Not worth the risk of turning something benign into something your body never intended.

I always first try castor oil, multiple daily treatments -- no burn, pain, nor scar. It only shrinks moles till they fall off, no harm to normal skin.

However, I don't know why (on me) it works on some moles and not others. For the others, I'm sorry I have to use vinegar. Its acid burn hurts and also damages normal skin. (Spray a weed with vinegar water -- dehydrates in seconds, instantly shriveled! )

Scarring and redness and swelling (fluid sent to counteract the dehydration of a burn) are to be expected. I found the pain sufferable, but I didn't care for it at all.

For scars from burns, I've had great success with what other commenters have said -- fresh aloe plant juice (if not allergic), needle-poked vitamin E caps for a teensy bit of oil, or aloe after-sun gel (those low-cost large plastic bottles).

Haven't yet tried Tea Tree oil for mole removal, but will, as it has been wonderful for other cures. And I'm also going to try dandruff shampoo -- how simple can you get! :-)

Replied by Markgbe
(Ny)
05/15/2015
★★★★★

This worked great for me, I had a mole behind my ear since I was a kid(32 yo now). After poking and soaking once per day, it dried up and fell off with a little help.

I'm disappointed that I didn't try this sooner.

Be advised, it does cause a bit of redness which is temporary.

Replied by Cindy
(Illinois, Usa)
05/23/2015
563 posts

Maybe you could use a small makeup brush to apply the vaseline or whatever you're using to protect the skin around the mole? Or what about some kind of organic chapstick, instead of petroleum jelly?

I'm not sure about "scratching" it. I doubt it's necessary and it's a bit of a risk. Perhaps a hot compress, if one believes one must "open" it up for the ACV...

Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

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Posted by Sandra (Vancouver, Bc, Canada) on 06/10/2013
 ★★★★★

I've used anti-dandruff shampoo first for a small fungal spot on my shoulder. I soon found it's great for all kinds of skin issues, though should be used sparingly on sensitive areas like the face. I've successfully treated acne, rashes, and a lifelong redness I had under my nose. I suggested my dad try it for his awful roseacia (not sure how to spell) on his forehead, and in 2 days the bumps were gone. They haven't come back yet, 3 months later. Redness of the skin will persist for a couple days. Basically, the salisyllic acid removes the top layer of skin and destroys any bumps very quickly.

Method of use- I take a pea sized drop on my finger tip and apply to a small area like lotion. You will get used to how much you can use based on skin sensitivity. My dad put maybe 1/8 of a teaspoon on his forehead (including some scalp as he is balding). When I used it under my nose for redish skin, I got my finger wet before putting a small drop (half a pea) on my fingertip. This made spreading a small amount easier, and diluted it to some extent. It almost developed suds/bubbles from the shampoo, but not quite. I consider this the greatest discovery! My doctor told me it's good for fungus on the feet and toenails, bearing in mind that toenail fungus is often unlikely to permanently vanish. At least you can keep it from spreading and ruining your ability to wear cute shoes! Good luck!

Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
Posted by Dlaertios (A, Greece) on 06/28/2010
 ★★★★★

Anti-dandruff shampoo cures moles. All you need is to scratch your mole, massage and leave the shampoo over the scratched mole. It will make a scab and it will fell off. Scaring is minimal. Keep applying the shampoo until the scab falls by itself in about 2-4 weeks.

I have tried all methods and applying Anti-dandruff shampoo to a scratched mole until the scab falls is by far the best method.

Replied by Becky
(London, England)
07/11/2010
★☆☆☆☆

Does this actually work as I have been doing it for more than 4 weeks.

Replied by Lee
(New York)
07/12/2010

I have the same question. I've been trying it since the post showed up. Have we been tricked?(If so, at least it didn't do any harm!)

Replied by Dlaertios
(Greece)
07/16/2010
★★★★★

Because this remedy will help many people and is the best of all, I like to give more help how I use it. I take a needle and scratch the center of the mole not healthy skin. Usually there is a little bleeding. Then I apply a brand of strong anti-dandruff shampoo daily (3 times per day usually). It scabs after second or third day. I keep applying the shampoo until the scab falls. Before you answer if it works or not please make sure that you follow my remedy. Thank you.

Replied by David
(Os, Ms, Us)
09/05/2011

This is my first day trying the anti dandruff shampoo and my mole darkened is this normal?

Replied by Yiddo
(London, England)
10/08/2011
★★★☆☆

BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS

I used the shampoo but just rubbed it on my mole which is near my eye, the moles got smaller but the skin around it is real burned but at least its decreased. This method works if you apply it carefully.

Replied by John
(Manhattan, New York)
07/07/2012

What do you mean my scratching the mole? Just scratch it once then put shampoo on?

Replied by Daisy
(San Antonio, Tx, Usa)
01/09/2013

Anti-dandruff shampoo might work due to the fact the most common ingredient being salicylic acid which promotes turnover/exfoliation. I used the same on a recurring boil and it eventually shrank to never return. But be careful about sls and sles, I'd recommend using a face product that contains salicylic acid instead.

Apple Cider Vinegar and Garlic

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Posted by Dee (West Hartford, Ct) on 07/09/2010
 ★★★★★

Apple cider vinegar/garlic paste worked in eliminating my flat mole the size of a pencil eraser!!! After trying horseradish for two weeks, and apple cider vinegar alone for two weeks, I was frustrated and worried. The mole changed and a red circle surrounded it (I didn't use vaseline but should have in hindsight). It looked worse than ever! I decided my last attempt would be the acv/garlic paste which I applied 3-4 times a day (just applied it with a q-tip and let it dry on). At night I soaked cotton pulled off a q-tip and rolled it into a tiny ball the size of the mole and covered it with a bandaid. In the morning I removed it with cotton soaked in peroxide. A scab started forming by the second day and the whole thing fell off in two weeks. Once I was sure it was fully scabbed, I stopped the acv/garlic paste and just waited patiently for it to fall off. I've since applied coconut oil everynight and the red circle is completely gone, All that is left is now is a tiny little line that is fading each day. I am so happy and relieved!!! Thank you all for sharing!!!!

Apple Cider Vinegar and Garlic
Posted by Paintinpastel (Penticton, British Columbia, Canada) on 01/01/2010
 ★★★★★

Apple Cider Vinegar and Garlic combined cured my mole.

I had an mole which resembled a pimple, flesh colored, raised, not to big.so I decided to try the method of removal with garlic, I taped garlic on the mole for 1 hour in total, then removed and let the mole air out for a while, then I cut the mole with scissors (it didn't hurt, just bled a little) waited for the bleeding to stop, than held organic apple cider vinegar on the mole for 20 minute intervals about 4 times,

Day 1
mole first swells, turns black

Day 2
Mole is black and hard, skin around mole is irritated
mole falls off during sleep

Day 3
Skin is healing, a tiny scab, flat,

the skin around the mole was very burned and irritated it looked discusting, but it's healing really fast by constant cleaning, and application of vitamin e (from first aid kit), triple antibiotic ointment(polysporin or neosporin will do), white and black spruce pitch salve (which is proven to have healing, antimicrobial and anti-cancerous properties) and healing oils seems to be healing quite fast, but not yet healed, this is my 4th day.

Apple Cider Vinegar and Garlic
Posted by Robyn (London, UK) on 11/29/2007
 ★★★★★

I was sceptical but desperate to get rid of a large mole just below my collar bone. I googled and found this site and decided to give it a try. I used a mixture of garlic and ACV (slicing the garlic and leaving the slices in the ACV and changing the garlic twice a day). It took four days to dry out the mole, which I then picked off (a little too early perhaps). The skin around the mole did get burnt and I dont think this can really be helped, but I healed the area using Vit E oil and antiseptic cream. There is now only a small scar, but my parter also has a scar after having a mole surgically removed some years ago so I think that is invitable and I would rather the scar then the mole. I am working on a second one now! Thanks so much for this site and your suggestions!

Replied by Heather
(New Waverly, Tx)
05/23/2014

I have seen on other sites that if you prick the mole with a needle it will allow the vinegar to penetrate deeper and you will see quicker results. I also seen that if you put vaseline on the skin surrounding the mole it will create a barrier so that the skin does not get irritated. I am currently having cherry angiomas removed by laser and started looking into ways to remove moles. Glad I've found this site. Lets just say I have many.

Apple Cider Vinegar, Essential Oils

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Posted by Cl503 (Oregon, United States) on 11/30/2015
 ★★★★★

Hi,

I am writing to report a successful attempt at removing an unsightly flesh colored mole I had on my scalp. I had had the mole checked out and was told it was non cancerous, and left it be for many years but as I have become more knowledgeable about natural methods, I wanted to try removing it myself. It took almost 3 weeks from start to finish, cost me literally under $5, and left no scar or sign that anything was ever abnormal.

I began the process by first using a nail file to rough it up a little, then after showering I would take an ACV soaked cotton ball and place it on my head. My arm would get tired of holding it in place so I used a bandage wrap to wrap around my head and secure the cotton in place... I looked funny. I would leave it on for ~30 min at a time, and in the mornings when my hair was dry, I would apply a essential oil mix of- clove, tea tree and cinnamon.

After a little over a week the mole became very dry and hard, and by week 2 it was almost black in color. I could feel the edges start to separate from my scalp.

The best thing was that it did not irritate any part of my scalp.. there was no affect to anything except the mole.

I would say the mole was a little smaller than a pencil eraser and had no nerve endings in it.

ACV for the win..again!

Apple Cider Vinegar, Hydrogen Peroxide

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Posted by Kate (Ontario) on 10/06/2021
 ★★★★★

Rosehip oil, jojoba oil and fresh aloe from the plant will reduce any leftover scarring with a few weeks. Just be sure to get good quality oils (i.e., organic, cold pressed) and slather in it after you have a shower when your pores are open. You can do one of these or a combo if all three; apply at least daily or more frequently as desired.

I nuked skin cancer off my cheek with ACV and 35% Hydrogen Peroxide which left a real gnarly burn but after a few weeks of the above, I was right as rain. So much so that by the time my referral to the dermatologist came through, she said my skin looked really healthy and she didn't know why I was there!

Apple Cider Vinegar, Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Scottyb (Fort Smith, Ar, Usa) on 07/27/2011
 ★★★★★

My fiance had a raised mole on her arm since birth. She is 43 now and I used apple cider vinegar and hydrogen peroxide on it for five days and it fell off. I had her rough up the surface of the mole with a nail file and then applied the Apple Cider Vinegar and then about the third day just used hydrogen peroxide. She checked it today and was shocked to see it gone. I keeped the vinegar and peroxide on it until it started to sting so I knew it was taking effect. The perimeter of the mole was affected some and is a little rough but the skin underneath is pink. you can email me if you want to see a photo.

Bag Balm

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Posted by Kathy (Wallingford, PA) on 06/26/2009
 ★★★★★

Bag Balm and a bandaid will take off hanging moles and most warts in a few days. A bandaid only for protecting your clothing from the bag balm. My mother is from the south and she has been using it longer than I have been alive.

Baking Soda

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Posted by Rob (Malta) on 08/28/2014
 ★★★★★

For two months I treated a growing, crepuscular mole on my forehead with a sodium bicarbonate paste. It completely disappeared and my daughter photographed the evidence.

Replied by Angie
(Texas)
08/07/2022

I put baking soda on my mole and now there is a hole left -- is that normal?

Banana Peels

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Posted by john (selma, calif) on 09/02/2007
 ★★★★★

my mother once told me to warm up some bannas peels on some moles' that were blocking my vision,so I did and soon forgot the about it, until one day some family member ask me, hey what happen to that mole that was blocking my vision, so I looked at our mirror and notice them gone!

Replied by Amelia
(Merced, California)
06/30/2008

to John from selma who used banana peels for moles. How exactly did you use them. You mentioned heating them up and applying. Do you heat them and apply the soft inside of the peel, and if so, for how long? How many days do you have to do it?

Thank you,
Amelia

Replied by Sonia
(London)
06/11/2015

I read what you said and I wantd to ask you how do we have to heat the banana peels? Like in the microwave? And do we have to cut a piece and just put it on for the night!? How does it work, how much time? Thanks

Bloodroot Paste

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4 star (2) 
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1 star (3) 
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Posted by Jason (CA) on 11/14/2020
 ★★★★☆

I used black salve on moles and it worked fine but unfortunately, I added vitamin E with other oils & additives, in the holes that the salve made in order to prevent scarring. Now I have perma elevated welts (that look like bug bites) & black salve doesn't work on this (it pushes them down then they come back up). Any thoughts on what I can do?

Bloodroot Paste
Posted by Pinkdamsel (West Orange, Nj) on 07/27/2017
 ★★★★☆

Thought I would share my research and experience removing moles. I have fair skin and lots of moles all over. The ones that stick out really bother me.

I first learned about Bloodroot from Dr. Andrew Weil; in one of his books he described removing a growth on his dog and later medical students using it to remove moles. This sent me on a hunt for Bloodroot. I ended up purchasing an herbal product I THOUGHT was bloodroot at the time, but turned out not to have that specific ingredient. However, it did work, and apparently by the same mechanism as bloodroot.

It seems like most home remedies for mole removal are one of two types. The acid/caustic products burn the mole as well as any healthy skin they touch. That is why many recommend applying Vaseline or some other protectant to the skin around the mole before using the product. I believe garlic, and possibly ACV and iodine are examples of acid/caustic action. I have not tried any of these, but I would think scarring, etc. might depend on how precisely you apply the acid. Also, some products are stronger than others.

The other type, which includes bloodroot and the herbal product I used (maybe bananas also?), activates an immune response but does not damage healthy skin other than an initial irritation. In a few days the area becomes inflamed, a white ring usually forms around the mole. At that point you stop using the product and a scab forms. Eventually the scab falls off, leaving a crater that over several weeks/months fills in and heals. One theory I have read about how this works is that there is a microbe (virus) in the mole and the product removes the protein covering the microbe hides behind. The immune system then sees the microbe, shrieks “not self” and pushes it out of the body. It isn't the product that removes the mole, it's the immune system that does it and without affecting healthy tissue.

My experience: I purchased Bio-T and tried it on a small protruding mole in my armpit. Nothing happened after several days, I concluded it did not work and forgot about it. Several years later we were packing up to move and I came across the little pot of Bio-T and decided to try again. This time I used an emery board to rough up the mole – the very same mole I had tried before – then put on the Bio-T and a bandaid. Incidentally, they tell you not to use metal (something about changing the pH) or latex bandaids. Anyway, with the initial roughing, it worked as described, except it's never clear to me exactly when the mole “falls out” – it's just a messy little wound until it heals. I have since used it to remove another 6 moles, including 3 on my face (after deciding I would prefer a scar to the mole). Can barely see any scars, and only because I know they are there.

The mole looks worse, sometimes bigger, and very scary during this process unless you know what to expect. At the time I did my research there were a lot of photos on the web of moles in progress, so I did not panic.

I have not yet tried to remove my largest moles – most are on my back in hard-to-reach spots. The largest of all is on my breast, almost dime-size in circumference, and I've been wondering if I should try do a small area at a time. I'm also considering EVOCO; based on testimonials here about moles “rolling off in pieces” this seems like yet a third mechanism, perhaps the gentlest – and slowest! – one.

I'm still dithering ....

Bloodroot Paste
Posted by Brainbuster (Indianapolis) on 07/01/2017
 ★★★★★

I'm a white male, age 31,135 lbs, 5'7". I have safely and effectively removed dozens of moles, some small as freckles, a few as large as a man's fingernail, and one (on someone else, a woman's neck) about the size of a large pea.

This is more reliable and effective than anything an M.D. can do, and it's about 100 times cheaper.

I simply "roughed up" the mole with either a needle or toothpick or dry toothbrush or emery board (for smoothing fingernails), then, after the surface of the mole is tenderized, cover the mole with bloodroot paste. Then put a bandaid on top.

I've left it alone, and I've also repeated the procedure the next day. It's probably best to just leave it alone. It will turn black, and become a scab, and in a few to a several days, the scab will fall off (the mole just falls off)--leaving a small indent which will heal in a few weeks or a month or two.

The worst that can happen, which is unlikely unless you go crazy and try to rush the process by excessive "roughing up, " is that when the mole is gone there will be a small indentation (still better than a mole).


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