Solar Keratosis
Natural Remedies

  1. Home
  2. Ailments

Natural Remedies for Actinic Keratosis: Effective Home Treatments

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.
Sort by Default New Loved

Apple Cider Vinegar

34 User Reviews
5 star (28) 
  82%
4 star (2) 
  6%
2 star (1) 
  3%
1 star (2) 
  6%
(1) 
  3%
Write a review
Posted by Dan (Uk) on 05/16/2014
 ★★★★★

Apple Cider Vinegar for Actinic Keratosis:

About 9 years ago I hit my quite bald head on a lump of rough wood while on holiday. It bled but healed as any other cut would. Then 9yrs or so later (I'm 36 now) after a shower I notice some blood on the towel after drying my slightly balder head. I checked it out and the scar tissue was bleeding, ever so slightly. I didn't think much of it at the time but after a week or so it wasn't getting much better so I had it checked by a derm and he said it was Actinic Keratosis (AK) and prescribed Aldara cream. I didn't go for the cream due to side effects and the fact that I don't place a lot of faith in modern medicine. Instead I did some research which included this website and another one on skin cancer and came up with the ACV alternative treatment which I started immediately because we already had some, with a rather large mother as it was a couple of years old. I started to douse the area with a cotton bud 2-3 times per day and also supplemented with ACV morning and evening (two desert spoons in a glass of water). When the derm had looked at it he pushed and pulled it about and left me with big scab which I was a bit uncomfortable with. I read that you have to be persistent but I was beginning to lose faith a bit after 3-4 weeks and then last night while dousing, the large scab just floated off to reveal what appears to be unblemished new skin! I still have a couple of much smaller scabs an hope these will go the same way so will carry on treating it. I will probably continue to supplement (in water) even when they are gone because I read that these conditions sometimes occur when your body is too acidic and ACV helps to alkalize it. It might be worth mentioning that I have suffered with Candida, a long standing toe nail fungus, for all of my adult life and I believe this contributed to it as well.

Hopefully this will encourage others to try the alternatives but remember that it won't happen overnight and keep going!

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Cobbit (Farnham, Uk) on 10/10/2013
 ★★★★★

I was prescribed Efudex for my first solar keratosis in 2008, using it for 6 weeks, and whilst it did work, it left me with a pale mark on my cheek. I recently developed another keratosis, this time on my nose, and my search for a kinder alternative remedy brought me to this website. I used apple cider vinegar and am relieved and happy to be able to say that it has worked. After about four days of applying Raw ACV, a scab developed, and just over two weeks later it has fallen off leaving no sign of the keratosis. Do try it, for me the whole treatment was so quick and now I have plenty of vinegar left over to use for salad dressing!

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Tracy (Austin Texas) on 09/22/2013

I have been trying apple cider vinegar for about 5 days. Applying twice daily and sleeping in my legs wrapped in gauze soaked in ACV. I have about 4 spots that look like a hole has been burned in leg and is yellow and very swollen. Should I keep applying to these spots or stop? Thank you for help! I have been using chemotherapy cream for almost a year with no change at all! I can already tell they are getting better but just worried about these spots that look really bad. Thanks for any advice!

Replied by Mmsg
(Somewhere, Europe)
09/22/2013

Tracy, slow down with your applications. Do much less even if it will take longer to heal.

Replied by Nano Writer
(Hotspot, Texas)
09/23/2013

Tracy, it has been my experience that the growths will get inflamed, turn black, hurt, etc. Before they get better. I compare it to what happens when the body fights an infection from a cut and the area gets swollen, red and painful as the body's immune system does battle. Judging from my own experience and readings about treating skin growths with alternative treatments, what you are seeing is pretty much to be expected.

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Philip (Newcastle, Staffordshire, U.k.) on 09/15/2013
 ★★★★★

I was diagnosed with solar keratosis in March 2013 and prescribed a Diclofenac Sodium gel (Solaraze) for 90-day application to treat the itchy rashes on my forehead.

The 90-day use was somewhat effective but upon stopping (as the prescription was then expired), the rashes came back with a vengeance.

I looked for a natural alternative and found this website, for which I'm now very grateful. I washed Apple Cider Vinegar into the affected areas morning and night and also took a tablespoon of ACV with sweetening and healing Manuka Honey morning and night too. Straightaway I could see and feel the rashes healing. Now, two months on, I've just been back to the dermatologist who found that all but a small patch on my nose was completely healed. There's some barely visible scarring which I imagine is because the keratosis damages the skin quite deeply. I hadn't been paying so much attention to the patch on my nose but I am doing now, applying the ACV.

Throughout this time I've worn a baseball cap when I go outside if there's any sun to aggravate the rashes. Early on, I forgot my cap one sunny day and the rashes were aggravated so today I'm still using the cap for protection, probably best to do so, I guess.

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Chris (Texas) on 08/21/2013
 ★★★★★

I got tired of my Dermatologist poo-poohing then suggesting cutting, scraping, freezing or burning the solar keratosis on my left cheek. Not on my face! This very site turned me on to the apple cider vinegar cure. Applying religiously for three weeks has caused the red patch, originally the size of a pencil eraser, to almost completely disappear. Apply several times daily (more on weekends or when one isn't working) with a q-tip, be patient, and watch the magic slowly happen. The key is to not quit, no matter how bad the keratosis looks, because the apple cider vinegar will attack vigorously at first, even sting and burn. I can't wait to crow about this simple, cost-effective, at-home, remedy when I see the Dermatologist next May. Keep in mind that often times doctors are looking out for their own wallets, not your personal well-being. Who wants to be cut, scrapped, burned, or frozen when, with a little patience, the results can be this rewarding? Thanks to everyone who posted before me about this amazing cure! It's great to have my confidence back and be able to look at myself in the mirror again!!!

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Steve (Dublin, Ireland) on 08/20/2013
 ★★★★★

Hi all, I would just like to say I have used ACV on several solar keratosis over the last few months and Yes it definitely works a treat. It takes a good while sometime 4-8 weeks to clear them up but it is definitely worth it. I started applying the vinegar on two on my temple and after a week more appeared and all went crusty, I kept applying the ACV day and night week after week and eventually they all fell off. So the key I found was not to give up and keep at it until they clear. O yeah I also drink it and will continue to do so, have had a cold or been sick in the last year. Thanks Earthclinic brilliant website.

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Ex-nurse (Canterbury, New Zealand) on 07/27/2013
 ★★★★★

Twelve days ago, the doctor diagnosed a 'scab' patch on my nose as solar keratosis. I checked the internet and discovered the apple cider vinegar method of treatment. I applied a. C. V. Several times a day and drank a glass with one teaspoon of Apple Cider Vinegar each day. On the 11th day I noticed the scab - which had been becoming firmer, shrunken, then whitish, had dropped off, leaving just a pink mark.

I've not been back yet to find if there are any other suspicious patches, but none are visible, as far as I can see...

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Biff (Peterborough, Ontario) on 05/03/2013
 ★★★★★

After asking my doctor to look at a rough patch on my face for 6 years, and dealing with his constant... don't touch it and you'll be fine, I treated my solar keratosis with Apple Cider Vinegar. I soaked a piece of cotton ball in it and placed it over my keratosis with a bandaid at night while I slept. The site I read up on said to do this for 3-4 weeks. After a couple of days it gets red and looks like a bee sting on your face. Then it begins to dry and crack, mine even bled a bit. I was going to give up but kept persevering. After the 3 week the dry scab fell off and my skin was completely smooth. I couldn't believe it. the following summer I was in the sun and the spot began to reappear so I did it again only not as long. I think were people doubt this remedy if it is a solar keratosis is that they don't do it long enough. Or they see it turning red or dry and stop. I think the key is to keep going for several weeks. I swear by it.

Biff

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Kgd (Saint Louis, Mo) on 04/30/2013
 ★☆☆☆☆

I treated 10 actinic keratosis lesions that were in a 3"X4" area on top of my head using apple cider vinegar. I slept every night with a stocking cap over duct tape holding a cloth soaked with ACV against the affected area. There was a very strong reaction. I felt a mild burning sensation every night, they turned red, repeatedly formed scabs, and gradually seemed to fade. The skin became smooth but the outlines of the lesions were still there.

As the first batch of AK's faded, about 20 more AK's of various sizes appeared within the same area, so I continued the treatment. ACV gently removes the outer layers of skin, and I otherwise wouldn't have known that I had so many AK's because they were hidden underneath the skin.

I continued the treatment every night for many weeks because I wanted to give it a chance to succeed. During that entire time the change was so gradual that I was never really sure if it was helping or not.

After 3 months the affected area looked so bad that I started wearing hats in public. At that point I decided to try something else. Within 48 hours of stopping the ACV treatment the smooth AK lesions became rough again indicating that ACV had no effect other than exposing AK's that were previously hidden underneath the skin.

Replied by Tashimoto
(Vancouver)
09/15/2014

Did you also drink ACV to work on the issue from the inside out? If you put duct tape next to vinegar, the vinegar might be leeching chemicals from the duct tape, thus creating a less than ideal mixture for your skin.

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Plata Paloma (Western, Colorado) on 10/11/2010
 ★★★★★

Wow! After trying everything I could think of (sans surgery), including the useless diagnosis of FIVE different dermatologists... I finally am getting some RESULTS! The ACV (with the mother) is actually working! I have been applying ACV with a q-tip 5-10 x per day for 2 weeks to my quarter sized keratosis and it is gradually peeling off revealing my original skin underneath. The bright red color is fading and the dark defined edges are now blended into my own skin color. Absolutely a Godsend, after 10 years of embarrassment. Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou!

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Bob (Fanwood, New Jersey) on 01/15/2009
 ★★★★☆

I was diagnosed in August '08 with solar keratosis on the top of my head. It was frozen off and reappeared. I tried castor oil from an Edgar Cayse remedy and it became scaly and fell off and grew back. This happened above 3 or 4 times. I started my research on natural remedies and began the internal and topical ACV 3 days ago. I was not sure it it was me wanted to beleive there is a change going on or if there really is one. It's only been a few days..but my girlfriend said she noticed my face has a pink and healthy change. My hands began getting more supple as I had dry skin. The keratosis is not as scaly and a little smoother. I have also began a strict diet with juicing and basic supplements of c, zeolite, d, omega 3, and a multi. I will post again next week.

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Kimberly (New York, NY USA) on 12/14/2008
 ★★★★★

I would like to enthusiastically offer my support for apple cider vinegar in the cure of various skin ailments. WARTS: I dipped a very small piece of cotton in ACV, put this directly on the wart, then covered all with an air-tight bandage. I left on for c. 12 hours, then let the entire area breathe for 12 hours. I repeated for about 3 weeks, as this was a deep and large wart. The first 2 applications stung and throbbed a bit, but from then on, the entire enterprise was painless. The area eventually ulcerated--looks messy for a while--and painlessly peeled off. No more wart! As maintenance for about 3 more weeks, I dabbed a little ACV on the area, without bandage. The wart has not recurred after more than a year and a half! This really works, folks!

ACTINIC KERATOSIS: My dermatologist identified this on my skin just above my upper lip. She offered to burn it off with liquid nitrogen: no, thanks. I followed the same ACV routine, and it worked! Took a lot less time, as this keratosis was not deep.

BENIGN PAPILLOMA: I am currently eliminating a little bump from my nose that I've had for over 10 years: it is in the red and ulcerating phase and about to sluff off.

I am THRILLED with the way ACV works to remove skin ailments! This method is cheap, safe, and natural. The skin afterwards is perfectly healthy and not scarred: quite preferable to liquid nitrogen or fluorouracil-5 or other harsh chemicals. Try it!

Replied by Margaret
(Gunnison, Colorado)
05/21/2014
★★★★★

My Dr. recommended the 5-fu for the solar keratosis on my face. I have 7 or so spots. I hesitated using the cream because of the pics and awful testimonials I read. Untreated and scared, I googled natural remedies for AK. I decided to try the apple cider vinegar so this is how I do it. 1. wash face air dry 2. apply Apple Cider Vinegar on a cotton pad rubbing over entire face and rub a little extra on spots 3. when skin stops burning, apply moisturizer. I use plain coconut oil at night, boy does it feel good and calms my skin. Day? I use a mild natural cream that is less greasy. After 3 weeks, my spots have sluffed off several times and are still not healed but I have seen 50% improvement. I will continue this process until the skin is all healed from this stuff. Maybe another 3 weeks! God forbid anyone use that 5-fu cream when there is a natural remedy that will leave our skin stronger and healthier! I'm a believer!!!

Replied by Theresa
(Los Angeles, Ca)
03/19/2015

Thanks so much for the advice! I'm only 26 but found a small rough patch on my forehead (about the size of a pencil eraser) that fits the description for this condition. I'm red haired and very fair skin and live in California where I guess it's more common because of the constant sun. I'm going to try this treatment and hope it clears up in 4-8 weeks before dragging myself to the dermo. Time to start using that sun block religiously. I'm so glad I found this site. Will let you know my results.

Bonnie
(Macungie, Pa)
03/25/2016

Hi! I was wondering if you had success with ACV. I too am a redhead and I just started ACV on a patch on my cheek. I used tea tree oil but didn't do much.

Replied by Shellie
(Grass Valley)
03/05/2016

Hi!!! .I have just started using the apple cider vinegar on the small spots on my nose. I originally tried Tea Tree oil but that didn't seem to help. Sometimes the scabs seem to come off on their own but they always come back so I'm trying this. How long should I expect this to take to work? I have also heard iodine works. I just don't want it cut off on my nose!!

Replied by Bonnie
(Macungie, Pa)
05/02/2016

Hi! Have you had any success with the ACV? I have been using tea tree oil and somedays it seems to look better than others my spot looks angry again.

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by David (London, England) on 12/13/2008
 ★★★★★

Solar keratosis or actinic keratosis:

The following natural skin remedies completely failed to cure the solar keratosis on my forehead: calendula ointment, aloe vera gel, sea buckthorn ointment -- all wonderful things for various other skin conditions, but didn't do it for solar keratosis. Diclofenac ointment worked fairly well, but the keratosis came right back when I stopped the diclofenac and besides I'm not interested in using any drug, especially not long-term.

Then I read the comments at this web site on apple cider vinegar. I had some in the kitchen for use in a couple of pork recipes, so I tried it. I applied it topically to the keratosis morning and evening and took it internally (mornings-only) about 1 to 2 teaspoons in half a glass of water. Results: total magic, my forehead has not felt this smooth for several years.

Taking the vinegar internally probably has other advantages in terms of alkinizing the metabolism (it has an alkinizing effect even though it itself is acid -- acetic acid).

PS: Since it is a liquid, not an ointment, applying it is a bit tricky; I put some in the cup of my hand and then dipped my head down into it.

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Chariese (Colorado Springs, CO) on 10/27/2008
 ★★★★★

I am 24 years old african american, women. In the past few years I had developed a thick crusty scaly dark-spot on my lower lip. I dont have insurance so I searched online to see what it might be after looking and looking and looking I found Actinic Keratosis and found out that that is what it was. I had tried every lip balm sun screen, vitamin E, flax seed, pealing it (which made it bleed) to get rid of it. Nothing worked and if it made a difference it was very short lived. Then I started looking into natural cures for it, I cam across this site which said to try apple cider vinegar. So I went to the health food store and bought the best Organic apple cider vinegar I could find. I chose _____ apple cider vinegar with the mother in it. (dont ask me what that means but that what it said on the bottle. Well I am VERY VERY Happy to report that IT WORKS. I took 1tsb at nite and 1tsb in the morning and now after 2 weeks it is completely gone!

Thank you so much YEA for your report, people were beginning to think I had herpes.

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Mark (Fort Kent, Maine) on 06/11/2008
 ★★★★★

Solar Keratosis Remedies: I read the posts on this at this website and thought, 'What the heck, a gallon of Apple Cider vinegar costs $3. I'll give it a try and if it doesn't work, I'll use it to kill weeds.' Well, just like the guy said about the place on his hand, I had two places on my face with Actinic Keratosis that I've been trying to treat for years to no avail. Nothing would respond to them. Now, after 8 days of applying ACV topically and taking two tblspoons orally twice a day, they are gone. The skin has healed completely over. It's amazing. I might have spent hundreds of dollars to treat these at a clinic, when ACV did the trick in a few days. The most welcome and amazing 'cure' I've ever experienced. A big 'thank you' to this website for providing the information!


NEXT 
Previous Page 1 2 3 Next Page
Advertisement

Please note that we use cookies necessary for the functioning of our website, cookies that optimize the performance. To learn more about our cookies, how we use them and their benefits, please read our Privacy Policy