Apple Cider Vinegar for Molluscum Contagiosum

So here's my story: I'm a 26 year old male and 14 months ago, 3 months after ending my last relationship, I discovered a bunch of small white bumps and some pink bumps on my lower abs and pubic area. The first time I noticed them there were maybe 6, and a couple days later there were around 30. I panicked – I googled STDs and self diagnosed myself with mollescum. I read about the virus and treatment options on medical websites and felt like treatments were very limited.

There are a bunch of websites out there that claim to have a cheap cure and I was desperate enough to pay $15 to one of them even though it seemed suspicious; basically it gave me detailed instructions on how to apply the most common cure out there: apple cider vinegar. I ended up using ACV as my primary treatment for 8 months. I would dip cotton makeup pads or balls into the ACV, put them on the mollescum, cover with a waterproof bandaid, and put adhesive tape over the bandaids so they wouldn't come off. I would generally leave these on for 9-12 hours. I found that this worked decently and got rid of the bumps on the first try over half the time. The biggest issue was that the soaked cotton balls/pads were difficult to keep on in some places, like when I had bumps appear on my foreskin.

A week after self diagnosing I went to the STD clinic so they could confirm; they recommended using nitrogen to freeze the bumps off and I was willing to give it a try. Personally I think this was a mistake. While the nitrogen didn't really hurt, it left scarring that I was self conscious about. Most of the scars disappeared 6 months later, but I still have a few where I had bumps that I also applied ACV on. I think the treatment was effective, but I didn't go back again because of the scarring.

About a month after starting treatments I entered a cycle of getting rid of any new molluscum that I saw, being clear for a week, two weeks, a month, or two months, and then having another outbreak.

The next treatment I tried was Cimetidine. Basically Cimetidine is an outdated heartburn medication, but there were some studies done with it that showed promising effects on eliminating molluscum (I should note that most of these studies were done on children). I got a prescription for the pills and took 800mg 3 times daily for 2 months. It was ineffective.

At the two and a half month mark I tried to replace ACV with a lotion I ordered online called Mollenol. It didn't have too many reviews but they were on a few websites/forums and were generally positive. It worked worse than ACV, but it did work after a few of days of applications. I don't recommend Mollenol though – it stings a lot. This stuff dripped down to my scrotum and foreskin (as a liquid lotion tends to) and I was in searing, blinding agony. The same goes for Mollenol “Sensitive”.

Eight months after my first outbreak I saw a dermatologist who recommended using Veregen ointment. Veregen has the chemical name Sinecatechins 10% and is generally used to treat genital warts. It's a thick paste that's easier to apply and keep on mollescum bumps, and if applied 2-3 times a day the bumps are usually gone in a day or two. This is what I was using for the final four months of being infected, and I had an outbreak of 2-4 bumps once a month.
A year into having the virus I had my final outbreak. I was busy for several days in a row and wasn't able to stay home to apply treatments. On the day that I finally could find time I checked for the bumps before heading to work and they were gone. It was bittersweet after all the effort I applied to getting rid of molluscum, but my body finally recognized the virus and fought it off on its own.

I've held my breath for over two months to make sure it's gone for good, and at this point I think it's safe to say that I'm molluscum free. I know the above story is pretty damn long, but I've tried to put in all the relevant and useful details and stay away from how much of an emotional toll it's taken on me. Truly, I hope this helps someone.

I came across this site in April, for some reason I ignored Apple Cider Vinegar and read the lemon myrtle reviews - I bought a small tube and mixed it with olive oil, then applied it 3x a day to each bump. This caused me severe pain for 20+ minutes on each application, almost unbearable. I saw no progress within a week and decided to go back to the drawing board... That's when I revisited this site and actually paid attention to Apple Cider Vinegar. I ordered a bottle of organic acv and applied it to makeup remover pads, and then taped it down with medical tape. Again, after a week of doing this each night, I saw no results, I was starting to lose my mind.

I decided to read every single review on this site - coming to the conclusion I needed adhesive plasters (band aids) and cotton balls. I was worried, due to the location, that the adhesive might be a bit too much to handle, but I gave it a shot anyway. My method was as follows:

1. Shower, deep cleanse.
2. Pour the Apple Cider Vinegar into the bottle cap.
3. Rip some of the cotton ball, about a pea size.
4. Place into the vinegar filled bottle cap, let it fully soak.
5. Get your plaster (band aid), peel one side off so it's ready to apply.
6. Remove the cotton ball, squeeze the excess but make sure there's still a little left.
7. Put the cotton ball under the band aid and apply to each individual bump, make sure it's fully sealed (or as close as you can) to ensure no air gets in and dries it out.
8. Remove in the morning, shower and apply moisturiser

The first time I did this to one bump, I found it easier to do it overnight as I'm less likely to disturb the plaster. The following morning I woke up to that bump looking in serious trouble (in a good way! ), I think it turned yellowish and flatter. I kept doing this until each bump became black. This means the virus has been killed. Following the bumps turning black, each will begin to 'scab' over. At some points you will feel like the area looks much worse than it did before applying the product, but give it time and your body will heal itself. I remember thinking I hope I'm not stuck like this forever as some of the area looked so terrible, extremely red, scabbed and inflamed - but like I said, my body healed itself, I applied moisturiser and nappy rash cream during the days to help with healing, as you'll notice the areas can become quite painful/sore.

My first bump that I treated is now impossible to trace, and I started treating that about 4 weeks ago. I can only see the smallest trace of the one I last treated, which looked horrible about one week ago, its now fully healed.

My advice is to follow my advice (obviously). ACV is a miracle, if it isn't working, I'd suggest making sure that it's fully sealed (that's why mine didn't work with medical tape), and that you're both applying it long enough and using enough on your cotton balls. Moisturise to help with the healing, and have faith (whichever way you like). Best of luck, you got this!!! :)

The concern is it may not be the best option, especially for young children. Also, it can prove to be expensive as they do come back more often than not. My tryst with MC started in June 2020 when I noticed these unusual spots on my torso. As a sexually active man, I of course was suspicious as had never seen them before and they appeared quickly if I remember correctly, only on my torso. I visited a Dermatologist who diagnosed them to be MC, said the same things and I underwent the procedure in July. They did not show up for a few weeks or months but by fall, I saw an appearance on my forehead (tiny ones this time, but to last an year! ) and a random around the nipple, and then some on the face. I remember the Doctor had said they typically reappear though and he would do another procedure for free, but post that I would have to pay again - a hint that this was to last and be bothersome. I'd moved houses so the second time I went to a different Derma who again re-assured that its fine but to take care and not touch as it auto-innoculates by touching other parts of the skin.

She prescribed Imiquimod, a once every 2-3 days local application on the affected area that is supposed to trigger the body's immune response to tackle the infection. I used it for a few weeks on some bigger ones and the forehead area. I'm not sure if I can vouch for its efficacy as such, considering this is by nature a self resolving condition!

Weeks passed... with me limiting my social close contacts and being very careful of not touching my own face - it's difficult to say the least! I also went to a homeopath who asked if I was under any stress as in adults that leads to dropped immunities and hence the infection. I took his expensive meds for a month but didn't continue. In June, I thought to approach another Homeopath who was kind and explained the science behind homeopathy and how it approaches all conditions - stimulates similar symptoms by other ingredients from the plant and animal kingdom, in the hope the body will induce an immune response. I did this religiously for 5 months + with booster doses every 7th day.

Homeopathy is extremely popular in India, and belief is another strong emotion here. I wore a very positive outlook and in my craziness would even 'talk to the MC' that I will get you out of my body etc! Well, I was fearing having one on my penis and then it happened, one on the shaft of my penis, one on my lip and on the cusp of my left nostril (the latter two still are there). I observed a lot. Every day. My forehead ones had travelled back to my head so shaving (I have a bald look) was put off, again an inconvenience. These were small, pin heads.

Anyway they started getting better for sure. I saw some big ones getting inflamed for a day or two and then dying out leaving no trace or marks, the Doc said this was a sign the med was working. The head got cleared slowly but the progress seemed painfully slow and I was well in my 1 year plus period. Frustration was rising. Patience was waning. I still kept a very positive attitude and religiously took the meds and practised caution. I'm not sure what lead to my exploring some other meds like ointments one day and I found this US company called Aidance having an all natural homeopath kinda ointments called Terrasil. Some reviews were encouraging so I worked towards getting the same to me from the US though the shipping was equal to the cost of the meds. Anyhow, I am sure you the Reader get the level of frustration and difficulty I was going through until recently. Applying the Terrasil ointment for a few days was making the forehead look ugly and angry and out of control. Maybe it was the med working. Cant say. The Doc asked me to stop it as he said this was aggravating. It's then I came across Earth Clinic as a site and I must say this has been a saving grace from the heavens!

Trust me when I say this. I thank you for reading my story until now, so please read ahead as well. I took things in my hand and read the top remedy as ACV. Must confess I knew zilch about ACV! I got myself a Heinz ACV (it was without the mother or organic). I started applying daily morning and evening and felt I am seeing some positive yet slow change in appearance on my forehead where dozens and I mean dozens (could be a 100 small pin heads).

Anyway, I chose to dump the Terrasil and go ahead with the ACV, reading here on the reviews by some kind users that it should be soaked and taped overnight for best and fast results. I did the same. soaked regular cotton in the ACV, put it in a gauze cover and used medical tape to fix it on my forehead. The very first application and I saw the next morning they had broken out - well, most of them. I saw them turn white in my forehead's case, the virus hiding under the skin for months made to come to the fore with just one application.

Let me warn - it stung, boy, it stung! That was the ACV working. The first night at first application was unbearable for a long time but I stuck with it thru the night. And am I glad I did! I did 4 more applications overnight similarly, buoyed by the confidence of the change in their appearance after the very first use, and I was confident it is going to work in getting rid of the virus that I have been carrying for the past 12 months on my forehead.

Everyday, they would change appearance. Don't fret if you have the same in their dozens. Of course it looked horrible! Not that I cared. I even went partying on the 3rd night! I was confident they were being killed and on way to healing. Sometimes it stung. Sometimes I felt the fight happening (that I had felt in the natural ones too that had healed before), the tingling sensation. Just don't touch them. They would / could get itchy, borderline painful as well. Don't touch them. Keep washing hands after every application. I used to dab with a cotton soaked in ACV in the mornings so the effect stays. I used to clean the area with a wet cotton swab, again not using any soaps or whatever. then they changed to little cherrys - bright red. Then slowly started turning dull greys or black. BTW, the one on my penis responded beautifully and within 3 applications the little white one had turned black, expanded a bit, dried and fell off leaving a little white mark, but gone in 3 days. That was a real confidence booster! Their appearance changed a lot from ugly horrible whites to glistening clear bright reds to dull greys and blacks - basically as I see now over a course of exactly two weeks, the viral load forced to come on top, many more - dozens appeared (probably existed but not visible to naked eye), it filled the forehead like crazy, then each - the smallest one could be seen on phone photos enlarged as one single unit, then the turning to bright reds, then starting to dry off and coming off in the cotton swabs one by one and today on the 14th day exactly, all of them - perhaps close to a 100 or more, definitely dozens, have gone, totally!

The forehead feels free in 12 months! I have pics of the entire process, not sure I can load them here, but would be happy to help and share any users who are struggling themselves or for their loved ones from this extremely irritable and pesty infection. I will be vigilant still and not sure how do I get rid of my nostril and lip one, they are there for a few months now - hope they vanish on their own as its difficult to fix any ACV soaked cottons here it just doesn't stay. Fixing overnight is the key, guys! Have faith and trust ACV. I discovered it and this is an honest 100% true first hand account. I wish you the best and quick healing from MC. The wearer knows where the shoe pinches. You are not alone! All the best.

At first, it appeared as three bumps and I did not pay attention to it until it started to spread to over 50 bumps.

My concern started when it started infecting other parts of my body, so I consulted with different doctors on different occasions. None of them knew what it was referred to it as heat bumps. Different creams were then prescribed and all never worked

It was until I started researching about it on the net when I only found out what it was. Then realised that it was expensive and difficult to treat.

It's all thanks to this website that I found the remedy of Apple cider vinegar. I started using it a week ago and already all these bumps have burnt and fallen off.

I placed the vinegar with a piece of wool on each bump and heled it up with some medical tape. The next morning to my surprise and joy some had started turning black and burning. I was consistent on the procedure for five days until they all burnt and fell off.

I also drank ACV to help cure from within as well as vitamin C tablets.

I felt I owed it to this website and its reviews to also give back some info on the great help I received. After suffering from this horrible disease for about 5 months.

Thanks once again and hope this will be of assistance to the other in need.

I bought a tube of Conzerol online and knew it would take a few days to arrive, so I decided to use ACV until the cream landed.

I soaked small pieces of cotton in the ACV and held them in place with plasters or sometimes duck tape.I went fairly heavy handed with it and replaced the ACV pads approx. every 8hrs. Within 24hrs I could see the 2 MC clearly looking in trouble as they were turning grey / black with a puss like yellow colour visible on one side. After 48hrs the bigger of the 2 was totally black and that night it came away leaving a dipped black scab. The smaller one was flat and dark grey. On the third day the small one was totally black, it did seem to increase in size as it became black and I removed it with my finger nail. I was tempted to pierce the 2 MC at the start but I decided to see how the ACV would work first. On day four I started using sudocream as my skin around the MC spots was showing signs of heavy irritation but I didnt care as the MC's seemed to be dead and gone. Within 1 week I went from having 2 very healthy looking MC's to none at all, just 2 small areas which are nearly fully back to normal from the irritation of being heavy handed with my use of ACV every 8hrs for 3 days. My Conzerol cream arrived but I havent opened it as there is no need.

I also started taking 1 tablespoon of ACV with a glass of water and also a couple of vit C tablets each day incase my body needed some help from the inside. I also washed my area with anti-septic lotions everytime I changed my cotton pads and let them dry for a couple of min before adding new ACV soaked pads for another 8hrs.

If you are new to MC's as I was only 1 week ago and you want rid of them quickly use ACV as I did and you will see results within 24 hrs. If you are happy to put up with skin irritation for the short term you too can get rid of them "gone dead goodbye" with 1 week.

Hope this helps.

27 years old Male, NO IDEA how I got this thing. However I got it around my genitals. I noticed a few bumps here and there and just figured it was ingrown hairs. No big deal right? Wrong. After a week or so I noticed bumps around my shaft and other areas. I began to FREAK out researching everything on google for no less than at least a total sum of 40 hours. When I initially had concern I called my doctor immediately and got the SOONEST appointment I could (Was (am) with a steady girlfriend). I had thought it was herpes, I did not know about Molloscum. He told me that it LOOKED like Molloscum Contagiosum but was not certain and he advised me to go to a dermotologist. Well the sooner they could do was a few weeks ago, I COULD NOT let this go without me doing my part to fight it... so I found the best way possible.

Apple Cider Vinegar... you're here because of it, and it was my saving grace. I had probably two dozen bumps, ranging in different sizes and different stages. EXACTLY what I did to be cured in about two weeks was take Gauze pads, 2x2 inches and soak them in ACV, I drained them until they stopped dripping and then using some BAND-AID tape.... I taped two of said pads (both right next to each other) over the pubic area. For the shaft itself I did my best and tried to use Cotton Balls and tape them around infected areas. What I found is that the ACV being (sortof) soaked in your undergarments helped with the hard to deal with areas. After a couple of days I noticed the majority had swelled and turned WHITE, I thought uh oh this isn't good. But it is.. all things in due time. I continued the use of ACV, it burnt and made me really red but I was in it for the long game and needed it gone ASAP! (Few people commented on where I was smelling like vinegar... hehe). The third day the majority was turning BLACK, Awesome! There was still a few white, and I read different things and this was MY CHOICE BECAUSE I WAS VERY CAREFUL OF MYSELF. I popped the white ones (white is the Virus itself popping up), I kept it VERY sterilized after every pop and decontaminated after every pop to ensure no spread of the virus. However, if you are careful enough it helps to move the process along faster. Remove the white part onto a tissue or so, use fire and alcohol to decontaminate after each pop if you are daring enough. Thank God I noticed the Black scabs were starting to heal and I was becoming normal again. Once EVERYTHING turned black and was dying off I followed through with Tea Tree Oil which for sure helped and also sped up the healing process (nice scent too). Within two weeks I was cured and I could finally be free again! I was no longer ashamed.

Do yourself a favor, if you have Molloscum Contagiosum or someone you know does.... refer them to this. It's EXACTLY what I did and it's been 4 months since and I'm fully cured and free. Cheers!

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)

Yes it stings, yes it looks awful after treating so many at once but he and I both agree this is better than it spreading all over. Thank you everyone who posted this, I honestly don't know how we would have got it under control if we had let it take its course and he had spread it when itching his eczema.

Did not think this would work, but tried it upon recommendation from our pediatrician. It worked! We soaked gauze with the apple cider vinegar and taped it on the affected skin. The child smelled of vinegar but the bumps opened and disappeared within 7 -14 days.

I began applying apple cider vinegar constantly, I smelled horrible. It worked though. The bumps scabbed over and died but new ones just kept coming. This went on for a month. Then I read about taking Tagamet and thought I'd give it a try and IT WORKED (I used the generic Kroger brand). I took 1 1/2 (200 mg tablet) in the morning, 1 more after lunch, 1 more in the afternoon and 1 1/2 before bed. This totaled 1000 mg a day which seems like a lot but it helped. I also began taking epsom salt, ACV and tea tree oil baths with luke warm water (to avoid spreading) a few times a week. I still applied ACV to the bumps when they appeared but after would use pure organic coconut oil infused with pure tea tree oil and applied everywhere (this gets messy) before bed. I also drank 1-2 tbsp of ACV diluted with water 3 times a day. I am not sure which of these helped or if it was a combination but slowly the scabs began to heal and they started spreading at a lot slower and more manageable rate. It has been about a week and a half since starting this regiment and I have only had around 4 new bumps appear which is a MAJOR improvement. I believe (and really, really hope! ) that this virus is on the way out of my body for good.

Other notes, I take 500 mg of Vitamin C twice daily. I never wear the same bottoms twice and wash all underwear and pants/shorts/etc with hot water. I also wash my bed sheets and bath towels multiple times a week with hot water. Also, I purchased 100% pure vegetable tea tree soap from amazon and only use that to wash the area with and let air dry. I also keep Clorox wipes next to the toilet and clean every single time I touch the toilet. I know this is all excessive but I'm sure you will understand if you hit the level of desperate I did.

I really hope this helps someone beat this terrible virus!

I am so sorry about your daugther's molluscum contagiosum.

I would not use bandaid aids any more. The damage to the skin will make that part of the skin at higher risk for infection from MC, plus the misery.

To reduce the risk of scratching in the night, give her a baking soda bath right before bed. It really helps relieve itching. 1 cup per bath. Also, if you can get her to take 1/4 teaspoon turmeric mixed into yogurt before bed it will also help prevent itching.

Day and night I would keep her in loose fitting 100% cotton pants and wash them frequently. A clean pair first thing in the morning, a clean pair after school and a clean pair after the evening bath before bed.

You could try coconut oil instead of ACV; it is less irritating. It can be used internally and externally. 1/2 to one teaspoon a couple of times a day, internally is what I would use for that age.

Finally, my friend's daughter had this and the usual topicals were not working. She gave her child burdock root tincture (purifies the blood) and olive leaf tincture (anti-viral.) This is what cured her daughter. She didn't even use topicals when she used this.

I hope this suggestions will help make your daughter more comfortable and that she will be much better soon!!

~Mama to Many~

My 9 year old (now 12) contracted molluscum. From a watersports camp that provided wetsuits.

It started as a little rash on his tummy and spread to 100s of these bumps.

The doctor told us they'd go away themselves.The dermatologist gave is a really expensive cream Aldera which didn't work. We tried tee tree oil and even went to a homeopath. Nothing worked. My son wouldn't and couldn't go swimming and was miserable. I felt I was fighting a losing battle.

In the end after around 9 months of trying - for around 2 weeks I religiously dipped cotton wool in apple cider vinegar mixed with water and covered with sports tape on every single one. Sometimes it stung and was exhausting but they were all gone. They had slowly crusted over went black and fell off. They broke my heart and I feel for any child or parent that has to go through it. I'll never forget the joy on my son when they started falling off.

Stick with it. It's a long road but you will get there if you just do it every night without fail.

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.

It seems like colloidal silver (CS), grapefruit seed extrac t(GSE) or iodine would all be more pleasant than ACV and possibly more effective. A similar method of application, but using CS or GSE would definitely be more pleasant of an experience.

Art