Apple Cider Vinegar for Molluscum Contagiosum

Can anyone tell me where you get the ACV? Is it just the stuff you buy in the supermarket and use in cooking, or is it a special health produce?! I live in England. Am desperate to help my 4 and 7 year old. Thanks so much.

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!

~Mama to Many~

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)

My 2 year old was diagnosed yesterday with molluscum and he has about 8 of them on his arm. the doctor said to let it heal by itself. my son has to go back to daycare and I wouldn't want him to get anyone else with this virus. I want to put the ACV and maybe mix with TEA TREE OIL? on a cotton and bandaid, but for how long? can I put cotton on the spots and bandaid for the whole day at daycare or it should be removed every few hours? I can go there and change it for him. and once the spots turn black or white not to touch them with ACV?

Thank you again, so much....

Thank you everyone!

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.

For those who are interested:

1. I used the full 5% dilution as it came from the bottle. I didn't experience any stinging or scarring

2. I also took the ACV internally (it's good for all kinds of stuff and I figured it couldn't hurt, right?) 2tbsp in 8-12 oz of cold water every morning. If you/your children don't like the flavor, you can add a little honey and lemon. It masks the vinegar taste quite well.

3. For the first 2 days, I was using small pieces of paper towel, but that didn't hold the vinegar as well. On day 3 I switched to cotton balls and that's when I noticed the biggest change in the bumps. Perhaps this would've happened on day 3 anyway, but I think the switch was part of it.

4. I took 2 "detox" baths to include 1/2 cup each of baking soda and Epsom salts. I have no idea if this contributed to my healing or not, but I know it didn't hurt!

Thanks again for this site and for posting your experiences! You totally saved me :)

Strange that the doctors don't know about this treatment. We told ours (after she told us there was not much we could do).

We applied them using cotton balls soaked in the vinegar and plasters to keep them in place. We also used sea salts in the bath for a soak.

A tip would be to do it once overnight and then check the ones that have turned white or black. The black ones are then done and just need to heal and the white ones are probably done so don't do them again just monitor them. If you do them again it could hurt and maybe scar. Use a moisturizing cream with antibacterial elements for during the day.

Took about a week to turn them into feint marks and they look like they'll be gone soon.

This works well on the raised spots and not so much on any brand new ones, so if you have any new ones just wait it out and do them when they are ready.

Another thing to mention is that you should take steps to avoid it spreading as when they open up you are at most riks of spreading it. Just regularly wash bedding and towls and detoll your life up!

Thanks again.

My little girl was about 15 months when I first noticed some spots on her leg. At first I thought it was from the eczema that she had on her legs, but once it spread to her tummy (an area that her leg touched at diaper changes etc.) I realized it was something else. A doctor confirmed it to be molluscum contagiosum and told me that it would go away with time. He said that it could be 'zapped' as a wart to try to kickstart the immune system, but it might not work and could possibly scar and be painful. I left it for a few months, but it of course spread to the point that she had approximately 50 spots on her leg and torso and they had begun to spread to an arm. I was looking for answers everywhere when I came across these posts and decided to give ACV a try as I worried they might spread to her face.

As another poster suggested, I purchased dot bandages (used for shots). I made a mixture of 50/50 ACV & water mixture and cut small squares (small enough to fit on the bandage pad) of a make-up pad to soak in the ACV mix. I squeezed out the excess mixture and applied the bandage to the spots before bedtime and removed in the morning. I told my daughter these were her 'special stickers', so she was mostly okay with them being on, though she did pull a few off here and there. I generally covered a dozen spots (usually the most mature looking ones) each time.

After about 3 nights of application the spots began to turn dark, and scab over. I also dabbed the ACV mix (using clean cotton swabs) on the unbandaged spots before putting on pajamas.

I became diligent about using clean towels after each bath/shower, putting on clean pajamas and keeping her nails short in case she scratched the spots.

I think the worst part for her was when I reapplied the bandage to the same spot more than once, the skin around got a bit tender in some places, but really this was only on one or two spots.

It has been over a month since my last application and I haven't seen another spot since. She does have some small dark scars from some spots, but they are clearing up too and I am sure they will be gone without a trace over the next few months. Perhaps this was what was needed to alert her immune system to kick in and fight any future spots, but I can say that I am 100% confident that the ACV was what helped us to clear up the existing molluscum contagiosum.

Thank you to everyone who posted their positive experiences, and good luck to those who are looking for help, I hope this is what works for you.

I had first noticed a few red spots on the shaft of my penis and thought it might be acne. I was in the middle of a road trip and showering wasn't happening too frequently.. I may have picked up the infection from one of the sleazy motels that I stayed at but anyway.. I thought they were pimples but they only got worse. During the day they weren't as visible so I thought they went away. Only when I returned from my road trip did I start thinking that something was wrong. I started freaking out thinking that I had herpes or genital warts. I did hours of research and read through this site's posts before I tried ACV. I've been doing it now for a few days and I can see a huge improvement. It started working immediately. I had cut my ACV with water quite a bit for the first few days. This is because I read a horror story of someone getting permanent skin scarring from using a 5% strength solution. On a side note this is what Bragg comes diluted at.. as long as you cut it a little I found that it works like a miracle. I wasn't fond of the idea of a doctors visit and I'm glad that this treatment worked out for me. Don't be nervous if it looks like more are popping up after you start. Its just the ACV doing its work. I think I am on day 5 and at a stronger dose than the first 4. I can see a huge improvement, It really works. Just be careful with your strength and you should be good.

I initially thought I had genital warts, but none of the bumps/warts were actually in the genitalia, although they were really close. Luckily, I only had about 10 bumps and I never squeeze/scratch them out of fear for scarring, so luckily they didn't spread. I've to be upfront here, this isn't an overnight solution, nor will they be gone in two weeks, but it won't take months either, if you manage to contain them.

Week 1 & 2

I treated the MC with ACV, using a Q-tip, several times a day. At night, I cut off tiny pieces of makeup pads, soaked them in ACV and used medical tape to secure them. I find medical tape to be less painful than bandaids, especially that area. The ACV stung a bit, but bearable, trick is to cut the makeup pads just a bit bigger than the bump itself, in order to not burn the healthy skin. I also took baths with Epsom salt and changed towels after every use. Nothing happened for 2 days, then the MC started to turn angry red and after a week started to scab over. My inner tights looked awful, red raised bumps with black cores. I continued applying ACV and taping even after the scab came up. I don't know whether that was the right thing or not, but better safe than sorry. I stopped the taping at night when they were all scabbed over, but continued using the q-tip soaked in ACV. Once the scabs started to fall off, I used Vaseline and after a tip from a friend, Aquaphore.

Week 3

At this point, most of the scabs have fallen off, however theres still a raised bump without a core and it's still red. I stopped the ACV and continued with Aquaphore several times a day and that made the skin heal quicker than Vaseline.

Week 4

Bumps are still there, some still red, but have flatten a bit, others are close to disappearing. I even tried this whole treatment on a bump on my leg that my dermatologist said is just a benign bump, which will just remain there. Not anymore thanks to ACV!

I want to stress that I wasn't feeling well when I started having the MC, but started to take more vitamins (B, Zinc, multi vitamins) and ate even healthier than I usually do, no processed food, lots of fruit, etc. and I think I'm almost cleared of it.

I hope this helps!

ACV does work for Molloscum Contagiosum, but its best if you can treat one lesion at a time otherwise it can hurt or burn your healthy skin, which becomes dry and irritated, then you scratch and cause them to spread. It will make your healthy skin look like road rash.

I have also read that you can put Vaseline on the areas that you don't want effected, not sure if this would cause all your band aids to come off Though, so it may not be practical.

Burning/freezing them off is not a good idea on a child because kids can't help but scratch and rub the blisters, this causes major spreading. Also if you still decide to try the Beatle juice, wash it off two hours after application, don't rub. I have taken my daughter several time to have this done and such bad blistering seemed unnecessary so I took her to another Dr. and he told me the shower trick. I tried it and it worked! The lesions died and she didn't have major blistering, just red where applied. My other Dr. Said to not wash it off for 24 hrs! What a difference it made.

Soak a small piece of cotton in the apple cider vinegar (just the kind you buy at grocery store)put directly over the lesion and cover with a bandaid. (Stock up on band aids cuz you will use a ton) Do this twice a day if possible. Best time to do this is right after a warm shower because the ACV will be able to penetrate easieR because the warts will be swollen.

Good luck!

Clove oil is pretty strong, though I have used it neat (without diluting) in the mouth before. You can try 1 part clove oil and 3 parts oil (extra virgin coconut oil might be good as it is also an anti-viral. Test that on a small area and if it stings, dilute it further.

Same with Apple Cider Vinegar. If you want to try it, start with diluting it 1 part vinegar and 3 parts water. Test a spot and dilute more if it is irritating. You can also try 1/2 vinegar and 1/2 water and see how that does, if the weaker dilution is okay, but again, test a small area first.

I have found essential oils and vinegar, when diluted, to work well on skin issues and not to burn. I hope that is the case for you, too.

I hope your little guy is better soon!

~Mama to Many~

I suffered with sensitive skin, and have fallen in love with using that 'new' type of saran wrap called Press 'n' Seal.

I use a sterile gauze pad to apply vinegar or oil or garlic or salve or whatever needs to be on the 'wound' or area of concern... then cut a size of Press'n'Seal large enough to hold it on- larger than a band-aid would be, usually an inch around or better if it's larger, then just stick it on to my skin. It doesn't look great! but it doesn't cause any skin irritation.

I wore one into my dermatologists, and she was excited, immediately saying she knew two young patients she was going to use it with right away who were suffering with an 'adhesive allergy" as she called it.

If you are dealing with a large skin area, like a rash or have several lesions or pimples or bites or such, stick your gauze bits to them, and cover the whole thing with the wrap. If you need it to look better, or are working with a child (who won't be able to resist peeling it off) or it's in an area where it will get rubbed by clothing, then you can cover the sticky-wrap with gauze, or that sticky-ace-bandage stuff, but it isn't touching the skin, so it's easier on the skin. And, it 'waterproofs' the poultice from leaking out of, say, just gauze.

I understand your frustration and concern. Both of my kiddos had this and with my son the ACV worked great - His MC was on his torso/side. My daughter had MC on her bottom and behind her knees. We tried the ACV but it was too harsh for her so I bought some iodine ( not the brown kind- but the clear kind from the health food store). We would put it on every night and morning. At night we covered them with small round band-aids and we saturated the little pad on the band-aid as well. In the morning we would just put some iodine on them and leave them uncovered. The MC would become "angry" looking for a few days and then they turned to scabs and went away. They did leave little pock mark type scars but they are barely noticeable. It has been well over a year and no sign of them returning. The iodine did not cause her any discomfort at all. I hope this works for you!

God Bless~

~Carleen

I am so sorry about your daughter! I hate to see my little ones suffer, too! We have dealt with many skin issues over the years and I will share some things we have used. While we have not dealt with MC before, we have dealt with many skin issues, I can tell you what I would try.

First the Raw Apple Cider Vinegar...yes, it stings unless a good bit diluted. You could try 1/2 or 1 cup in her bath. After you draw the bath and add the vinegar, put the water on a cotton ball and test on a spot to make sure it is comfortable. You could do that nightly. If you want to spray it on, dilute it a lot and test one spot. Maybe start with 1 part vinegar and 5 parts water.

I have not seen Extra Virgin Coconut Oil mentioned for this (I may have missed it) but it is one of my favorite anti-virals. You can give her 1 teaspoon internally twice a day. You can also use this directly on the spots. You could add a little bit of tea tree and or clove essential oil to this (5 drops of essential oil to 1 Tablespoon coconut oil) to use topically. Test one spot. If it stings, skip the essential oils.

Turmeric, internally, is wonderful for skin conditions and infections. We give a child that age 1/4 teaspoon twice a day. (In serious situations, we have used more.) This should be taken with plenty of water.

Some have found Grapefruit Seed Extract, 2 drops in 6 ounces of juice, twice a day to help a lot.

You can get colloidal silver in a spray to apply topically if the vinegar doesn't work out. This should not sting (any more than water would.)

Yes, the tape irritates my skin and that of my children, too. I have not found a good solution to this. If they would cover, you could get little boys boxer/briefs made of all cotton to keep thighs from reinfecting one another. Just get a size that will be comfortably loose.

Keeping processed food and processed sugar to a minimum is important. An organic apple and banana to the daily diet would be helpful.

Well, these are the things I would start with. There are other herbs and things that could be tried if these things are not successful.

Please keep us posted on her progress.

~Mama to Many~

First here are the circumstances: My 5 yr old girl has it. It started on her inner thighs about 4.5 months ago, but has now moved up to her groin/private region, and back of her knees. She has been treated by a dermatologist 3 times (over a 3.5 month period) with "Cantharone Plus"(Extract from a beetle, blistering agent). Each treatment has gotten progressively worse. The appointments are at least 4-6 weeks apart, the drug leaves her with LARGE painful blisters, and she has more bumps each time we go. I don't think I can do this to her again, it is awful. I did try Tea Tree oil twice a day (morn and eve) for a week and a half, with no results at all, except irritated skin.

She could barely walk yesterday (1 hr post treatment) they are so raw and red and must be very painful. She was a trouper though! I washed her and patched her up last night so she could sleep. Please note, she has quite sensitive skin. Bandages and medical tape usually leave red, scaly skin, and she has Exzema, but not often or in large patches. She doesn't do well with scented or coloured soap/ bodywash. So now to my questions:

1) I want to try the ACV treatment I've been reading about. BUT do I wait until the large blisters have subsided? I am guessing it will be INCREDIABLEY painful to put ACV on them in this state! ?

2) What is the ACV concentration amount? So how much ACV do I apply, and do I leave wet cotton balls/ pads in place bandaged or taped on? Or just dab on with a Q-Tip? How do you keep them stuck on wet skin? Do you cover each bump with a bandage or sterile dressing? Or is it better to leave them open? * concern with not covering them is reinfection of each leg, due to thighs rubbing*

3) Do you do this 1 or 2 times daily? (she is in school so only possible morn and eve)

4) I have been applying Kids Polysporin to the Large Blistered ones but not the small white bumps because it helps with the pain and she had 2 infected bumps last time around, so has anyone else tried this? Does it help or hinder the process?

5) Dermatlgst stated people with Exzema and skin conditions more susceptible to MC. Wear looser pants, no more tights, a thick barrier cream to stop chaffing of thighs. Baths better than showers, no bubbles, no oils. Aveeno oatmeal may be good. Pat dry, don't rub. All this info is well and good but some seems contradictory to what I keep reading. Particularly the bath over shower part. Perhaps bathing in ACV? Any suggestions please?

6) My child LOVES the swimming pool, and we go often. She also has swim lessons once a week. Do we bandage them all each time we go? Would a swim suit with legs be of any use? Any suggestions??

7) Lastly, if anyone has experience in dealing with this in a child, in such a sensitive body area please pass any info along, I would really appreciate it.

Thanks so much for your time,

One Frustrated Mum

P.S. I am Vigilant about not wearing pants more than once, keeping hands away from that area (tough when going to bathroom though) and only using towels once.

None of the prescriptions seemed to be working, at my request my daughter began taking cimetidine twice a day. I saw this suggestions for Apple cider vinegar, we started bathing her in it daily. After one week half her bumps were gone. At this point we stopped the oral medication and used only the vinegar... Guess what - she is completely bump free!!!! It saved us from the constant itching and scratching...thank you for suggesting this . I'm one relieved mama.