Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
About 15 months ago, I used apple cider vinegar as a home remedy to remove a mole from the back of my calf. I applied the apple cider vinegar to the mole daily until it formed a scab, which later fell off leaving pink skin underneath. There is still a pinkish scar, which is very slowly fading, and I have been applying scar-reducing serum daily. Prior to removing the mole, I had it checked by a few doctors and all of whom said it looked normal. A week before the application of apple cider vinegar, I visited a dermatologist for a skin cancer screening. On visual examination, he said it looked normal. I presume if it had somehow been cancerous, it would not have scabbed and fallen off, leaving just a scar. Also, is there any possibility that I could have somehow caused any cancerous changes to the remaining cells or into the bloodstream that just cannot be seen on the surface of my skin? I have attached photos for your reference. The first photo is a picture of a very similar-looking mole, which I currently have in my abdomen. The one on my leg, which I removed looked very similar, slightly larger. The second photo is the scar on the back of my leg where I used apple cider vinegar to remove the mole.
Hi,
I am glad you chose icliniq for your medical-related queries.
I understand your concern and will try to help you with it.
Although the pictures are not clear (attachment removed to protect patient identity), I can perceive it as a junctional nevus. Using vinegar causes an irritant reaction and thus causes the destruction of melanocytes, but unfortunately, this method is not precise and does not cause the removal of all the melanocytes and thus should not be practiced. In your case, there is nothing that we would say is malignant.
Regarding erythema, it is also known as post-inflammatory erythema and will subside with time; nevertheless, you can use a moisturizer twice daily for better healing. Regarding the blood streaming of malignant cells, I would like to say that first it would manifest on the skin, and then it would metastasize into the blood. So, it is not a concern in your case.
Thank you for consulting me.
You can always reach me at icliniq.com.
Patient's Query
Hi doctor,
Thank you for the reply.
I am going to attach another, hopefully clearer, picture of the scar site. Are you sure that it was a junctional nevus? It is primarily pinkish in color. Do you feel that when I visit my dermatologist again should I get anything on the site as laser, etc., or just leave it to heal?
Hi,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
I read and understand your concern.
Yes, this picture is quite better (attachment removed to protect patient identity). There is no intervention needed right now, just keep it under observation. If you find anything suspicious, then go for excisional biopsy, which is not only diagnostic, but therapeutic too.
Looking forward to your response in order to help you.
Thank you.
Patient's Query
Hi doctor,
Thank you for the reply.
So, presuming it was a normal nevus, there is no possibility that I could have created any issues like causing the cells to turn cancerous. Again, I am currently suffering from major health anxiety, and I am feeling some pain in that leg, which I think as sciatica. The pain radiates down from the back of my upper leg. Can you please help with this?
Hi,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
I read and understand your concern.
It is a very rare phenomenon to have malignancy after vinegar irritation, but it is possible. That is the reason, I have asked you to keep it under observation. I cannot comment over your sciatica pain with minimal history and never ever take any intervention without consulting with a doctor.
Looking forward to your response in order to help you.
Thank you.
Patient's Query
Hi doctor,
Thank you for the reply.
Yes, I do regret trying the removal of the mole on my own. It does appear to be healing well and looks normal after fifteen months. So finally, to confirm, could damage occurs below the surface of the skin that cannot be seen?
Hi,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
I read and understand your concern.
Surface changes are common findings of melanoma while dermoscopy can be used to see the changes, which are usually not visible to the naked eye. By looking at your lesion, there is no gross finding suggestive of malignancy. So, there is nothing to worry.
Looking forward to your response in order to help you.
Thank you.
Patient's Query
Hi doctor,
Thank you for the reply.
The wandering mind can create a lot of grief while suffering from health anxiety. Also, I feel if any damage done, or cancerous change happened then it most likely would have shown up on the skin by now. Am I right?
Hi,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
I read and understand your concern.
You got it right. It would have manifested by now and there is no gross feature suggestive of malignancy. So, do not worry.
Looking forward to your response in order to help you.
Thank you.
Patient's Query
Hi doctor,
Thank you for the reply.
I will never use any home remedies again. I will continue to keep a close eye on the site and follow up with the doctor if necessary. By the way, the latest dermatologist I visited indicated that it may not have been a true mole. It maybe just some hereditary pigmented lesion if it was removed by the apple cider vinegar. She said I probably just sloughed off some layers of the pigmented skin. Also, my primary care physician around 16 years ago removed several of the same type of pigmented spots from my back by electrocautery, after indicating that they were all normal. Also, they have never come back.
Hi,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
I read and understand your concern.
There is nothing like true mole or false mole. They are all a collection of melanocytes or melanosomes, and they have been divided into two types. It can either be congenital that is present from birth or acquired. Whatever type it may be, excision is considered as the best treatment as it does not leave any remaining tissue, which can later be malignant. While in other benign structures or those having very low propensity for malignancy, electrosurgery is usually done.
Looking forward to your response in order to help you.
Thank you.
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Answered byDr. Atishay Bukharia
Medically reviewed byiCliniq medical review team
Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!
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