Dr. Atishay Bukharia
Dermatology
The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.
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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. The mole was very slightly larger than a pencil eraser, symmetrical, uniformly light brown in color, and very slightly raised. I have also just recently visited another dermatologist I pointed out the scar to her and told her what I had done. She said that the spot looked fine. Lately, my health anxiety has been heightened due to weaning off an SSRI a few months ago and subsequently trying different medicines, all of which have raised my anxiety level. I just would like some reassurance that I did not cause any damage by mole using the apple cider vinegar. 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? Thank you for any input and assistance you can provide.
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,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
Although the pictures are not clear (attachment removed to protect patient identity), I can perceive it as the junctional nevus. Using vinegar cause 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 NMFE lotion (moisturizer) twice daily for better healing. Regarding blood streaming of malignant cells, I would like to say that first it would manifest over the skin and then it would metastasize into the blood. So, it is not a concern in your case.
Patient's Query
Thank you doctor,
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.
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.
Patient's Query
Thank you doctor,
Thank you again for your quick response. 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.
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.
Patient's Query
Thank you doctor,
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.
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.
Patient's Query
Thank you doctor,
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 can 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.
Patient's Query
Thank you doctor,
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.
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.
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