Does Apple Cider Vinegar Really Help Skin Cancer?

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SEE MOREDoes Apple Cider Vinegar Really Help Skin Cancer?

Everyday HealthON THIS PAGE

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ByJulie Lynn MarksUpdated on March 19, 2024Medically Reviewed byWalter Tsang, MDON THIS PAGE

• About ACV
• ACV for Cancer
• Skin Cancer Claims
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• Dangers

Apple cider vinegar is often used as a natural treatment, reputed to ease ailments ranging from yeast infections to high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes. But can it help as a home remedy for skin cancer?

While there are plenty of online claims that apple cider vinegar can remove moles or treat cancerous growths, there’s no solid research to back it as a natural remedy for skin cancer.

What’s more, most of the studies that have been done on apple cider vinegar and cancer used tissue samples or animals in laboratories, not living humans.

RELATED: Can Apple Cider Vinegar Treat Psoriatic Arthritis?

What Is Apple Cider Vinegar?

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is a strong-smelling vinegar that’s made from apple juice that has been fermented twice. Most people describe the taste as sour.

The vinegar has high levels of acetic acid, which can kill bacteria and is thought to provide health benefits. It also contains antioxidants that are known to prevent cell damage.

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Some cooking recipes call for apple cider vinegar. It’s also commonly used as a cleaning solution, mouthwash, hair rinse, or alternative health treatment.

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RELATED: 8 Touted Health Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar

History of Apple Cider Vinegar and Cancer

The notion that apple cider vinegar may have an effect on cancer cells can be traced back to the work of the 1931 Nobel Prize–winning scientist Otto Warburg.

Warburg theorized that cancer cells grow more aggressively in an acidic environment. Specifically, he believed that high levels of acidity and low oxygen in the body caused cancer.

Despite the fact that apple cider vinegar is inherently acidic, some believe that ingesting apple cider vinegar actually raises the body’s pH level, making it less acidic and therefore less hospitable to cancer cells.

That said, there is little to no research to support this.

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Your body is very good at regulating the pH of your blood (around 7.3 to 7.4 pH level) despite the pH of what you eat and drink. So ingesting apple cider vinegar, or any other food or drink, is really unlikely to affect the overall pH of your blood or the pH of the blood surrounding any cancer cells.

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RELATED: Can Drinking Apple Cider Vinegar Help Get Rid of UTIs?

8 Potential Health Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar

Unveil the potential health benefits of apple cider vinegar.

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What Are the Claims About Skin Cancer and Apple Cider Vinegar?

Various internet sites and blogs claim that apple cider vinegar can help treat skin cancers, including basal cell carcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas, melanomas, and precancerous lesions (actinic keratosis). Other sources offer tutorials for removing moles or skin tags.

Most of these sites provide personal, anecdotal accounts from people who say the vinegar “cured” their skin cancer.

Some of the sources encourage patients to drink apple cider vinegar, while others suggest applying it directly to the skin cancer. Many recommend doing both. In either case, whether ingested or applied to the skin, experts warn that you should always dilute apple cider vinegar with water, since undiluted ACV can burn both the esophagus and skin.

[1]

Even then, using apple cider vinegar is not without its risks. When ingested, it has the potential to cause gastrointestinal discomfort or damage.

[5]

When applied topically for an extended period, it can damage the skin or make you more sensitive to the sun.

[6]

What Does the Research Say About Apple Cider Vinegar and Skin Cancer?

Studies that examine a link between an acidic environment in the body and cancer have shown mixed results.

In one past paper scientists found that human melanoma cells may grow and spread more quickly in an acidic environment. But this study was performed on cultured cell samples in a lab.

[7]

Other experiments have shown no link between an acidic environment and cancer activity.

The American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) says that foods like apple cider vinegar have little effect on the body’s pH level. In fact, it would be “nearly impossible” to alter the cell environment to create less acidity in the body, per the AICR.

[8]

As the ACIR also notes, citing research from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, “Large, well-designed clinical trials on the effectiveness of the many claims made for the alkaline diet are lacking.”

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The inconsistent and insignificant amount of research on the topic has led most health experts to conclude there’s not enough research to show apple cider vinegar can treat skin cancer.

RELATED: Should You Add Apple Cider Vinegar to Your Skin-Care Routine?

How Do You Use Apple Cider Vinegar?

If you do decide to try apple cider vinegar, dosing recommendations vary, but up to 1 to 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar per day, diluted in a cup of water, should be okay.

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Apple cider vinegar also comes in capsules, tablets, and gummies, which may be easier for some people to take.

If you’re applying apple cider vinegar to your skin, be careful not to leave it on too long. Make sure you dilute the vinegar in water and test it over a small patch of skin first. Also, rinse the area well after use. Recommendations on how much to use and how long to leave it on vary. It’s a good idea to talk to your doctor before putting it on your skin.

Can Apple Cider Vinegar Be Dangerous?

First and foremost, apple cider vinegar, or any other “natural” treatment, should never replace traditional, research-backed cancer treatments. Depending on the type and stage of the skin cancer, this may entail one or more methods, such as surgery, cryosurgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy.

[10]

Those interested in using apple cider vinegar as a complementary treatment to skin cancer should know its potential risks and side effects. Research has shown that drinking vinegars can cause burns and ulcers in the esophagus and damage to the upper intestinal tract, especially if the vinegar is consumed frequently or isn’t diluted enough.

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 Apple cider vinegar tablets can result in similar damage.

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In addition, apple cider vinegar can interact with supplements and medications, such as insulin and diuretics, which may result in low potassium levels.

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 It can also cause nausea or vomiting due to its strong taste or your body’s reaction to it.

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According to one case report, apple cider vinegar can cause chemical burns when applied to the skin.

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If you do decide to apply it topically, apple cider vinegar should always be diluted and you should stop if you experience any irritation. It may cause your skin to be more susceptible to sunburn, so make sure you’re using sunscreen.

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If you have any discomfort or irritation when ingesting or applying apple cider vinegar, stop using it. Continuing to use it in the face of negative side effects can result in serious damage.

RELATED: 7 Potential Side Effects of Apple Cider Vinegar

Other Uses for Apple Cider Vinegar

Though more research is needed, some other uses for apple cider vinegar may include:

[15]

• Lowering cholesterol and blood sugar levels
• Weight loss
• Reducing bacteria growth on food

The Takeaway

Though apple cider vinegar is widely popular as a natural remedy for various ailments, there's no solid evidence that it can treat skin cancer. Using this vinegar on your skin could cause burns or irritation, especially if you apply it undiluted. If you think you might have skin cancer, it’s crucial to see a doctor right away rather than trying home remedies.

Meet Our ExpertsSee Our Editorial PolicyMeet Our Health Expert Network

Walter Tsang, MD

Medical Reviewer

Castle Connolly Top Doctor, Member of American College of Lifestyle MedicineWalter Tsang, MD, is a board-certified medical oncologist, hematologist, and lifestyle medicine specialist. Inspired by the ancient Eastern philosophy of yang sheng ("nourishing life"), Dr. Tsang has developed a unique whole-person oncology approach that tailors cancer care and lifestyle recommendations to each patients’ biopsychosocial-spiritual circumstances. He partners with patients on their cancer journeys, emphasizing empowerment, prevention, holistic wellness, quality of life, supportive care, and realistic goals and expectations. This practice model improves clinical outcomes and reduces costs for both patients and the healthcare system.  Outside of his busy clinical practice, Tsang has taught various courses at UCLA Center for East West Medicine, Loma Linda University, and California University of Science and Medicine. He is passionate about health education and started an online seminar program to teach cancer survivors about nutrition, exercise, stress management, sleep health, and complementary healing methods. Over the years, he has given many presentations on integrative oncology and lifestyle medicine at community events. In addition, he was the founding co-chair of a lifestyle medicine cancer interest group, which promoted integrative medicine education and collaborations among oncology professionals. Tsang is an active member of American Society of Clinical Oncology, Society for Integrative Oncology, and American College of Lifestyle Medicine. He currently practices at several locations in Southern California. His goal is to transform cancer care in the community, making it more integrative, person-centered, cost-effective and sustainable for the future.See full bio

Julie Lynn Marks

Author

Julie Marks is a freelance writer with more than 20 years of experience covering health, lifestyle, and science topics. In addition to writing for Everyday Health, her work has been featured in WebMD, SELF, Healthline, A&E, Psych Central, Verywell Health, and more. Her goal is to compose helpful articles that readers can easily understand and use to improve their well-being. She is passionate about healthy living and delivering important medical information through her writing.

Prior to her freelance career, Marks was a supervising producer of medical programming for Ivanhoe Broadcast News. She is a Telly award winner and Freddie award finalist. When she’s not writing, she enjoys spending time with her husband and four children, traveling, and cheering on the UCF Knights.

See full bioSee Our Editorial PolicyMeet Our Health Expert NetworkEDITORIAL SOURCESEveryday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.SourcesResources

1. What Apple Cider Vinegar Can (and Can’t) Do for You. Cleveland Clinic. July 17, 2023.
2. Sleight M. Apple Cider Vinegar: Here’s What to Know About Health Benefits, Proper Dosage and More. CNET. March 2, 2024.
3. Does Apple Cider Vinegar Really Improve Your Health? Alaska Regional Hospital. September 9, 2019.
4. What Should People With Cancer Know About Alkaline Water? Cancer.Net. February 16, 2021.
5. Apple Cider Vinegar for Acid Reflux: Does It Work? Cleveland Clinic. February 21, 2023.
6. Is Apple Cider Vinegar Good for Your Skin and Hair? A Dermatologist Weighs In. Nebraska Medicine. December 29, 2022.
7. Martínez-Zaguilán R et al. Acidic pH Enhances the Invasive Behavior of Human Melanoma Cells. Clinical & Experimental Metastasis. March 1996.
8. The Alkaline Diet: Another Cancer and Diet Claim. American Institute for Cancer Research. November 2, 2020.
9. Hoover A. Apple Cider Vinegar Myths and Facts. West Virginia University Extension Service.
10. Skin Cancer: Diagnosis and Treatment. Mayo Clinic. December 6, 2022.
11. Chang J et al. Corrosive Esophageal Injury Due to a Commercial Vinegar Beverage in an Adolescent. Clinical Endoscopy. May 2020.
12. Hill LL et al. Esophageal Injury by Apple Cider Vinegar Tablets and Subsequent Evaluation of Products. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. July 2005.
13. Drinking Apple Cider Vinegar for Weight Loss Seems Far-Fetched. Does It Work? Mayo Clinic. April 29, 2022.
14. Feldstein S et al. Chemical Burn From Vinegar Following an Internet-Based Protocol for Self-Removal of Nevi. The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology. June 2015.
15. McDonald E IV. Debunking the Health Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar. University of Chicago Medicine. August 23, 2018.

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