Skin problems can often destroy the external appearance. That is why some people try to find a remedy with certain products. Apple cider vinegar is an increasingly popular product in the fight against skin problems and is often said to have soothing and relaxing properties for the skin.
In our magazine article we want to address the doubts about the effects of apple cider vinegar on the skin. We explain what apple cider vinegar is and how it can affect the skin. We also answer the most important questions about apple cider vinegar for the skin.
the essentials in brief
- Apple cider vinegar is said to have all sorts of antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties for the skin
- When taking apple cider vinegar orally, it is better to dilute the apple cider vinegar with water to protect the tooth enamel and the digestive tract
- People with low potassium levels should watch out for their consumption of apple cider vinegar as it inhibits the absorption of potassium in the blood
Apple cider vinegar for the skin: what you should know about it
Apple cider vinegar is becoming increasingly popular. However, very few people really know exactly about the positive properties of apple cider vinegar. That's why we want to answer the most important questions about apple cider vinegar for the skin below, so that you don't have any questions left unanswered.
What is apple cider vinegar?
Apple cider vinegar is an edible vinegar that is used as a seasoning in cooking, as a preservative for food and as a natural medicinal product. Apple cider vinegar is made from fermented apple cider and is high in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.(1) These are the elements that give it its skin benefits.
Apple cider vinegar has been used since the Roman Empire. Back then, apple cider vinegar was used to disinfect open wounds. In the Middle Ages, apple cider vinegar was used to fight the plague. Disinfectant washings with apple cider vinegar were carried out, which were supposed to protect healthy people from contagion with the plague.
Today, apple cider vinegar is widely used in a wide variety of areas. Especially in naturopathy, many people rely on apple cider vinegar.
The Romans used apple cider vinegar to disinfect wounds centuries ago.
Why is apple cider vinegar supposed to be so good for the skin?
Apple cider vinegar has a balancing effect on the acid-base balance. The potassium, zinc, calcium, sodium and magnesium contained in it help the body to form basic substances that balance the PH value in the body and thus counteract hyperacidity.(2)
Because of its antibacterial properties(3), apple cider vinegar can also help with heartburn, bad breath, sore throat, cystitis, and wound healing. Applied externally, apple cider vinegar is also said to provide relief for a wide variety of skin diseases.
Taking apple cider vinegar can stimulate the metabolism and thus burn fat better.
Apple cider vinegar inhibits the increase in blood sugar levels and boosts our metabolism.(4) A boosted metabolism means that our body burns nutrients such as fat more quickly, but also that it can absorb substances such as minerals from food better and more easily.( 5) This then leads to a better complexion.
The positive attributes of apple cider vinegar have hardly been scientifically proven beyond a doubt. Rather, the positive reports are based on centuries of human experience.
Below we have listed some of the reported positive qualities and labeled the ones with a source accordingly:
- Boost metabolism(4)
- Strengthen the immune system(2) (4)
- Detox(4)
- Lower blood sugar and blood lipid levels(4)(5)(7)
- Antibacterial effect(6)
- Keep hair shiny and smooth(1)
- improve skin(1)
- relieve itching(9)
- Inhibit inflammation(9)
- Eliminate Infections(8)
What skin conditions are there that apple cider vinegar can improve?
Human skin and apple cider vinegar have a similar pH. Therefore, apple cider vinegar is said to be good for skin care. It is said to soothe irritated, itchy skin and is also said to have an antibacterial effect, which makes it an effective helper for oily and impure skin.
However, since most of the positive characteristics of apple cider vinegar have not yet been clinically proven, the positive properties for the skin are also based on people's experiences with apple cider vinegar.
Pimple
Many people also use apple cider vinegar for pimples. The irritated skin should be disinfected. This is mainly due to the sulfur contained in apple cider vinegar. Regular treatment with apple cider vinegar should also prevent future pimples from developing and prevent them from forming in the first place.
Apple cider vinegar has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. These come from the apple fruit and are concentrated in apple cider vinegar. (Posted image: Uwe Jelting/ Unsplash)
warts
Apple cider vinegar is also recommended for warts. It is generally assumed that the warts can develop poorly in alkaline apple cider vinegar. In addition, the warts are said to be dried out by the apple cider vinegar and then disappear completely over a longer period of time.
Wart treatment can severely dry out the surrounding skin. Therefore, a doctor should first be consulted before starting treatment. The doctor should also clarify in any case whether the warts are not another skin disease.
varicose veins
Varicose veins can also be treated with apple cider vinegar. Varicose veins are noticeably dilated veins that appear purple or blue through the skin. Due to the circulation-enhancing properties of apple cider vinegar, it is believed to be very effective against varicose veins.
To do this, clean the affected areas with undiluted apple cider vinegar every day. Do not dry the affected areas afterwards, but let the apple cider vinegar soak in. Here too, however, a doctor should be consulted before treatment to be on the safe side.
lipomas
A lipoma is a mostly harmless tumor of the adipose tissue cell that can occur in different parts of the body. Here, too, the apple cider vinegar is said to stimulate the metabolism and blood circulation and thereby remove excess body fat.
Before treating lipoma with apple cider vinegar, you should first have a doctor make sure that the lipoma is harmless.
rosacea
Apple cider vinegar can also help with rosacea. In rosacea, the skin is red and inflamed, affecting the patient's life. For apple cider vinegar treatment, apple cider vinegar can be used orally or topically
You can do this by taking a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar mixed with a teaspoon of honey. Alternatively, the affected facial skin can also be dabbed with diluted apple cider vinegar.
neurodermatitis
The same recommendations apply to the use of apple cider vinegar for neurodermatitis. Here, too, the natural remedy can have an anti-inflammatory effect, normalize the pH value of the diseased skin and thus improve the complexion.
Fold
Last but not least, apple cider vinegar is said to have an anti-wrinkle effect. The fruit acid it contains is said to stimulate the pores to contract, thus preventing and reducing existing wrinkles.
What should you consider when treating skin with apple cider vinegar?
Apple cider vinegar for skin can be used orally or topically. In the following we will show you what you should consider when using apple cider vinegar orally and externally.
Oral use
When using it orally or internally, you should pay attention to a few things. Because apple cider vinegar is very acidic, the acid can attack tooth enamel. To prevent this, dilute the apple cider vinegar with a glass of water. This also makes the apple cider vinegar taste more pleasant.
You can hardly taste the apple cider vinegar in a smoothie and with the different vegetables and fruits, the smoothie gives your skin the extra glow it needs. (Image source: Jan Sedivy/ Unsplash)
In principle, you can add a dash of apple cider vinegar to all kinds of food and drinks, for example salad dressings, soups or smoothies. However, if you drink apple cider vinegar regularly, the effects on your skin are even more intense. As a tip, you can also take the apple cider vinegar with a spoonful of honey to make the taste more bearable.
external application
For topical use, there are several ways you can apply apple cider vinegar to the skin.
Apple Cider Vinegar Scrub
An apple cider vinegar scrub can help against impure skin. Place a damp, warm towel on your face for 2 minutes. Then mix the apple cider vinegar with some water and an unscented scrub and leave it on. After 10 minutes you can remove the cloth and rinse your face.
Apple cider vinegar conditioner for hair
Apple cider vinegar for hair has long been a hot tip. Apple cider vinegar is recommended for quickly greasy hair, dandruff, as well as dry and itchy scalp. Simply rinse your hair with some apple cider vinegar after washing it.
To do this, add a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to a cup of water in an empty shampoo bottle, shake well and then apply to the hair. Leave on for a short time and then rinse off with water.
Apple cider vinegar for sweat
A foot bath in apple cider vinegar is said to help against sweaty feet by killing the bacteria responsible for the smell of sweat. Additional salt can further support the effect. To do this, mix a cup of apple cider vinegar and water with a little salt and soak your feet in it for 5 to 15 minutes.
Apple cider vinegar for athlete's foot
A foot bath with apple cider vinegar is also said to help against athlete's foot. The effect of apple cider vinegar against athlete's foot has not yet been scientifically proven, but according to people's experiences it is helpful.
An apple cider vinegar rinse is great for an itchy scalp and dandruff.
Which alternative home remedies cleanse the skin?
There are also some other home remedies to improve your complexion. Below we have compiled some of them in a table:
| home remedies | Description |
|---|---|
| Sea Salt Milk Scrub | You can effectively prevent blackheads with a homemade sea salt and milk scrub. The sea salt removes all sorts of impurities from your skin. If you tend to have dry skin, you can use nutrient-rich curd instead of milk. |
| baking soda | Baking soda will help you remove blackheads and get rid of dirt. The baking soda narrows the pores and makes it harder for debris to accumulate. Use a moisturizing cream after the baking soda, otherwise your skin will dry out. |
| Honey | Honey, like apple cider vinegar, is anti-inflammatory.(10) This makes it good for inflammation, wounds, and as a face mask for sensitive skin. Honey, which contains all kinds of minerals and vitamins such as magnesium or zinc, supports skin renewal when used externally and thus ensures a fresh complexion. |
There are many other home remedies that can help you with your skin problems. Just try it out and find out which home remedies help your skin best.
Like apple cider vinegar, honey can have a soothing effect on the skin. (Posted image: Sophie Nengel/ Unsplash)
For whom is apple cider vinegar not suitable for the skin?
Apple cider vinegar is a natural product and freely available everywhere. So far, there are no known negative side effects. However, medical professionals advise against drinking undiluted apple cider vinegar.
The acetic acid it contains can attack the mucous membranes of the stomach. That's why you shouldn't drink too much apple cider vinegar at once. However, the following demographics are better off avoiding apple cider vinegar:
| People | reason for waiver |
|---|---|
| People with gastrointestinal diseases | Apple cider vinegar could attack the gastrointestinal tract and make the symptoms worse |
| People with low potassium levels | Apple cider vinegar slows down the absorption of potassium in the body. |
| diabetic | Blood sugar levels can be altered and apple cider vinegar can also interact with prescribed diabetes medications. |
Before taking apple cider vinegar for these population groups, a doctor should therefore always be informed in order to get far-reaching tips and assistance.
Conclusion
Overall, one can say that apple cider vinegar for the skin is still a very unexplored topic and one should therefore be more careful. Clinical studies are scarce and the positive properties reported are based on people's experiences. However, this does not mean that apple cider vinegar does not have these positive attributes, they just have not yet been proven by many studies.
Therefore, we would recommend that you simply test apple cider vinegar for the skin in a small dose on yourself. It is best to dilute the apple cider vinegar with water first and then observe how your skin reacts to the apple cider vinegar.
As presented in the magazine article, there are also numerous scrubs and baths that you can mix apple cider vinegar with. Just try it out! You may notice the positive properties mentioned and you have discovered a new home remedy that can help you in the fight against annoying skin problems in the future.
References
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- Yagnik D, Serafin V, Shah A J. Antimicrobial activity of apple cider vinegar against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans; downregulating cytokine and microbial protein expression. Sci Rep. 2018 Jan 29;8(1):1732. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-18618-x. PMID: 29379012; PMCID: PMC5788933.
- Ostman E, Granfeldt Y, Persson L, Björck I. Vinegar supplementation lowers glucose and insulin responses and increases satiety after a bread meal in healthy subjects. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2005 Sep;59(9):983-8. doi: 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602197. PMID: 16015276.
- Ozen B, Baser M. Vaginal Candidiasis Infection Treated Using Apple Cider Vinegar: A Case Report. Aging Ther Health Med. 2017 Dec;23(7):AT5751. Epub 2017 Nov 7. PMID: 29112940.
- Irmgard Höving(2012): APPLE VINEGAR – METABOLISM REGULATOR, ACTIVATOR AND PROVEN HOME REMEDY
- Burlando B, Cornara L. Honey in dermatology and skin care: a review. J Cosmetic Dermatol. 2013 Dec;12(4):306-13. doi: 10.1111/jocd.12058. PMID: 24305429.
