Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsApple Cider Vinegar and EczemaBenefits and RisksWhen to Seek TreatmentFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Apple Cider Vinegar and Eczema
Benefits and Risks
When to Seek Treatment
Frequently Asked Questions
There is no cure foreczema, but there are treatments available to help manage symptoms. Treatments can include over-the-counter (OTC) remedies, prescription medications, or complementary or alternative therapies.
One alternative therapy isapple cider vinegar. Read more about how this treatment works, if it is effective, and how to use apple cider vinegar to treat eczema.
Roughly 50% of people living with eczema report using alternative or complementary treatments to help manage their condition.
Some people with eczema use apple cider vinegar to help with their symptoms.
Apple cider vinegar is a kind of fermented apple juice. Fermentation turns fruit sugars into alcohol, then bacteria turn the alcohol into acetic acid. This is why apple cider vinegar has a strong smell and sour taste.
Apple cider vinegar has been used as a home remedy since the days of ancient Greece, when it was used to disinfect wounds.
However, there is little scientific evidence proving the efficacy or health benefits of using apple cider vinegar.
It is possible apple cider vinegar may be helpful for eczema, in theory.
6 Potential Side Effects of Apple Cider Vinegar
The Skin Barrier
There are a number of factors that can alter the skin’s pH level, including:
The reason apple cider vinegar could work for eczema, in theory, is because it is a form of mild acid. It’s possible it could help even out the skin’s pH level and return it to a natural level.
The Benefits and Risks of Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar has been used as an alternative treatment for eczema for decades. This is because:
However, apple cider vinegar should never be applied directly to the skin. When used to treat eczema, it is applied to the skin in diluted form—typically in a bath.
Anecdotally, members of the National Eczema Association have reported that apple cider vinegar baths are soothing to the skin and boost moisture levels in the skin.
Verywell / Theresa Chiechi
However, apple cider vinegar has not been proven to be an effective treatment for eczema and may even carry some risks. A 2019 study found that a diluted apple cider vinegar bath not only didn’t improve the skin barrier in people with eczema, but it was also associated with skin irritation.
A 2021 study found that a daily bath in a 0.5% apple cider vinegar solution was not effective at altering the bacterial microbiome of the skin in people with eczema.
Apple cider vinegar also carries some risks if it is consumed. The high acidic content of apple cider vinegar can cause damage if used in large quantities, including damage to the mouth, throat, kidneys, and stomach. Apple cider vinegar may also be harmful to pregnant women if consumed in large quantities.
7 Science-Backed Apple Cider Vinegar Skin Benefits
Eczema can cause uncomfortable or even painful symptoms. You should contact your healthcare provider if you have any new symptoms, or if your symptoms get worse.
Before starting any new treatments or home remedies for eczema, including apple cider vinegar–based treatments, you should speak with your doctor.
A Word From Verywell
Some people report an improvement in their symptoms from apple cider vinegar, but there is no scientific evidence supporting its efficacy. If you are considering trying apple cider vinegar for eczema, you should speak with your healthcare provider.
Can you use apple cider vinegar in the bath to treat eczema?
Maybe. Those living with eczema may find home remedies like baths helpful in treating their symptoms. Some people with eczema report that an apple cider vinegar bath helps improve their skin, but there is limited scientific evidence to support the efficacy of this treatment option in people with eczema.
How long does it take apple cider vinegar to treat your skin?
There are no scientific studies that have proven that apple cider vinegar is effective at treating skin in eczema.
Anecdotal evidence from some people with eczema suggests soaking in an apple cider vinegar bath for 15 minutes can help soothe and moisturize the skin.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Eczema Association.What is eczema?National Eczema Association.Complementary, integrative and alternative medicine 101.National Eczema Association.Tips for using baths to manage eczema symptoms from the NEA community.National Eczema Association.Get the facts: Apple cider vinegar.National Eczema Association.6 ways to manage your eczema without breaking the bank.Luu, LA, Flowers, RH, Kellams, AL, et al.Apple cider vinegar soaks [0.5%] as a treatment for atopic dermatitis do not improve skin barrier integrity.Pediatr Dermatol. 2019; 36: 634– 639. doi:10.1111/pde.13888Luu LA, Flowers RH, Gao Y, Wu M, Gasperino S, Kellams AL, et al. (2021).Apple cider vinegar soaks do not alter the skin bacterial microbiome in atopic dermatitis.PLoS ONE16(6): e0252272. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0252272Johns Hopkins Medicine.Eczema.National Eczema Association.Bathing, moisturizing and wet wraps.
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Eczema Association.What is eczema?National Eczema Association.Complementary, integrative and alternative medicine 101.National Eczema Association.Tips for using baths to manage eczema symptoms from the NEA community.National Eczema Association.Get the facts: Apple cider vinegar.National Eczema Association.6 ways to manage your eczema without breaking the bank.Luu, LA, Flowers, RH, Kellams, AL, et al.Apple cider vinegar soaks [0.5%] as a treatment for atopic dermatitis do not improve skin barrier integrity.Pediatr Dermatol. 2019; 36: 634– 639. doi:10.1111/pde.13888Luu LA, Flowers RH, Gao Y, Wu M, Gasperino S, Kellams AL, et al. (2021).Apple cider vinegar soaks do not alter the skin bacterial microbiome in atopic dermatitis.PLoS ONE16(6): e0252272. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0252272Johns Hopkins Medicine.Eczema.National Eczema Association.Bathing, moisturizing and wet wraps.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Eczema Association.What is eczema?National Eczema Association.Complementary, integrative and alternative medicine 101.National Eczema Association.Tips for using baths to manage eczema symptoms from the NEA community.National Eczema Association.Get the facts: Apple cider vinegar.National Eczema Association.6 ways to manage your eczema without breaking the bank.Luu, LA, Flowers, RH, Kellams, AL, et al.Apple cider vinegar soaks [0.5%] as a treatment for atopic dermatitis do not improve skin barrier integrity.Pediatr Dermatol. 2019; 36: 634– 639. doi:10.1111/pde.13888Luu LA, Flowers RH, Gao Y, Wu M, Gasperino S, Kellams AL, et al. (2021).Apple cider vinegar soaks do not alter the skin bacterial microbiome in atopic dermatitis.PLoS ONE16(6): e0252272. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0252272Johns Hopkins Medicine.Eczema.National Eczema Association.Bathing, moisturizing and wet wraps.
National Eczema Association.What is eczema?
National Eczema Association.Complementary, integrative and alternative medicine 101.
National Eczema Association.Tips for using baths to manage eczema symptoms from the NEA community.
National Eczema Association.Get the facts: Apple cider vinegar.
National Eczema Association.6 ways to manage your eczema without breaking the bank.
Luu, LA, Flowers, RH, Kellams, AL, et al.Apple cider vinegar soaks [0.5%] as a treatment for atopic dermatitis do not improve skin barrier integrity.Pediatr Dermatol. 2019; 36: 634– 639. doi:10.1111/pde.13888
Luu LA, Flowers RH, Gao Y, Wu M, Gasperino S, Kellams AL, et al. (2021).Apple cider vinegar soaks do not alter the skin bacterial microbiome in atopic dermatitis.PLoS ONE16(6): e0252272. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0252272
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Eczema.
National Eczema Association.Bathing, moisturizing and wet wraps.
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