Of course, there’s not a ton of research surrounding the ingredient—so much of the purported benefits are not study-backed as of yet. However, there’s some evidence that apple cider vinegar might help your skin and body in a few ways. Here, learn about six benefits you might get by soaking in a therapeutic apple cider vinegar bath: Research suggests apple cider vinegar may help. In a 2018 study2, scientists found that the vinegar can inhibit growth of C. albicans in a petri dish. It works by destroying the fungus’ cell structure, along with certain enzymes it needs to survive. Though the experiment involves a dish instead of humans, the results are promising. It’s worth dipping into an apple cider vinegar bath if you have a fungal skin infection. According to Kate Denniston, N.D., a licensed naturopathic doctor and founder of Los Angeles Integrative Health, apple cider vinegar may also manage acne by balancing your skin’s pH. “Bacteria are capable of thriving on alkaline (high pH) skin, making us more prone to breakouts,” she explains. “Diluted apple cider vinegar can bring down the skin’s pH and balance our natural barrier to protect against bacteria.” This effect on pH might also help your skin’s natural defenses. Normally, our sweat contains antimicrobial molecules called dermicidin and nitrites. But according to a 2017 study4, their activity decreases as skin pH increases. By mixing apple cider vinegar into your bath, you can lower your skin’s pH and make it easier for dermicidin and nitrites to do their thing. So, remember that natural skin barrier? It needs an acidic (low) pH not only to protect against bacteria but to retain moisture too. However, scientists have found5 that people with eczema tend to have higher skin pH levels than those without. Plus, in folks who do have eczema, skin lesions usually have a higher pH than unaffected skin. Studies have shown that lowering the pH reduces the inflammatory TH2 response and speeds up barrier function recovery6, both of which are key drivers in eczema. Theoretically, apple cider vinegar could help soothe eczema by lowering skin pH. And while scientists haven’t specifically tested it out, the National Eczema Association says it has potential. An apple cider vinegar bath may be just what you need to naturally control eczema flare-ups. Take a dip in an apple cider vinegar bath. As a natural antibacterial, the remedy may keep odor-causing microbes in check. Additionally, by decreasing your skin’s pH, it could make your skin a less desirable environment for excess bacteria. Again, these benefits are hypothetical, as researchers haven’t studied how vinegar baths affect body odor. But if you’re looking for a natural way to deodorize, soaking in diluted apple cider vinegar might lend a hand. Yet, the only link between HPV and vinegar is seen in screening tests. The acetic acid in vinegar turns HPV lesions white, which makes them easier to notice. Despite the lack of evidence, many folks stand by apple cider vinegar as an anti-wart remedy. It’s typically diluted and applied to the wart or added to a bath. Either way, you’ll be glad to know that warts usually disappear on their own in a couple of weeks or months. Enter the pH-balancing properties of apple cider vinegar. “The acid mantle is the natural barrier on your skin [that’s] composed of natural oils,” says Denniston. “[But] as we get older, our skin becomes more alkaline, which weakens the ability of our acid mantle to protect against wrinkles.” She adds that an apple cider vinegar bath can lower skin pH on the whole body, making the skin less prone to future wrinkling. If apple cider vinegar doesn’t jibe with your skin, Denniston recommends trying jojoba oil in your bath instead.
