Why You Shouldn’t Use Apple Cider Vinegar On Your Skin

According to many internet sources, apple cider vinegar is constantly being promoted as an ancient remedy that has been used as a cure by many cultures and has stood the test of time.

Some even go as far as calling it the “golden nectar” or the “miracle ingredient” for all health-related problems you may be experiencing at some point in your life.

Many sources claim that because apple cider vinegar is a natural ingredient, it has very little to no side effects. Which I personally struggle to believe in.

People claim that apple cider vinegar can be the one ingredient to naturally treat your acne breakouts and achieve perfect, glowing skin in the process.

Due to its composition, it is claimed that apple cider vinegar has many potential benefits for the skin. Apple cider vinegar contains antibacterial and antifungal properties and can help kill bacteria and yeast on the skin.

Yes, apple cider vinegar is an acid, and it can kill bacteria. However, most of these antibacterial and antifungal actions were mostly studied in a test tube.

Let’s look into some points on why you shouldn’t apply apple cider vinegar to your skin.

What Is Apple Cider Vinegar?

Apple cider vinegar is made by fermenting the sugars from apples.

Apples are combined with yeast which then converts the sugar in the apples into alcohol. Bacteria are added to this mix, which ferments the alcohol into acetic acid.

Acetic acid is the active ingredient in vinegar and it is classified as a weak acid, but it has very strong acidic properties when concentrated.

In addition to acetic acid, vinegar contains water and small amounts of other amino acids, vitamins B1, B2, B6 and vitamin C and minerals such as potassium, sodium, phosphorus, calcium, iron, and magnesium.

Apple cider vinegar can actually be an effective and natural way to preserve your food from becoming contaminated with pathogens.

The Benefits Of Consuming Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is claimed to lead to all sorts of health benefits in the natural health community. Some of the benefits that are supported by science are the following:

Reduces Blood Sugar and Insulin Levels

This is one of the most credible claims made for apple cider vinegar. A handful of studies have shown that vinegar reduces blood sugar and post-meal high insulin levels.

Pretty much everyone can benefit from keeping their blood sugar levels in check. The most effective way to do that is to avoid refined carbs and sugar.

But a published study showed that daily ingestion of vinegar reduced high blood sugar and insulin levels and improved hormonal profile.

Acetic acid (the acid found in vinegar) can slow stomach emptying and interfere with enzymes that digest carbohydrates.

As a result, carbohydrates eaten with vinegar enter the bloodstream more slowly, reducing blood sugar and insulin levels.

For these reasons, vinegar in small doses can be useful for people with diabetes and high blood pressure.

It May Help You Lose Weight and Body Fat

Results from this human study indicate that apple cider vinegar may have some positive effects on weight and body fat loss.

According to this study, 1 or 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to your diet can help you lose weight and reduce your body fat percentage.

Several other studies have shown that vinegar can increase fullness and help you eat fewer calories that will essentially lead to pounds lost on the scale.

3 Side Effects of Using Apple Cider Vinegar

With a few health benefits that are supported by human studies, many other people have raised concerns about the safety of apple cider vinegar and its potential side effects.

Erosion of Tooth Enamel

High acidic levels in foods and beverages have shown to damage tooth enamel, give a yellowish tinge to your teeth, and increase dental sensitivity.

Sore Throat

Many people have expressed their concerns that due to oral overuse of apple cider vinegar for various reasons led them to have sore throat and irritations.

This is mainly due to the presence of acetic acid in apple cider vinegar.

Decreased Bone Density/Bone Loss

The excessive use of apple cider vinegar can reduce the bone’s mineral density, which may weaken the bones and make them brittle.

Why You Should NOT Use Apple Cider Vinegar On Your Skin

One of the biggest misconceptions that people have about skincare is that natural is always better.

This is due to the acid in the vinegar being too strong to be applied directly on the skin and can act as a harsh remover of the skin’s protective barrier.

This can be the cause of chemical burns and severe irritation which may lead to scarring.

Being an acid, apple cider vinegar does have keratolytic effects. This means that it can break the bonds between dead skin cells and unclog the pores.

It may be able to help with dandruff as well as control acne-causing bacteria on the skin.

That said, it has never been tested in humans, and although acetic acid is classified as a “weak acid” it excels in being too strong to be used on the skin.

There have been reports of diluted apple cider vinegar helping with acne when applied to the skin as a toner, but there is not enough evidence or strong research studies to confirm this.

Until there is sustainable evidence that confirms it is safe to be used as a spot treatment on the skin, apple cider vinegar should never be considered a treatment of choice.

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While all vinegar may be somewhat helpful in controlling blood sugar and insulin levels, they are primarily known as a food ingredient, not skincare medicine.

Apple cider vinegar should never be put directly on the skin. If used topically, it needs to be diluted before being used as a spot treatment only.

Everyone may react differently to apple cider vinegar and it is of utmost importance that people who have sensitive skin take extra precautions when using this is a spot treatment.