Today, many are switching to natural home remedies in an attempt to save some money by buying those expensive skin solutions that claim to cure acne but never delivered on their promises. There is a growing trend of awareness among the community to opt for natural treatments and it is definitely bad news for commercial skin markets.
There are quite a few natural home remedies available. Among one of them is apple cider vinegar. You’ve probably read quite a few articles on using apple cider vinegar as a cure for acne in adults. Does this really work? How true is it? I hope this article can dispel some misconceptions about this natural home remedy, if there are any.
What is apple cider vinegar?
Apple cider vinegar also known as (ACV) is an effective natural agent to fight bacteria that has many elements such as calcium, potassium, magnesium, chlorine, sodium, iron, sulfur, etc. All of these elements are vital to a healthy body, especially to promote healthy skin development. These antibacterial properties make it a good topical acne home remedy.
The main ingredient in ACV is acetic acid. It helps exfoliate dead skin cells gently, kills propionibacterium acnes bacteria, which are generally known as P-acnes, and neutralizes sebum, which is the oily substance that P-acnes thrives on and thrives on.
How is apple cider vinegar made?
Apple cider vinegar is obtained by fermenting apple cider or apple wort made from crushed organic apples. Just FYI, fermentation means an act of conversion. Organic apples have some type of bacteria and yeast on their skin. So when they are crushed, you get pure apple juice with a mixture of bacteria and yeast.
After which you let it mature for a while. During this process, yeast and bacteria break down the sugar in apple cider, which is converted into alcohol. It’s more like a brewing process that eventually turns into vinegar after a second fermentation.
If you don’t have all the time or resources to make one at home, you can easily buy ACV at any department store. First, be sure to get organic ACV labeled “With the mother” with an ideal acidity (pH) level of five to seven. This means that it is in a pure, raw form, characterized by a dark, cloudy, web-like bacterial foam that is brown in color.
Benefits of apple cider vinegar for your skin
ACV contains acids, one of which is alpha-hydroxy acid that is extracted directly from apples. These acids help dissolve oil and sebum that clog pores and eventually unclog them. This will stimulate skin renewal.
It is known to cure pet allergies, food and environmental pollution, high cholesterol, flu, chronic fatigue, sinus infections, sore throat, arthritis, and gout, just to name a few.
However, its most popular benefit is associated with weight loss. ACV is known to break down fat, and a daily dose of apple cider vinegar in water helps keep high blood pressure under control in just two weeks.
It also helps regulate your skin’s pH by simply diluting it with two parts water and spreading the concoction over your face using a cotton ball as a toner overnight and washing it off the next morning. Note that you dilute it with larger portions of water, as it will leave it on your skin for long hours.
It also helps to lighten age spots by applying ACV directly to them for about twenty minutes a day, depending on their size. In addition, it also helps cleanse your liver by getting rid of accumulated toxins and recharging its effectiveness.
How to use apple cider vinegar for acne?
The use of this varies depending on the severity of your acne. Most of the time, users dilute it with water and apply it with a cotton ball to their spots, as it seems to work very well. ACV is considered a good substitute for antibiotics, as it helps treat bacterial infections.
You can probably use apple cider vinegar in two ways; one as an internal tonic and as a topical antibacterial solution.
Follow these steps and you may see some considerable results. First, put three tablespoons of ACV into a bottle of water and mix well. Then apply it to your face with a cotton ball as an astringent.
Try using three different cotton balls on your face. Use one for the forehead, one for the cheeks and nose, and one for the chin. If you have a particular oily nose, use a separate one for that. This is to prevent the spread of bacteria from one place to the entire face, which would eventually cause more breakouts in other areas of the face. Although this is quite rare, it is better to be safe than sorry.
Leave it for about ten to fifteen minutes and rinse well with warm water. Then use a clean, soft towel to pat your skin dry. Repeat this procedure three times a day for maximum effect. For those who have severe forms of acne infection, you can apply a lower dose of ACV diluted with three or four parts of water and leave it overnight to do its job and wash it off the next day with lukewarm water.
Remember to use a lower concentration of ACV if you want to apply it and leave it on the skin for longer periods.
Another thing you can do is drink it with water with a few tablespoons as a tonic every morning. This helps prevent acne breakouts, reduce infections, and dry out inflammations. The only thing to keep in mind is that it may not taste nice at all. Try to drink it like water and you will be fine.
If you have some really annoying prominent pimples, I would recommend mixing one part ACV with three parts water and applying it on the pimple. Leave it there for about fifteen minutes and wash it off with warm water.
Some tips and warnings
Never try to apply ACV undiluted to your face as cases of skin damage, irritations and burns have been reported. So be careful when using this remedy, especially for those who have sensitive skin.
Always use raw, unfiltered, and unpasteurized apple cider vinegar. This will give you the best results.
ยท After using apple cider vinegar, dab some tea tree oil on your acne. Tea tree oil works wonders to heal the skin.
If you are allergic to apples, apple cider vinegar is not for you.
Do not use it in combination with other acne medications. This will lead to complications and excessive dryness of the skin.
When applying ACV, it is best to start with the weaker four-part water combinations. If you are comfortable with it, try to get stronger mixes. That means reducing the amount of water.
Tingling sensations are quite normal while using ACV, but if you start to experience some burning sensations, immediately rinse it off with cold water.
Rounding up and my conclusion
Everything about the apple cider vinegar has been quite positive except for the astringency of the vinegar that you should be careful when applying it to your face. I would recommend starting with a lower dose and then moderating it to a higher concentration as you adapt to the topical solution.
It is normal to feel a tingling sensation, as it is an indication that it is working. However, if you start to experience any burning effects, wash it off immediately and reduce the ACV concentration. For best results, use a water-based skin moisturizer to apply to the skin after each ACV treatment. This is to prevent your skin from becoming too dehydrated due to the astringent characteristics of ACV.
I would like to point out that although apple cider vinegar can remove some bacteria from the surface of the skin, it is not a long-term solution that can really attack acne at its roots. There are many causes of acne and bacteria are one of them.
It is more or less suitable for those who have mild to moderate acne and could see results in just a couple of weeks. In severe cases, healing may take a long time. Be patient and you will rule the world! The good thing is that you are doing it naturally and definitely without burning your pockets in the process.
It makes sense to try this inexpensive home remedy before switching to more expensive products. Even if you need to, the severity of your acne condition would have improved and you wouldn’t have to spend a lot of time undergoing any medical procedures set out for you by any dermatologist.
