Apple Cider Vinegar Cure for Eczema

Hi! This is Susan from Chicago, I previously posted 8/7/2010 and wanted to update my post.... I have been eczema free since posting about my ACV use in 2010. My eczema was dyshidrotic (little blisters which would break and be raw, heal as severely dry skin and then start cycle again). I cannot stress enough how using the ACV topically CURED me (going on 3 years). After a month of application, I have not had to use it since. My life has changed. I can bathe my children, do dishes, see my patients without feeling embarassed. Please try it if you have dyshidrotic eczema, it can't hurt. I used plain old grocery store ACV 50/50 with distilled water twice a day for a month and the eczema I suffered with for 40 years is completely gone :)

ACV worked for my eczema. I applied it to the itchy rash on my hands and between my fingers and in a few days the rash was dried up and gone. Thank you for all your wonderful feedback and emails.

Apple Cider Vinegar for Excema/Dermatitis: I have never quite known the name of my skin problems, nor gotten a proper diagnosis. But here's the gist: severe itching of the hands, followed by small blisters, the blisters break, then the skin itself cracks and peels. Once the skin somewhat heals? Repeat cycle. This went on for 15 years, in varying degrees, with little respite-whenever I got rid of it for a short period of time, it would rear its ugly head again some time later. And it was ugly, believe me... Showing off your new engagement ring on a hand that looks like it was chewed by a dog detracts from your overall happiness in life. I'm not trying to be dramatic, it just really did suck.

About four years ago, I had gone a pretty significant length of time without any significant problems-then, one night, I awoke to the horrible itching in my hands, and by morning my hands were blistered and painful. That's when I got online, and discovered Earth Clinic-I was looking for ANYTHING that might help. The first remedy I tried was apple cider vinegar-I had some in my pantry already, and figured it wouldn't do any damage. On the contrary, it did wonders! I applied it directly to a cotton ball, which I then applied directly to my skin-it stung like a #$%@^, but seemed to immediately work. The blisters that had already cracked dried up, and the ones that had yet to open receeded. After applying the vinegar for several days, maybe a week, my skin showed no signs of distress. I haven't had an issue since then-if I see any kind of flare up, I apply the apple cider vinegar, and it immediately disappears.

I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease last year, which I now think was the possible cause of my skin problems. However, I went three years prior to my diagnosis with relatively no skin problems because of the apple cider vinegar. I recently began drinking a tablespoon in a glass of water twice daily, and I think it helps with digestion too. Try it... It certainly won't hurt, and you may be surprised at how well it works!

ACV saved my life. I had a very mild case of eczema over my body, but my face was a total disaster. After reading the above comments and replies, yesterday I bought an organic ACV with "mother" and applied 50/50 ratio on my face and hands. Overnight, the marks, the redness and itching has disappeared. I was soo happy when I looked at my face today morning, and believe me, I haven't felt happy like that in a long time. Unlike some commenters, it did not frizzle and hurt like hell (I dont know why) but agree with the smell factor. Since I have a very oily skin, I applied aloe right after instead of coconut oil. I think it soothed the skin a lot. I want to thank all of you for suggesting ACV.. It is definitely a gift from mother nature for all of us who suffer.... :)

I am so grateful for this wonderful website. Thank you so much! This site is truly an amazing resource.

Apple Cider Vinegar is amazing!

I have had constant eczema on my face for well over a month now which was spreading and looking very unsightly. I tried everything: applying topically very high concentration cortisone cream, coconut oil, aloe vera, E45 which is a cream that contains uric acid, bleach (which I do not recommend it just burnt my skin), salt, shea butter and more.

When I first tried the ACV it did not work because I applied it neat this burnt my skin too much. However I tried again this time I diluted 50% ACV and 50% water. When I first applied it in the evening my skin itched, tingled, the eczema turned red and patches even turned white and fizzled. I did this once more before going to bed. The next day it was a bit better but it appeared to have spread as if it was trying to escape the treatment. I almost gave up but did not I persevered and applied again that morning.

Once again the skin turned red and white patches sizzled. That day the eczema looked like it was slowly drying up although the skin was still red and irritated. Once again I did not know whether to continue. However I did and cotton-swabbed the mixture of ACV and water twice more onto the affected area. I also cleaned my face with the leftovers, using it as a toner and noticed my complexion looked brighter.

This morning on the third day of this ACV treatment the eczema is much improved. It has not disappeared as yet but it is so much better and I can see the treatment is working and slowly but surely drying out my eczema! Very happy and relieved.

Of course I am aware that eczema is caused by underlying internal problems so I am not only treating externally but getting to the root of the problem. I had been on a detox diet and when I stopped this the eczema came back so now I know I have to cut out all wheat, dairy, gluten, eggs, sugars (apart from a few berries), red meat and limit citrus fruits as oranges and lemons can also cause eczema. I will eat a diet rich in vegetables in order to keep my system alkaline.

Thanks again earth clinic for another amazing remedy! This is the best site ever.

I've had moderate eczema since I was 2 years old. By the age of 12, with the help of prescription creams, it had been cleared from all parts of my body, except... my face! I'm 22 now.

For the last 10 years, the only place I had eczema was my face, out of all the places it could be! And it was very stubborn, there was nothing I could do to clear it. I have naturally dark skin ( I am of Indian origin) and so the marks on my face were quite dark ( on anglo/white skin they are red) and prominent. I suffered from low self confidence because of this, and was desperate to find a solution, and tried almost every cream the doctor had prescribed.

After many years of trial and error, and this wonderful website, I've found something that works for me and thought that I should share :)

Firstly, eliminate or drastically reduce sugar in your diet. Sugar is white poison they say... Also look out for it in processed foods - you'll be surprised at how much is hidden in there. I also have eliminated dairy from my diet, due to having a mild allergy to it.

On the days I eat lots of sugar, my eczema flares up. I have noticed this time and time again. Eat a healthy balanced diet, with lots of fruit, vegetables, grains, meat (if you aren't vegetarian) and legumes. Limit processed foods with sugar, additives, preservatives. And most importantly, stop the sugar!

I have also noted on many occasions, that drinking plenty of water every day significantly improves my eczema. So stay hydrated!

And the last and final thing, something you'll hear a lot about on this website: unfiltered oragnic apple cider vinegar (ACV). I have been using this for the last 6 weeks and the reults have been amazing, what a huge difference. My face is almost clear, after years of trying, I am so happy!

I consume ACV 3 times a day before each meal. 2 teaspoons dissolved in a glass of water each time. There are a range of benefits - look at this website for more info :)

I also started applying it topically on my face. Now some people mention immediate results from this, ie within 24 hours it has cleared. I had very stubborn eczema, the skin on parts of my face was dark, cracked, and rough, and had been so for many years.

I used a solution of 50% water and 50% ACV and applied it all over my face ( it is excellent as a general toner used daily, even if you don't have eczema). The first 3/4 times I used this solution it stung!!! The skin became irritated, darker, sore, itchier, and small white bubbles appeared under my skin, it looked terrible! My skin settled down after a few minutes, but the apperance hadnt changed. I did this routine for about 4 days, and my eczema patches became slightly worse ( or at least, they looked worse! ) but I persisted, and after a few more days my skin no longer became irritated, and the affected areas started to peel slowly, leaving healthier skin on the areas of my face where the eczema once was.

If I touch it right now, my whole face is smooth, no areas are cracked or sore. It hasn't healed 100%, but if before on a scale of 1 to 10, the eczema on my face was a 7, it is now a 2! Huge difference! I am so happy! The areas of my face that had eczema are still slightly darker than the rest of my face but this shoukd improve in time. In general the skin on my face is glowing too.

I just follow the ACV toner with a good, gentle moisturising cream/lotion. No harmful doctor's prescribed eczema creams with side effects, that have failed me over the years. Just simple, apple cider vinegar - make sure you buy unfiltered and organic!

So eat healthy, drink plenty of water, excercise, keep a positive attitude, and drink and apply topically ACV as per the instructions above.

Ezcema is also caused my stress, so keep a free mind. I'm also thinking of starting yoga soon

Good luck :) and thankyou to Earth Clinic and all its contributers!!

I have to give another resounding YES for the ACV Eczema remedy. I did a chemical peel to my face the other day which caused my eczema to flare up all over my face. It was extremely embarassing and I didn't go out yesterday during the 4th of July because of it. I was applying coconut oil to it regularly and while it helped, the eczema would flare up again a few hours later. I was at my wit's end.

After trying for a couple of days to treat it without success, I decided to try the ACV remedy. I just applied it full-strength on a cotton pad and swiped my face. OUCH! It was quite painful as some of the skin was broken. My face turned red and the eczema looked a lot more red, raised, and angry. I let it sit as long as I could stand it and then applied coconut oil on top of it to soothe the skin. I also took a tbsp of ACV in water internally to maximize the effect.

An HOUR later, the eczema was 85% gone. I couldn't believe it! I reapplied right before going to bed last night and this morning my face is 100% clear.

Another miracle of ACV! I can't live without this stuff.

It's a YEA for me. It all started with Sebhorrheic Dermatitis when I was in high school which caused flaking skin on the creases of my nose. Sometimes, there would also be on my eyebrows. This would usually make my skin red too.

Later on, I needed to go to the Dermatologist to get some treatment on acne as suggested by our university phsyician when I had my first annual physical exam in college. I went on some medication for acne. Later on, I asked for treatment on my drying skin too... Then came the hydrocortisone. It worked for a while. But later on, my skin would dry again.

I actually stopped with the acne meds since it seemed like my breakouts were under control already. For the drying skin problem, though, the meds were upgraded to Desonide cream, which is a stronger topical steroid cream. It worked so I stopped seeing my dermatogologist. I used it for about 8 months and then I decided to stop.

It was because it thought it was such a strong chemical and I wanted to take a ore natural route. In just 3 days, my face got terribly worse to the point where it would be embarrassing to go out of the house. The worst part is that I had to graduate college having that on my face.

At first, I was using coconut oil topically and internally. I only had minor relief from it. Later on, the drying and scaling came back again and it felt like days were just passing by with no progress. I started to research more on this condition and went through different words like staph infection, dermatitis, etc.

I finally came to the conclusion that this was eczema. I also decided to research more on what to do with it since VCO did not seem to budge anymore. I ordered different products like Sunflower Seed Oil and Flaxseed Oil. But I ended up using Apple Cider Vinegar.

I did the internal and external way again. The first two times I put it on my face, it really burned! And I felt like it was a good thing because at least something was happening. After 2-3 days, all the dryness have already fallen down. It was one of the best times of my life! It even happened during New Year's Eve. Haha.

Now, it's already about 4 months since I have been freed from that torture. I still use the ACV both ways. I have no problem with depending on it because it is organic. I don't drink too much of it though because it is said to be able to cause problems when taken in excess.

The mark where the eczema once was could still be seen on my face. It's actually like a 5 o'clock shadow so it has the tendency to look natural --- optimistically. Sometimes, though, there would be a bit of mild flaking but still to a point where ACV could easily take over.

As for my hopes, it would be that it would never come back again. I also hope that the mark would eventually fade and match my natural skin tone. To those who are still going through this eczema, just try to beat I with ACV! I have a good feeling it really is designed for it. :)

It's been more than a month now, and I've personally seen some significant improvements on my face. The flare ups are now very minimal and I can control them properly without using any steriods at all. This is actually my fourth day without any steriods.

So here's what I did:

1) I know this may be over the top, but I wash my face with distilled water to eliminate possible allergens using tap water. It did not do much during the first few days I started it, but it helped me factor out my reactions to stuff.

2) The moment I stopped using Cetaphil, which is my ONLY facial cleanser I use. My face improved tremendously. I dunno why though since Cetaphil is okay for sensitive skin.

3) I spray diluted ACV (just eyeball it not to be strong) on my face 2x a day. That's before I start my day and before I go to sleep. It smells a bit bad, but bearable. I'd rather have this than eczema. I let it air dry.

4) I use Physiogel AI Cream as a moisturizer. What it does is helps with the redness (AI == anti-inflammatory) and moistens your skin. I ordered Aveeno online, but it hasn't arrived yet. I'll probably try that sometime. My face has a bit of flakes, but it's not that noticeable anyway.

5) Continued eating healthy, drinking enough fluids, still taking the vitamins. I stopped going to the gym, since sweat or the stress in lifting weights do trigger the flare up, but I plan to go to the gym anytime soon, but gradually.

I hope this helps guys. Don't give up and try new things out (safe/natural of course). Cheers!

@Jay: I personally think it's okay, but make sure your hands are dry when you put on the moisturizing gloves.

For about 2 months I've had this large scaley dry patch of ezcema on my right upper arm. I didn't think anything of it for a few weeks, until I noticed it wasn't going away or getting any better. No amount of cortizone creams would help. Then I came across this website via YouTube and discovered the apple cider vinegar remedy. I went and purchased a bottle of pure raw and organic ACV (with mother) and began the ritual of drinking 2 tsp with 8 oz of water everyday and also dabbing the ACV straight on the inflamed patch of skin. Yes, it does burn at first, but this quickly subsides and after just 2 days the patch began to dry up and the dead skin cells started flaking off. I made sure to moisturize with a beeswax balm as well. I can that just after 4 days the ezcema is completely gone from my arm. The skin underneath the patch is a bit darker than the rest of my arm, but it is slowly fading and I'm sure it will be gone within a few weeks. So, yes folks ACV does work for eczema and apparently a host of other ailments. Nothing like mother nature!

Having an eczema flare up and the hydrocortisone cream isn't working, can't find what is left of my prednisone prescription [I am that desperate so I remembered the ACV cure I had started last summer. I took two tablespoons and within 15 minutes the itching is completely gone. I checked this site to find out if the dosage I took was correct and found this forum and thought I would give my testimonial for ACV. I use organic raw unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar from the health food store and keep it in the fridge. It was about 5.00$ for a Med. Size bottle. It helps A LOT! I am a total believer. I hope this helps a fellow sufferer find relief.

Hi! I am a 42-year-old female who has SUFFERED with eczema since infancy. My eczema has worsened since college, my hands are inflamed, cracked and bleeding almost year round. I have used every steroid cream, spray and tape on the market with only slight improvement. About 6 days ago I came across this site and read about ACV. I figured it could't hurt to try. I stopped ALL steroids and started applying a 50/50 ACV/distilled water solution once in the morning and once before bed (air dry) and continued using my prescription (steroid-free) moisturizer. After about 24 hours my eczema was about 75% clear. It is now completely gone. AMAZING. I am so happy. I am a healthcare provider and need to wash my hands between patients (about 10-15 a day)... This was murder on my eczema but now has been no problem. NOTE: on day 3 I got a little cocky and used the ACV full strength- not a good idea, my hands became somewhat irritated... Went back to a 50/50 solution. Those of you who have suffered as I have can understand my elation. I can't believe something so simple has worked so well after all these years of fighting...Thank you EarthClinic...If you too have severe eczema don't be skeptical....TRY THIS!

I'm a guy that suffered from moderate eczema on my face since puberty (40 now) - the sides of my nose, upper lip, chin, jaw and forehead. Have been using steroid creams, which work really well. But you can only get those on a doctor's prescription in most European countries. And those creams have side effects like thinning skin. I wanted to try a natural treatment. Since using ACV topically I've been 100% eczema free. It's been two years now. I use it as a skin tonic in the evening: 1/3 ACV, 2/3 purified water. Still very amazed that a natural remedy can have this strong an effect, and super happy that I no longer suffer from these embarrassing outbreaks in my face.

I had suffered badly from eczema when I was a baby. I had it on and off during my childhood and teens, but nothing too bad. In my twenties it was pretty much not there. Around three years ago (I'm in my early thirties now) it flared up in a big way. I had been trying to deal with it for the past three years and it was annoying but not debilitating. Then about 8 months ago it just started getting worse and worse to the point where I had to take time off work.

I tried cortisone cream and gave it up. I was moisturising with emollients all the time. I tried Chinese herbs and acupuncture, to no avail. Then I came across ACV here. From the first day I tried it I felt better -- I actually felt like a human being again. I was drinking two imperial tablespoons in hot water three times a day and putting it neat on my skin twice a day and letting it dry in and it felt great. I stopped using those horrible emollients which I finally realised are like plastic. I got some pure shea butter instead to put on my skin, as the ACV dried it out for the first two weeks or so and I thought it needed natural moisturisation.

After about two weeks it seemed that when I applied the ACV the eczema felt itchier immediately after (it stings also) but after half an hour that would go away. I could actually sleep through the night without being woken by it. And I felt better in many other ways too.

I've been using it now for the last two months and my eczema has got better and better to the extent that I can say it's cured my eczema. There are still patches that are dry and are prone to get a little bit itchy. So I'm continuing to take ACV, as well as eating well, drinking less alcohol and exercising more. I've been waiting for the day when I could write this, because my life was hell for a long time. Thanks earthclinic.

First I love love your site I have had a flare up of awful eczema like a beard on my face and have always took lecithin to hold this time i has not helped at all so I started half acv/water in a spray bottle in the shower just 5-10 seconds 6 days later gone I could swear my pores are smaller and my skin is glowing thank you thank you my brother also uses it for dry scalp