Ways People Use Apple Cider Vinegar For Psoriasis
Medically reviewed by Allison Truong, M.D.
Apple cider vinegar, the fermented juice of crushed apples, is a popular home remedy thats been used in cooking for hundreds of years. It contains acetic acid as well as nutrients like B vitamins and vitamin C, and its known for its antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. As such, its been anecdotally hailed as a treatment for many health issues and conditions, including psoriasis. Here, we explain three ways people use apple cider vinegar for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, and examine whether they really work.
Ways To Use Apple Cider Vinegar For Psoriasis
Its smelly. It stings. And its got slimy, cobweb-like gunk floating around in it. Yet its risen to folk remedy stardom in the past few years and its popularity shows no signs of slowing down.
What are we talking about? Apple cider vinegar, of course.
This Swiss army knife of superfoodsdrinks is credited with such a huge array of health benefits, it seems there is nothing it and its stinky kin cant do. It improves insulin sensitivity. It lowers blood sugar levels. It aids weight loss. It reduces blood pressure. It reduces the risk of heart disease. It can kill cancer cells.
But most importantly for us, it provides relief from psoriasis.
How? Truth be told, no one really knows for sure theres a real dearth of clinical studies detailing how or why ACV works for psoriasis, although theres anecdotal evidence galore. Stories from people whove benefited from adding ACV into their lives are abundant on Earth Clinic, CureZone, Inspire, and . Heres what theyre saying
Sreenivas says:
Cam says:
It is a long battle to beat psoriosis and I am not fully cured yet. What I can say is that I am winning one milimeter of healed skin at a time.
As a fellow psoriosis sufferer you you know how embedded this condition is and how hard it is to beat. However, I would say that ACV is the WEAPON OF CHOICE.
So how do you go about using apple cider vinegar to relieve your own psoriasis? Well, youve got several options
Apple Cider Vinegar Fights Inflammation
Acute vs chronic.
Acute inflammation aka short term inflammation is thought of as healthy inflammation because it is turned on when the body is suddenly damaged or imperil, such as injury or infection.
Acute inflammation serves to exterminate toxins, bacteria, and other foreign molecules when it is needed. And it deactivates when its services are no longer required. It will activate to do its task and then it will stop when it has completed its task.
Chronic Inflammation aka long term inflammation is the opposite of acute inflammation. It can be known as very troublesome.
Chronic Inflammation is a warning sign because its a symptom of something amiss, something very wrong. It is red, nasty, and very annoying, it likes to cause trouble and doesnt seem to be doing anything except making itself known, this can cause hundreds of conundrums in the body.
It starts a domestic fight with the bodys own tissue and doesnt stop, its just there causing violence. Chronic inflammation will continue to be activated because something in the body is causing it to react this way. Something is keeping chronic inflammation activated. Chronic inflammation will cause extreme problems if it is not dealt with.
The number one reason to use apple cider vinegar for psoriasis is it counters chronic inflammation by the way of alkalizing.
Over eating highly acidic foods can cause the body to be inflamed.
Apple cider vinegar has an acidic PH, but it still alkalizes.
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How To Apply Acv To A Large Patch Of Psoriasis On Your Body
For large spots, soak a cotton ball in pure ACV and apply it to the area. Let it dry overnight and then rinse it off in the morning when taking a shower. You can also use the compression method.
Damp a clean cloth in warm water Mix a cup of ACV with two cups of warm water Place the fabric in the mixture and squeeze off the excess water Compress the warm clothing over the affected skin for about 20 to 30 seconds Repeat the process several times to relieve the itching
The vinegar improves the pH levels in your skin to reduce irritation
Be Careful About The Risk Of Using Apple Vinegar On The Scalp
Although made from natural ingredients, apple vinegar remains to be used carefully. Because, the use of apple vinegar careless can cause side effects that make the skin burn. It should be noted that Apple vinegar should not be used on the skin with open or bloody wounds. Because, acid content in apple vinegar can cause irritation and worsened psoriasis symptoms.
Too much use of apple vinegar can also cause a burning sensation on the skin. Not only that, the unsuitable use of apple cider vinegar can also trigger allergic reactions, such as difficulty breathing, rash or itching, dizziness, and increased heart rate. If you experience irritation, burning sensation, or persistent allergic reactions to the skin, immediately stop using apple vinegar and consult a doctor.
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Best Apple Cider Vinegar For Psoriasis
- At time of buying apple cider vinegar, you need to take care that you are buying the one which has mother of vinegar present in it.
- Well, mother of vinegar is actually a muddy looking grainy object which floats at the top of the bottle containing unfiltered as well as unpasteurized apple cider vinegar.
- Mother of vinegar is known to have all the essential nutrients as well as enzymes present in it, for treating psoriasis and many other health problems.
- Do not make the mistake of, buying a clear and filtered apple cider vinegar, and if you do so then be rest assured that it will not offer you any good result for your health condition.
Tips & Precautions:
- The moment you get the indication that you are having psoriasis then take advice of your dermatologist first.
- When the issue is of psoriasis then the condition will be different for different person and so specialist can tell which method and what proportion of apple cider vinegar will be right for you.
- Follow the instruction of your expert minutely as this will give you fast relief from the problem with use of apple cider vinegar.
- Buy the product from a reliable store and do check if it contains the mother of vinegar in it or not.
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Apple Cider Vinegar Removes Toxins
Also, used as a detox. Apple Cider Vinegar is well-known for removing toxins.
For thousands of years it has been utilized in many health related ways. Even in 400 BC, the famous Greek physician Hippocrates promoted its use.
Think of apple cider vinegar as an internal body cleanser. A healthy acid that scrubs the digestive track as well as the liver.
The liver, , its main job includes filtering blood exiting the digestive tract, then passing it to the rest of the body, could use a good flush now and then. Just as one would clean their air conditioner filter or shower filter.
The acid found in apple cider vinegar binds to excessive toxins in the body and removes them. Promoting healthy circulation and a detoxified liver.
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What Causes Scalp Psoriasis
Scalp and other forms of psoriasis occur when the immune system doesnt work properly. Skin cells grow too quickly, growing within days rather than weeks. The body cant shed these skin cells quickly enough to match the new growth. They pile up on the skins surface, causing psoriasis.
People with family members who have scalp psoriasis are more likely to have the condition themselves. Those with HIV, stress, obesity, and those who smoke are also more likely than others to have this condition.
Common triggers that set off or worsen flare-ups of scalp psoriasis include:
- infections, including strep throat or skin infections
- skin injuries, such as cuts, scrapes, insect bites, or severe sunburn
- stress
When To See A Doctor
If you suspect you have scalp psoriasis, you should schedule an appointment with a doctor. They may examine your scalp to rule out other conditions before sending you to a dermatologist for further evaluation and treatment.
If you dont already have a dermatologist, the Healthline FindCare tool can help you find a physician in your area.
Read Also: Is Psoriasis Hereditary From Parents
Question 1 Of : Does Apple Cider Vinegar Help With Psoriasis
Spritz On Some Apple Cider Vinegar Spray
How do you do it? You dont have to soak in a bath to get the benefits of ACV on psoriasis you can simply spritz in on your red, flaky areas to get its antiseptic, pH-balancing, itch-relieving qualities quick. Just keep in mind that ACV is very acidic so you dont want to apply this directly to your skin it can burn! Instead, youll want to dilute the ACV at least 1:1 with water before using it on your skin.
Once diluted, pour it into a spray bottle so you can spritz your harder to reach areas or apply it on a cotton ball or pad and dab your infected areas with it. If your mixture is at a 1:1 ratio, youll want to wash it off after around half an hour but if you dilute it further , feel free to leave it on overnight.
Why is this great? ACV helps restore your skins natural pH balance to make it hostile to the growth of unwanted fungi and bacteria. It also promotes better blood flow in the small capillaries of the skin for faster healing as well as helps lift scales and relieve itching.
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Psoriasis Is A Debilitating Condition No Doubt But You Can Deal With The Symptoms On Your Own With A Few Home Remedies
Written by Jahnavi Sarma | Updated : July 31, 2020 10:14 AM IST
Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition that causes the immune system to over-produce skin cells. For people suffering from this condition, thick, red, scaly, itchy plaques are a common occurrence. This condition can take a toll on a person’s overall quality of life. According to researchers of the Psoriasis Research Unit at Baylor Research Institute in Dallas, there is a need for psoriasis to be viewed as a serious disease affecting the whole body with significant quality of life issues. They say that, in the past, psoriasis was viewed primarily as a cosmetic nuisance that was not thought to extend beyond the obvious plaques apparent on the skin. But with the discovery of multiple genes related to this condition, a better understanding of the immune system responses involved in this disease, and the frequent associations with other serious diseases, it is now clear that psoriasis is a much more complex disease that demands continual monitoring and evaluation by a dermatologist.
This is a debilitating condition, no doubt. But you can deal with the symptoms on your own with a few home remedies.
The Natural Way To Control Your Psoriasis
As you may have guessed, I do not believe in using the above conventional methods to treat your psoriasis. If you are reading this blog then you have, like me, tried all the above to no avail.
They may give short term relief but never long term and that is why you must look at your overall lifestyle to discover what your psoriasis triggers are and then put in place a plan to avoid those triggers.
The Smart Psoriasis Diet Plan looks are three key areas to improve your psoriasis once and for all. These are:
- Vitamin D Levels
- Diet & Supplements
- Stress Management
To read exactly how I got my psoriasis under control after 16 years of struggling, please download my free Smart Psoriasis Diet Plan eBook.
If it worked for me, then why can it not work for you?
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Apple Cider Vinegar In The Bath For Psoriasis
You can also use ACV in the bath, and this is a great way to treat your entire body or very large affected areas.Just add one to two cups of Braggs ACV to a bath of tepid water andsoak in the bath from 30 to 45 minutes. After you have had your bath, towel dry and moisturize your skin. You can read a lot more about what to do with your skin in Psoriasis What To Do With Your Skin.
How To Use Apple Cider Vinegar For Psoriasis
As we have already learnt, how effective Apple Cider Vinegar can be for psoriasis, using it differently and with other ingredients can increase its effectiveness to a decent extent. Using something and using it smartly are two different things.
Similarly only using apple cider vinegar and using it in a smart and more effective way are two different things. In this section, we will learn how to increase the effectiveness of Apple Cider Vinegar by using it with different other ingredients.
#1 Isolated Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is acidic in nature and using it alone can cause burning sensation in the skin. It is good to add a little amount of ACV to enough water.
- Take one glass of distilled water
- Add 23 tbsp. Of ACV into it.
- Mix it well by using a spoon.
- Consume every day before dinner.
Apple cider vinegar is acidic in nature and diluting it with water can balance its acidity. It is known for making the pH of the body more alkaline. It can improve the digestive functions, can kill all the toxins present in the blood. More importantly, it can purify the blood and hence can improve skin condition.
ACV can also reduce the itching around the surface affected with psoriasis. It contains vitamins A, B1, B6 and C, minerals like potassium and iron, as well as alpha- hydroxy acids. Due to all these vitamins and minerals, it can immensely exfoliate the top layers of skin.
#2 ACV with Baking Soda
#3 Olive Oil and Apple Cider Vinegar for Scalp Psoriasis
#4 ACV with Glycerin
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Is Apple Cider Vinegar Good For Psoriasis
ACV is an excellent disinfectant and can be very helpful in treating different skin conditions. It is very effective in psoriasis as well. Lets try to understand why and how using Apple Cider Vinegar for Psoriasis is a great idea.
1. A great antiseptic
Apple cider vinegar is an excellent antiseptic and can combat different types of unhealthy skin conditions. In cases of psoriasis, it can reduce the inflammation, itching and irritation caused due to psoriasis. By reducing all these skin conditions, it can be very handy to aid in fighting psoriasis. Because psoriasis is not easy at all to treat and constant itching with nails or other pointed substances can certainly halt the progress of healing.
2. Supports Immune System
As we have already learnt, one of the most important causes of psoriasis is an autoimmune condition, repairing immune system can be the smart option. By improving the immune system, we can definitely reduce one of the principal causes of psoriasis and hence can get rid of psoriasis. Apple Cider Vinegar has been proved as an excellent supporter of the immune system. Its constant use can surprisingly improve the conditions of the immune system and hence can be very effective in psoriasis.
3. A very powerful disinfectant
4. Proven Blood Purifier
5. Can Reduce the Itching
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Natural Remedies For Psoriasis Relief
If you suffer from psoriasis, you are far from alone. There are around 7.5 million people in the United States who have it, and over 100 million around the world. Psoriasis causes dry and rough skin on different areas of your body such as hands, lips, mouth, feet, ears, scalp, nails, elbows, and eyelids. These areas can be itchy, sore, and downright uncomfortable when severe.
There is no cure for psoriasis, and the best way to manage and control your symptoms is to see a physician, who can recommend medications and other treatment options to calm the inflammation, ease pain and itching, and reduce redness of psoriatic skin. However, if you are looking for a more holistic approach for relief, there are a number of natural remedies that may help relieve symptoms in the meantime.
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Apple Cider Vinegar For Psoriasis
Yesterday was a really rough day for my poor face! So Im very thankful that the Apple Cider Vinegar helped as much as it did!. last night I drank an apple cider vinegar tea I had a super bad flare on my face after having ONE alcoholic drink Saturday night. So I tried the apple cider vinegar for the first time, and today my face is almost completely clear!!! I think I will start drinking this nightly, and see if it continues to help clear me up!
I was completely shocked when I woke up today! Yes, I am going to keep drinking it and hope it continues to heal me, but I am so happy, Im completely an apple cider vinegar advocate at the moment !
I just brewed a cup of hot water in my coffee maker, add a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, and about a teaspoon or so of honey for taste. The apple cider vinegar is harsh, so the honey helps cut that down some.
Also, these are the products I use on my face for psoriasis. I was using Green Roads CBD gummies for my anxiety. Both of these brands are very well known and trusted.