So, can you use apple cider vinegar for acne without ending up with redness, irritation or marks that look worse than the original breakout?
Apple cider vinegar is one of those home remedies that seems to appear everywhere. From hair rinses to digestive tonics, there is almost nothing it hasn’t been suggested for — and acne is no exception.
If you have a bottle sitting in your kitchen cupboard, you may have heard that a little diluted apple cider vinegar can dry out pimples, remove excess oil and even help prevent acne scars.
There is some logic behind the idea. Apple cider vinegar contains acetic acid and other naturally occurring acids, and vinegar has antimicrobial properties. However, that doesn’t automatically make it a good acne treatment.
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In fact, dermatologists warn that apple cider vinegar can be far too irritating for facial skin, particularly when it is applied neat or left on for a long period. There are even published medical reports of chemical burns caused by topical apple cider vinegar.
Learn more about Acne: Causes, Types, Treatments & How to Get Clearer Skin
Here’s what you need to know before reaching for the bottle.
Does Apple Cider Vinegar Actually Help Acne?
There isn’t strong clinical evidence showing that apple cider vinegar effectively treats acne.
The theory largely comes from the fact that ACV contains acids, particularly acetic acid, and has antibacterial properties. Since bacteria are one factor involved in acne, it might sound reasonable that vinegar could help.
Unfortunately, laboratory antibacterial activity doesn’t necessarily translate into an effective acne treatment.
Cleveland Clinic specifically notes that there is no evidence showing apple cider vinegar kills the acne-related bacterium Cutibacterium acnes when used as a skin treatment. It also warns that ACV’s acidity can cause burning, dryness and irritation.
That means I wouldn’t consider apple cider vinegar a replacement for established acne ingredients such as:
Salicylic acid
Benzoyl peroxide
Adapalene and other retinoids
Azelaic acid
These have considerably more research supporting their use for acne.
Why Does Apple Cider Vinegar for Acne Feel Like It Is Working?
One reason people become enthusiastic about ACV is that a pimple can sometimes appear flatter or drier after applying it.
Apple cider vinegar is highly acidic. Consequently, it can dry the surface of the skin and temporarily make an oily area feel less greasy.
But there is a major difference between drying a pimple out and actually treating the processes that cause acne.
Overdrying your skin can disrupt its protective barrier. Once that happens you may experience:
Stinging
Redness
Flaking
Increased sensitivity
Inflammation
Burning
More noticeable post-acne marks
Cleveland Clinic estimates the natural skin surface pH at around 4.5–5.5, while apple cider vinegar can have a pH around 2.5.
That difference helps explain why applying ACV directly to your face can feel surprisingly harsh.
Never Put Undiluted Apple Cider Vinegar on Acne
This is probably the most important rule in this entire article.
Don’t apply neat apple cider vinegar directly to a pimple.
You may find social media recipes suggesting putting undiluted vinegar onto a cotton bud and holding it against a blemish overnight.
That is precisely the sort of treatment I would avoid.
Medical literature includes reports of people developing chemical burns after topical use of apple cider vinegar.
And a chemical burn is hardly going to help if your aim is to get rid of acne without leaving scars or pigmentation behind.
I would also avoid:
Sleeping with ACV on your skin.
Covering ACV with a plaster or dressing.
Applying it to popped pimples.
Putting it on broken skin.
Applying it immediately after exfoliating.
Combining it with retinoids or strong exfoliating acids.
Applying it around your eyes.
Using it on already irritated skin.
A Gentler Apple Cider Vinegar Spot Treatment
Personally, I’d recommend choosing a clinically supported acne product instead.
However, if you’re determined to experiment with apple cider vinegar, keeping the concentration extremely weak and contact time short is much more sensible than putting neat vinegar on your face.
What You’ll Need
You’ll need:
Apple cider vinegar
Plenty of water
A clean cotton bud
A gentle moisturizer
Start with a very heavily diluted mixture rather than concentrated vinegar.
Patch-test the solution on a small area first and wait to see whether you experience redness, itching, burning or swelling.
If your skin reacts, don’t use it on your face.
If you do try it on a blemish, use only a tiny amount and rinse it away rather than leaving it on overnight.
Most importantly, stop immediately if it stings or burns.
A home treatment isn’t supposed to hurt.
Apple Cider Vinegar Toner for Acne
Homemade ACV toner recipes are extremely popular online, but I’m considerably more cautious about this one.
Using vinegar over your entire face exposes far more skin to potential irritation than treating one tiny area.
It can be particularly problematic if you’re simultaneously using an acne routine containing ingredients such as salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide or a retinoid.
In fact, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends gentle skin care for acne-prone skin and advises avoiding irritating toners and exfoliating products that dry the skin.
For that reason, I’d skip the homemade vinegar toner and choose a formulated product designed for acne-prone skin instead.
Can Apple Cider Vinegar Get Rid of Acne Scars?
This claim needs a little unpacking because we often call several very different things “acne scars.”
After a spot disappears you might be left with:
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation:
A flat brown, grey or darker mark.
Post-inflammatory erythema:
A pink or reddish mark.
Atrophic scars:
Indented scars such as ice-pick, rolling or boxcar scars.
Raised scars:
Thickened scars or keloids.
Apple cider vinegar isn’t an established treatment for true acne scars.
The American Academy of Dermatology explains that flat discoloration left after acne is often not actually a scar, while depressed and raised scars involve structural changes in the skin.
Treatments for genuine acne scarring can include professional chemical peels, microneedling, laser treatments, radiofrequency treatments, scar surgery and certain topical medications depending on the type of scar.
Apple cider vinegar can’t recreate those treatments safely at home.
ACV Could Actually Make Post-Acne Marks Worse
This is where the idea of using vinegar to prevent scars becomes particularly questionable.
Skin irritation creates inflammation.
And inflammation can contribute to lingering discoloration after a breakout, particularly in skin that is prone to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
Therefore, repeatedly burning or irritating a pimple with acidic vinegar could potentially leave you with the exact problem you were hoping to avoid.
Treating acne gently is a much better scar-prevention strategy.
The Best Way to Prevent Acne Scars
The single most effective strategy isn’t trying to fade scars after they’ve appeared.
It’s preventing severe acne and unnecessary skin damage in the first place.
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends treating acne early because controlling breakouts can reduce the risk of acne scars.
There are several habits that make a particularly big difference.
1. Don’t Pop Your Pimples
I know this is easier said than done.
That whitehead can look incredibly tempting.
But squeezing, scratching and picking increase inflammation and can push material deeper into your skin.
Dermatologists specifically warn that picking pimples increases the risk of both scarring and post-inflammatory dark spots.
Try a hydrocolloid pimple patch instead if you struggle to keep your hands away from spots.
2. Treat Acne Early
Don’t wait until mild acne turns into repeated inflamed breakouts.
Whiteheads, blackheads and mild pimples can often be managed with over-the-counter treatments.
Deep, painful acne needs more attention because nodules and cysts have a much greater potential to leave scars.
3. Use Gentle Skin Care
More exfoliation does not necessarily mean clearer skin.
I’d build an acne routine around:
Morning
Gentle cleanser
Acne treatment if appropriate
Lightweight moisturizer
Broad-spectrum SPF 30+
Evening
Gentle cleanser
Acne treatment
Moisturizer
Simple routines are often much kinder to inflamed skin.
4. Wear Sunscreen
Sunscreen doesn’t sooth acne, but it can help prevent post-acne discoloration from becoming more noticeable.
The AAD recommends broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher as part of skin care following acne-scar treatments.
For acne-prone skin, look for products labelled non-comedogenic or won’t clog pores.
5. Don’t Throw Five Treatments at One Pimple
This is another mistake I’ve made tempting myself with over the years.
A spot appears and suddenly we’re reaching for:
Salicylic acid
Retinol
Clay masks
Scrubs
Toothpaste
Vinegar
Tea tree oil
All on the same evening.
Your skin doesn’t know you’re trying to help.
It just knows it’s being attacked.
Introduce treatments gradually and give them time to work.
Better Alternatives to Apple Cider Vinegar
If the whole reason you’re considering ACV is that you want an inexpensive acne treatment, there are much better researched alternatives.
Salicylic Acid
Salicylic acid penetrates oily pores and helps loosen accumulated dead skin cells.
It’s particularly useful for:
Blackheads
Whiteheads
Mild clogged pores
Benzoyl Peroxide
Benzoyl peroxide works against acne-related bacteria and can be particularly helpful for inflamed spots.
Lower concentrations can sometimes provide acne benefits with less irritation than stronger products.
Adapalene
Adapalene is a topical retinoid that helps prevent blocked pores and future breakouts.
Retinoids require patience and can initially cause dryness or irritation, so they should be introduced gradually.
Azelaic Acid
Azelaic acid is another interesting option because it can help with acne while also improving the appearance of post-inflammatory pigmentation.
That makes it especially worth considering if you’re concerned about the marks left behind after your spots heal.
What About Cystic Acne?
Apple cider vinegar isn’t an appropriate treatment for deep cystic acne.
Cystic or nodular acne develops deeper within the skin than your average whitehead.
These breakouts can be:
Large
Swollen
Painful
Long-lasting
Difficult to treat
Particularly prone to scarring
The AAD recommends seeing a dermatologist when you have large, painful pimples deep in the skin or acne that is leaving scars, because ordinary shop-bought treatments may not be sufficient.
This is definitely not the time to try burning the surface of the spot with vinegar.
When Should You Stop Home Treatments?
There comes a point when experimenting with another DIY acne treatment isn’t helping.
Consider speaking to a dermatologist or other healthcare professional if:
You regularly develop cysts or nodules.
Your acne is painful.
You’re developing scars.
Breakouts suddenly become much more severe.
Acne isn’t responding to over-the-counter treatment.
Your skin is becoming infected.
Breakouts are significantly affecting your confidence or wellbeing.
You’re unsure whether what you’re experiencing is actually acne.
Other conditions — including folliculitis and perioral dermatitis — can sometimes resemble acne and require different treatment.
What If Apple Cider Vinegar Has Burned My Skin?
If you’ve already applied ACV and your skin is extremely red, painful, blistered or peeling, stop using it.
Gently rinse the product away with plenty of cool or lukewarm water and avoid applying additional acids, retinoids, scrubs or harsh acne products to the damaged area.
Significant blistering, severe pain, swelling, eye exposure or a burn that isn’t settling should be assessed by a healthcare professional.
And resist the urge to peel damaged skin.
The goal now is protecting the skin barrier so it can heal.
The Pros and Cons of Apple Cider Vinegar for Acne
Possible Pros
Inexpensive.
Easy to find.
Contains acetic acid.
Vinegar has antimicrobial properties.
May temporarily reduce the oily feeling of skin.
Cons
There is little good evidence showing it treats acne.
Can sting and irritate the skin.
Can damage the skin barrier.
Undiluted ACV can cause chemical burns.
Irritation may worsen post-acne discoloration.
It doesn’t treat deep cystic acne.
It isn’t an established treatment for acne scars.
Proven acne treatments are readily available.
My Verdict: Should You Use Apple Cider Vinegar for Acne?
Apple cider vinegar is one of those home remedies where the theory sounds much more convincing than the evidence.
Yes, vinegar is acidic and has antimicrobial properties.
But that doesn’t mean putting it on your face is an effective acne treatment.
And when my main objective is clearing a breakout without leaving scars, I don’t want to introduce something capable of causing an additional chemical injury.
I’d much rather concentrate on gentle cleansing, an evidence-based acne treatment, moisturizer, sunscreen and — perhaps most importantly — leaving my pimples alone.
If you nevertheless decide to experiment with apple cider vinegar, never use it undiluted, don’t apply it to broken skin and discontinue it immediately if your skin starts burning or becoming irritated.
Ultimately, treating the acne itself is one of the best things you can do to prevent scars.
As the American Academy of Dermatology points out, getting breakouts under control early and resisting the temptation to pick or squeeze them can substantially reduce the chance of permanent marks developing.
Sometimes the gentlest approach really is the smartest one.
Resources
American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) – Acne Scars: Overview
Excellent for information about preventing acne scars, treating acne early, and avoiding picking or squeezing spots.
https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/acne/derm-treat/scars
Cleveland Clinic – Home Remedies for Acne: Do They Work?
Especially relevant because it discusses apple cider vinegar for acne directly, including its lack of proven effectiveness and the risk of burning, dryness and irritation.
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/home-remedies-for-acne
American Academy of Dermatology – Acne: Diagnosis and Treatment
Useful for evidence-based acne treatments and explaining why controlling breakouts is important for preventing future acne scars.
https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/acne/derm-treat/treat
