Can Apple Cider Vinegar Help Psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory skin condition that causes itchiness and thick, scaly patches of skin. People with psoriasis have several treatment options, including  topicals, light therapy, and biologic drugs. But many individuals who have the immune-mediated condition turn to natural remedies as a complement to pharmaceuticals. Of the natural solutions to promote health, apple cider vinegar (ACV) has become one of the more popular ones.

Unfiltered apple vinegar is thought to pack an especially healthy punch because it typically contains the mother culture. The “mother” is a collection of bacteria that changes the alcohol in fermenting apple juice into acetic acid.

It’s important to dilute apple cider vinegar before applying it to skin to avoid irritation and damage.

“People can do a lot of damage with apple cider vinegar if they’re not careful,” says Matthew Lewis, MD, MPH, a dermatologist with Stanford Medicine Health Care in Redwood City, California. “The pH [measure of acidic concentration] is around three, which is similar to lemon juice. If you leave it on your skin for too long, you can just burn — like a chemical burn. We definitely see those sorts of things in the office frequently — it just destroys the skin.”

Beyond using vinegar on the scalp, a dilution of vinegar may be applied in a compress to soothe inflamed or weepy skin (a sign of infection), according to John Anthony, MD, a dermatologist with Cleveland Clinic.

It may be counterintuitive, but some alternative health proponents suggest that apple cider vinegar becomes less acidic or more alkaline once inside the body. Vinegar fans believe that it improves overall gut health, and the acid-alkaline balance may in turn help reduce inflammation.

But the studies, so far, have been relatively small. “There’s just not a lot of medical literature on the topic — more study is needed,” says Dr. Anthony.

If you do try drinking vinegar, do not take it undiluted. Potential health risks include damage to tooth enamel, burning of the lining of the esophagus, and stomach upset.

Complementary and integrative therapies sometimes used to improve symptoms of psoriasis include mineral water baths and acupuncture. Yoga and meditation can help reduce stress, which worsens psoriasis.

Although most of these approaches are safe, you should talk to your doctor before trying any new treatment or technique.

Anthony stresses that the mainstay topical solution is not “natural” but a steroid medication. “For whatever reason, however, some people don’t want to take medication,” he says. “I think people want options. From my standpoint, there is no danger in using apple cider vinegar, so I never advise people not to use it.”

Dr. Lewis directs patients to salicylic acid, which is a commonly available product used to help shed dead skin cells. Coal tar can also help by slowing the rapid growth of skin cells and ridding the body of dead skin.

The following natural remedies, in topical forms or solutions, can help ease minor psoriasis symptoms.

• Tea tree oil
• Olive oil
• Coconut oil
• Oatmeal
• Aloe vera
• Baking soda
• Dead sea salt
• Pine bark extract
• Mahonia aquifolium (Oregon grape)

• If you’re looking to soothe your psoriasis naturally, apple cider vinegar (ACV) might offer some relief for scalp itch and scaly patches.
• Ensure it's diluted with equal parts water to prevent irritation or stinging.
• For relief from psoriasis symptoms, apply carefully, rinsing well afterward, and avoid using on broken skin.