Acne Treatment with Vinegar has been used by society since the ancient times. The many medicinal and practical properties of Vinegar have made it virtually timeless, and this is just one of them. However, there are many types of vinegar, the two most popular for acne treatment being Distilled White Vinegar – commonly found in most grocery stores, and Apple Cider Vinegar – also found commonly in distilled form. There are differences between the two, and even between different brands of Apple Cider Vinegar.

Treating Acne with Distilled White Vinegar

The typical white vinegar found on store shelves (in the USA) is the distilled variety, made most commonly from corn, but also from potatoes and wood. Unlike malt vinegars, the distillation process removes gluten along with other nutrients. It gets the name ‘white’ from the fact that coloring agents are removed by the distillation and filtering process.

White vinegar is commonly sold as a 5% acidic solution. This allows many people to apply it directly to their skin, or by mixing it with perhaps 2 or 3 parts water. Used in this way, white vinegar helps to create an acidic environment in skin pores – which is unfriendly towards acne bacteria.

Apple Cider Vinegar for Acne Treatment

Apple Cider Vinegar is quickly becoming more common for acne treatment. ACV owes its popularity to the many people who have found it not only effective for mild facial acne, but also stubborn bacne and other ‘difficult’ areas where other treatments may not be as effective.

Store Bought Apple Cider Vinegar for Acne

It should be known there are important differences between the various brands of Apple Cider Vinegar, however. The common store bought variety, often sold under brand names like Heinz, Fleischmann’s, or Castelo’s, is very often unaturally processed. This includes filtering, distillation, pasteurizing, and perhaps other treatments. These vinegars should not considered to be significantly more useful than white vinegar for acne – as the processing removes most benefits like extra nutrients.

Raw Apple Cider Vinegar for Acne

Instead, you should buy raw ‘unprocessed’ Apple Cider Vinegar for treating acne. This can be found in health food specialty stores or for sale online. Common brands include Bragg, Eden, or Dynamic Health.

The most significant difference with raw ACV is the lack of pasteurization, filtering, distilling, or other processing leaves it with all the vitamins, minerals, and enzymes. It is these nutrients which are believed to both help heal the skin and improve digestive health so the body can stay clear. You will commonly see ‘mother of vinegar’ floating within raw vinegar. This is the harmless bacteria which produces the healthful enzymes and nutrients – and is a telltale sign you are buying raw vinegar.

In actual use, many people have found either type of vinegar to be useful in treating acne. The main factor believed to be responsible for reducing acne is vinegar’s acidity. While raw Apple Cider Vinegar offers benefits as a dietary supplement, white vinegar for acne can be just as effective.