Using Apple Cider Vinegar for Keloids
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Apple cider vinegar is not just something to keep in your kitchen anymore. This natural acid shows up in many home remedies for the skin. If you have raised scars called keloids, some people use apple cider vinegar to reduce redness and flatten the tissue. This article explains how it may help, how to use it safely, and what the evidence says.
Understanding Keloids
Keloids are a type of scar that forms when the body makes too much collagen while healing. Collagen is a protein that helps rebuild skin after injury. With keloids the extra collagen creates a raised, often darker patch that can keep growing after the wound is closed.
Keloids can be itchy or painful and they may affect movement when they form over joints. People with darker skin tones and those with a family history of keloids are more likely to develop them. Keloids are linked to ongoing inflammation during the healing process.
What Apple Cider Vinegar Is and Why People Use It
Apple cider vinegar is made by fermenting apple juice into alcohol, and then into vinegar. Its main active ingredient is acetic acid. It also contains small amounts of malic acid and other organic acids.
Topical acids are used in dermatology to thin the outer layer of the skin and help it shed dead cells. This is why people apply apple cider vinegar to scars. The mild acid can reduce surface thickness and may reduce redness by gently peeling the top layer of skin and stimulating circulation locally.
What the Science Says
Direct clinical trials showing apple cider vinegar specifically shrinking keloids are limited. However studies do show that acids such as acetic acid and alpha hydroxy acids can help with superficial scars by promoting controlled exfoliation and improving skin texture.
One small study used acetic acid in a medical setting for stubborn scars and reported benefit. Other research on lactic acid and similar peeling agents shows improved appearance in mild scarring. These findings support the idea that mild acids can help surface scars, but more specific research is needed for keloids.
How to Use Apple Cider Vinegar on Keloids
Apple cider vinegar can irritate skin if used full strength. Diluting it reduces burning while keeping some activity. Below are two commonly used methods that many people follow at home.
Diluted application
Mix apple cider vinegar with clean water in a 1 to 1 ratio for a gentle start. If your skin is sensitive, try 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water instead. Use a clean cotton pad to apply the solution to the keloid.
Let the solution sit for no more than 10 to 30 minutes, depending on your tolerance, then rinse with warm water. Repeat once or twice daily. Continue for at least four weeks to judge whether the scar responds.
Honey and apple cider vinegar
Raw honey has natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and is commonly combined with vinegar for wound care in folk medicine. After a diluted apple cider vinegar application, some people massage a small amount of raw honey into the area and leave it for 20 to 30 minutes before rinsing.
Honey may help soothe the skin and support gentle healing. Use raw, unprocessed honey and do not apply honey to any open wound.
Safety Precautions
Always patch test before putting apple cider vinegar on a larger area. Apply a small diluted drop to nearby healthy skin and wait 24 hours to check for redness, blistering, or strong burning.
Do not use apple cider vinegar on open wounds or on skin that is actively weeping. Acetic acid can sting and interfere with healing if the skin barrier is not intact. If you feel sharp pain, stop immediately and rinse the area thoroughly.
Protect treated areas from sun exposure. Acidic skin treatments can increase sun sensitivity. Use sun protection on any treated scar to prevent darkening.
If you have diabetes, poor circulation, or a weakened immune system, consult your healthcare provider before trying home treatments. Keloids that change rapidly, bleed, or become very painful should be evaluated by a dermatologist.
Practical tips and expectations
- Start with gentler dilutions and increase only if you tolerate the application without strong irritation.
- Keep a photo log to track changes. Take a picture once every 1 to 2 weeks under consistent lighting.
- Expect gradual change. Many people report subtle flattening and reduced redness after several weeks. Significant shrinkage may not occur with topical acids alone.
- Combine treatments only under a clinician’s guidance. Dermatologists may offer steroid injections, silicone sheets, laser therapy, or surgery for larger or persistent keloids.
When to See a Dermatologist
If a keloid does not improve after a month of careful home treatment, seek professional advice. A dermatologist can recommend evidence-based options and tailor treatment to your skin type.
Professional approaches may include steroid injections to reduce collagen production, pressure therapy, or medical-strength chemical peels performed safely in clinic. These methods have stronger evidence for shrinking keloids than at-home vinegar use.
Final thoughts
Apple cider vinegar may help reduce surface thickness, redness, and itching for some people with keloids because of its mild acidic action. Evidence is limited for keloids specifically, and it is best viewed as a low-cost, low-risk option when used carefully.
Perform a patch test, avoid open wounds, protect treated skin from the sun, and consult a dermatologist if you are unsure or if the keloid worsens. For persistent or large keloids, medical treatments usually provide more reliable results.
Sources
Dardas, A., Bae. G.H., Yule, A., Wright, J., Straughn, N., Day, C.S. (2014). Acetic acid iontophoresis for recalcitrant scarring in post-operative hand patients. Journal of Hand Therapy, Jan-Mar; 27(1):44-8.
