6 Apple Cider Vinegar Bath Benefits—Plus How to Take One

Jun 04, 2025

Can soaking in apple cider vinegar help your skin?

Emily Peterson is an experienced fact-checker and editor with Bachelor's degrees in English Literature and French.

If you've never had an apple cider vinegar bath, it's not too late. While certainly not a new ingredient, apple cider vinegar (aka ACV) is a kitchen staple that has long been touted as a superstar in the wellness space. And soaking in an apple cider vinegar bath has become a beauty mainstay, with plenty of purported benefits for hair, skin, and more. Here, experts share all there is to know about an ACV bath, including its advantages and how to mix a soak.

An apple cider vinegar bath is one where you add ACV to your bath water. There are many ways people claim that soaking in an apple cider vinegar bath can help your health. Since apple cider vinegar has been shown to have anti-fungal properties, as well as anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory effects, soaking in a bath mixture of ACV can be beneficial.

From helping to clear infections to pain relief, not all apple cider vinegar remedies have been studied or proven. However, here are a few of the most popular benefits of an apple cider vinegar bath.

According to the former director of brand communications for Bragg Live Foods, Jennifer Santiago, the natural anti-microbial properties of ACV make it a good option to use as a soak for those dealing with minor irritations or rashes—or even to reap the exfoliating benefits. Because apple cider vinegar is acidic (containing a large amount of acetic and citric acid, an alpha-hydroxy acid), it can be used as a gentle exfoliant, board-certified dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, MD, explains.

Zeichner adds that an apple cider vinegar bath may be helpful if you're dealing with a sunburn or merely have lackluster, dry skin, as well. "Apple cider vinegar has anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory benefits, which is why it's commonly used as a DIY treatment for skin issues," explains Zeichne. The mild acid in ACV also benefits the skin, helping to restore the skin's barrier—a key advantage for those with eczema.

Taking an apple cider vinegar bath can help prevent acne breakouts from happening since it helps clear away bacteria from your skin, which clogs pores. Some use ACV as a spot treatment for warts and pimples, too. The anti-inflammatory aspects of ACV can help calm your skin while not over-drying it. Plus, Santiago says ACV has astringent (oil-minimizing) properties that help minimize the look of pores. That's why it's often found in DIY toner recipes, Zeichner points out.

Though not scientifically proven, the anti-inflammatory properties of apple cider vinegar can potentially help ease joint pain due to inflammation. While this remedy may not work for everyone or all types of pain, it could be worth a try.

Rinsing your hair and scalp with apple cider vinegar can help rid it of dandruff. One of the primary causes of dandruff is a dry scalp, which ACV can help with by creating a protective moisture barrier (same as your skin). Plus, the anti-fungal properties found in ACV can kill dandruff at its root.

Soaking in a bath of apple cider vinegar can reduce body odor since it will help cleanse odor-causing bacteria on your body. While it may not get rid of body odor permanently, it is an all-natural way to combat odor—particularly foot and armpit odor.

Since yeast infections are caused by bacteria or fungi, soaking in a mixture of ACV can help fight these types of infections. More research is needed, but there are strong claims for this solution.

"It likely helps with cleansing because of the anti-yeast properties," says dermatologist Rachel Nazarian, MD, "Because apple cider vinegar is an antimicrobial, anti-yeast, and anti-fungal, it helps to clean bacteria and other organisms from the skin." Nazarian adds that 1 teaspoon of ACV is enough to include in a bath. "When used in a dilute bath, it is generally safe and well-tolerated."

When creating an apple cider vinegar bath soak, you don't need a ton of vinegar. Since the ingredient is very acidic, dilution is important in order to soothe the skin and not accidentally end up irritating it. Follow these steps to draw your apple cider vinegar bath.

I had to test soaking in an apple cider vinegar bath for myself. My main concern was that it would smell vinegary. Surprisingly, that wasn't the case; the scent of the vinegar dissipated quickly. And, I found the bath extra relaxing (though the Epsom salts may have helped in this regard).

After soaking, my skin did look and feel softer, and my existing bug bites were less itchy and much less red, just as the experts promised. My final takeaway? In the world of find-them-in-your-pantry beauty ingredients and DIY bath recipes, apple cider vinegar rightfully earns a spot at the table.

Nazarian emphasizes the importance of diluting apple cider vinegar before use on the skin and scalp. Here are some of the biggest reasons why.

ACV baths have been shown to have adverse effects on some people. "[An ACV bath] has the potential to make healing and scarring worse and irritate sensitive skin, so if you’re going to use it for hair, for skin, for anything, please use only dilute forms, in short contact," Nazarian says.

"Longer contact, such as leaving the ingredient on the skin for longer than a few minutes, or in more concentrated forms, has potential for a lot of damage by causing burning or irritation especially if the ACV is in high concentration."

Zeichner also warns that ACV baths aren't for those with sensitive skin and to be extra cautious if using lots of exfoliating products. For severe skin issues, it's always best to consult a dermatologist.

In rare cases, an ACV bath can even cause chemical burns and itching. In fact, concentrations of 2.5% have even been used in burn centers to prevent specific types of wound infections. "There are not many scientific case reports that have proven apple cider vinegar to be of any benefit to hair or skin, but certainly, there are published reports of apple cider vinegar causing chemical burns," Nazarian warns.

Some people may experience allergic reactions to ACV, which can result in redness, itching, or rash after exposure. If you have an allergy to apples (malus domestica), apple juice, or vinegar, for example, an ACV bath isn't a good idea.

Taking a bath might cause you to accidentally allow some of the water into your mouth, which—while unappealing even with plain bathwater—can have more adverse effects during an apple cider vinegar bath. One study at the University of Chicago showed that acidic foods like ACV are big culprits of acid reflux due to their sharp quality. Just be sure that none of the ingredients go into your mouth, and keep your head out of the water during your bath.

Aim for a frequency of no more than a few times a week, says Santiago. However, Nazarian is more conservative. "It is likely safe for infrequent use, but given the ability of acidic components to break down delicate skin tissue, I would not recommend daily use of this ingredient," Nazarian explains. "At most, use ACV once a week."

While ACV baths may help heal the skin and clear up scars, it's best to stay away if you have an open wound or cut. ACV can sting if it makes contact with broken skin. Plus, if you stay in the bath too long or don't dilute it enough, you can potentially irritate your skin more, which can delay the healing process.

Though widely praised for its detoxifying benefits, there is very little scientific evidence showing that apple cider vinegar removes toxins from the body. The body does an excellent job of detoxifying itself with help from the kidneys, liver, and intestines. While ACV may not help detoxify your body, soaking in an apple cider vinegar bath may help in the aforementioned ways instead.

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