Skin Bacterial Microbiome is Not Altered by Apple Cider Vinegar Soaks in Patients With Atopic Dermatitis

Apple cider vinegar soaks are not an effective method to alter skin bacterial microbiome in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD), according to a recent study published in PLoS One.

“In this study, we examined the effects of topical dilute [apple cider vinegar] soaks on Staphylococcus aureus abundance, skin bacterial microbiome composition, and skin bacterial microbiome diversity in AD and healthy skin,” explained the study authors.

Researchers performed a randomized, nonblinded, single-institution, split-arm pilot study in which 11 participants with AD were enrolled. The participants soaked one arm in apple cider vinegar and the other arm in tap water for 10 minutes per day. Skin bacteria samples were collected before and after 14 days of treatment and analyzed using 16S sequencing.

After 2 weeks of daily treatments, no difference in skin microbiome composition or abundance of S aureus was noted. 

“Our results suggest that daily soaks in 0.5% apple cider vinegar are not an effective method of altering the skin bacterial microbiome in [AD],” concluded the study authors.

Reference
Luu LA, Flowers RH, Gao Y, et al. Apple cider vinegar soaks do not alter the skin bacterial microbiome in atopic dermatitis. PLoS One. 2021;16(6):e0252272. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0252272