It is almost a craze among women and teenagers these days to have to have a smooth and clear skin. Stay with us, you’ll learn benefits of apple cider vinegar for melasma.
As brown spots and imbalanced skin tone are a beauty concern for most of the people, melasma sufferers often experience low self-esteem and low confidence.
We all know that there are numerous spot-lightening creams available in the market. But, do not be fooled because most of these products are loaded with chemicals. Now, we are not saying that all these products will harm your skin, some may work and others may not. So, it is best to stay on the safer side and go with natural remedies.
How about checking your kitchen cabinets and refrigerator for Apple cider vinegar and other natural ingredients that be used to treat melasma?
There has been a lot of debate in the melasma community about the powerful effects of vinegar. Some are using it as a facial toner, and some drink it in various forms.
Jump: How to Use ACV?
In this article, we are going to cover this topic in detail. Below we will discuss various ways in which apple cider vinegar can be used to treat hyperpigmentation or melasma of the face.
What Causes Melasma?
Excess usage of cosmetic products, sun exposure, and hormonal changes are some of the common triggers of this skin disorder. The main cause of Melasma is still unknown.
Researchers believe that the excess melanin production is also responsible for the pigmentation
Melasma is commonly seen in women and people who have dark skin. Pregnancy is another cause for melasma breakout because hormones like progesterone and estrogens trigger this disorder. This is the main reason 90% of the melasma sufferers are females.
Malfunctioning of the thyroid gland, high exposure to UV radiation is also believed to promote Melasma. When these pigments get triggered because of pregnancy, they are very likely to fade away with time.
Using a sunscreen before stepping out in the sun will prevent the melanin concentration from the skin. So, it is advisable to apply sunscreen before stepping out in the sun. This will provide great protection from sun exposure.
Also read: Apple cider vinegar to Get Rid of Jock Itch
Is Apple Cider Vinegar Good for Melasma?
Though there are quite a few natural remedies, chemical ointments, de-pigmenting agents, and medications to reduce the effects of Melasma, yet nothing has been proven to be as effective as ACV.
Apple cider vinegar has exceptional bleaching agents and nutritional value. It has a high concentration of vitamins and acts as a great moisturizer to improve the texture and elasticity of the skin.
This effective ingredient is very potent an acidic solution that shows great benefits on treats skin problems. Because of its powerful bleaching effects,
ACV is believed to cure hyperpigmentation and it is definitely less damaging than the cosmetic products and chemical agents.
How to Use Apple Cider Vinegar for Melasma?
While there is no guaranteed cure for treating melasma, you can effectively reduce skin pigmentation and the skin discoloration by using this ingredient.
Lightening the dark pigments and reducing the severity of melasma is a huge relief for women who dream to have smooth and clear skin.
Let’s dive in to discover various ways to use ACV to treat melasma.
#1 Apple Cider Vinegar as a Facial Toner
A large group of women in the western countries have been using Apple Cider Vinegar and seen a lightening of their pigmented skin.
The composition of acetic acid and other natural exfoliants in the apple cider vinegar works on the pigmented skin. It encourages cell renewal and restores skin healing properties as well.
How to use ACV as a facial toner:
- Take a bowl and mix equal parts of apple cider vinegar and water.
- Stir well and apply the mixture to a clean face with a cotton ball.
- Allow the mixture to dry on your face.
- When dried, wash off with lukewarm water and washcloth.
- Apply your regular moisturizer.
You have to be patient to get the results. You’ll see the pigments getting lighter after three weeks of regular use.
#2 Apple Cider Vinegar Drink for Melasma
There are some women who have used ACV in their diet to cure melasma, and fortunately, the results were good enough to recommend it to all melasma sufferers.
Apple cider vinegar juice, when taken with a glass of water, makes melasma pigment fade away within a month. ACV doesn’t only treat melasma but also aids in digestion.
How to use ACV as a drink: Add one tablespoon of ACV juice to a glass of water and mix well. Drink this mixture twice a day to get effective results.
#3 Apple Cider Vinegar and Horseradish
Apple cider vinegar is known for its miraculous bleaching effects and excellent nutritional values. It has a high amount of vitamins that enhance the texture and elasticity of the skin.
ACV, when used with Horseradish, becomes twice as effective because Horseradish penetrates deep into the skin and improves its overall functioning.
Minerals and Vitamins housed in both these ingredients not only treat pigments but enhance the skin texture as well.
How to use ACV with Horseradish:
- Crush two tablespoons of horseradish and add 2 tbsp. apple vinegar to it. Place both these ingredients in a bottle and leave it for two weeks.
- Shake the bottle every day and apply the solution over the melasma pigment.
- Regular use of this mixture will lighten the pigment and the marks will fade away eventually.
Related post: How to Use Apple Cider Vinegar for Skin Whitening?
#4 Apple Cider Vinegar, Glycerine, and Buttermilk
There are many ways you can use apple cider vinegar for melasma. To make it more effective and get a smooth skin, we recommend blending it with buttermilk and glycerine.
Both glycerine and buttermilk, when used in equal proportions, can give a smooth texture to your skin and make the pigment removal process faster.
Minerals in the buttermilk start working by opening the pores and improving its elasticity.
How to use ACV with Glycerine and Buttermilk:
- Add one tsp. of glycerine and one tsp. of buttermilk to 4 tsp. of ACV.
- Mix well, and apply the mixture evenly over the pigmented skin patches.
- Allow it to dry for 15 minutes. Once dried, wash under running water and pat dry with a clean towel.
- Moisturize your face if needed.
Experts recommend trying this method twice in a week.
#5 Apple Cider Vinegar with Lemon Juice
Apple cider vinegar, when used with Lemon Juice, is believed to be the best method of curing Melasma.
The acidic nature of both these ingredients along with vitamin C helps reduce the hyperpigmentation. These two ingredients when used together make skin lighter and brighter.
How to use ACR with Lemon Juice:
- Extract lemon juice and mix it with two parts of ACV.
- Apply the mixture on affected areas and rub it for a minute.
- Allow it to rest for about 10 minutes.
- Rinse off under running water.
#6 Apple Cider Vinegar with Turmeric
The most effective ingredient in turmeric is curcumin. Curcumin, when mixed with ACV, works as an anti-oxidant to lighten the pigments.
Turmeric can also reduce the melanin concentration from the skin and thus help to get rid of melasma.
How to use ACV with turmeric:
- Mix 5 tablespoon of turmeric with ACV.
- Add gram flour to make a thick paste.
- Apply this paste on the pigmented patches and allow it to dry for half an hour.
- Rinse off under running water, pat dry with a towel and moisturize with your regular moisturizer.
#7 Apple Cider Vinegar with Beef Bone Broth
The Leaky gut can also be the main cause of Melasma. And ACV proves to be beneficial in this case as well. You can use ACV with the homemade bone broth. Bone broth has been proven to give relief from leaky gut, and it becomes twice as effective with ACV.
How to use ACV with bone broth:
- Place 4 pounds of beef bones marrow with ¼ cup of ACV and 5 cups of cold water.
- Bring it to boil over high heat, and then simmer for few hours. Discard solid remainder and filter the water contents.
- Let stock cool and use within a week.
- Consume this drink once a month to get rid of leaky gut and to keep the skin free from the dark patches.
Tips to Prevent and Control Melasma
Including these simple tips in your lifestyle and bringing about some changes in your diet can help a lot in preventing Melasma.
- Wear Sunscreen to get protection against the sun
- Stay Hydrated; drink 8 to 10 glasses of water every day
- Wear protective hats to provide extra protection to your facial skin
- Use chemical free, mild skin care products
- Have a balanced, healthy, and nutritious diet
- Include high-quality proteins and fatty acids in your diet
- Stay away from stress
- Try stress-relieving methods such as yoga and meditation
So, now that you have learned the beneficial effects of ACV, make sure to use them as directed and get rid of ugly melasma spots and pigmentation.
Will you use apple cider vinegar for melasma? Let us know your recipe in comments.
