She will be trying peroxide next, but if that fails, it looks like a trip to the doctor.
Eva (San Diego, California, United States) on 03/04/2012:
I have been desperate for a relatively cheap, effective, holistic cure for acne. I have had acne since high school -- I'm almost 30 now -- and tried almost everything (I refused the most extreme) and spent tons of money on different products to get rid of it. No one knows the psychological effects of bad skin until they've had it. After a particularly bad and long-lasting breakout I came across this page looking for anything that might help. Last weekend, I read the different comments about ACV and decided a $5 product was at least worth the try. I was frankly not optimistic.
One week later, I am here to advise anyone and everyone to try it or at least consider it. I am shocked at the amazing results I have seen so far. My face has cleared up CONSIDERABLY, my giant cystic acne (the biggest - about 1. 5 cm across - had been hanging out for about 2 weeks and looked like a blood blister) along my chin line is nearly gone, and I am receiving lots of comments about how great my skin is looking! SEVEN days later!
Here's what I've done:
I went to a local store that carries organic food and bought an organic, filtered, unpasteurized raw Apple Cider Vinegar with "the mother" in it.
The first day I used a toner of straight ACV on a cotton round, and doused a q-tip with ACV to hold on the largest acne for around 20 seconds each (this will sting just a bit but not like some other products I've used)
Since then: I use a very popular acne face wash, a toner of half filtered water/half ACV, and finish with a repairing lotion from the same line as the face wash. Morning and night. I have used oil-control moisturizer a few times when it felt necessary. I've also continued to put straight ACV on a q-tip and held it to the largest acne every few days.
I drink 2 tbsp. Of straight ACV morning and night. This is the hardest part. I don't drink juice, but did have some soda water that I drank immediately afterward that seemed to cut the horribleness. I also put a drop of honey in my mouth afterward a few times to deal with the aftertaste. I take it just like a shot to get it done with because sipping it in water almost made me vomit. Don't take it on an empty stomach because it made me feel queasy (I DO have a sensitive stomach, no vitamins or supplements without food in there). The 2 or 3 minutes of this awfulness has definitely been worth it in the long run.
I would really encourage you to try this if you have been struggling to find anything that actually WORKS. I have sensitive, combination skin and was very concerned that this would play out like some of the products I've used and just burn my skin and make it red and chapped. My skin looks brighter, more translucent, and the redness from older scarring has gone way down. My littler pimples and blackheads seem to be nearly gone, and I just seem to have a few different areas where the acne was deep under the skin and is working its way out. I am totally impressed with this remedy and want to say THANK YOU to all the people who have shared their stories here and to EarthClinic.com for hosting these stories. Thank you so much everyone, and I hope this story can help others like me!
Jobomb (Mill Creek, Wa) on 10/07/2011:
I have tried it last night my 8-9 pimples are already gone! I cannot believe how wonderful this works! I have done accutane and it worked but it came back! Also nothing has worked faster! Miracle from god!
Karen H. (Greenwood, Mi) on 08/31/2011:
I have been told by a dermatologist about 10 years ago that I had seborrheic dermatitis/adult acne and I was given tetracycline and dermatop and a special moistering lotion and was told to use cetaphil soap because its soppose to be mild. July of this year I went to my doctor and got a script for doxysysline and metro gel for rosacea I used it for two weeks and had no results so I quit using it.
I came across this site when my dog had a uti and read about ACV and tea tree oil. So I gave it a try I used tea tree oil for 3 or 4 days, it burned but I just fanned my face for about 10 minutes. I did this twice a day morning and night then my skin started to peel, it was thick and scaly so then I started using organic ACV and water 50/50 and I have now been doing this for about the last 4/5 days and my face is 80 to 90% better I don't have to wear make-up to cover it up although my skin still feels a bit tight and dry I will continue with the ACV. I also take ACV in a glass with juice, about one tablespoon a day. Thanks for all of everyones imput as it has helped me.
Gigi (Los Angeles, Ca) on 06/06/2011:
Worked Temporarily
I was amazed how well ACV worked on my acne. I have facial acne backne for about 16 years. I began drinking diluted ACV and noticed results the very next day! 2 weeks later, my face and chest completely cleared up! Now 3 weeks into it, break outs began, glow is gone, and 2 cysts formed. Every time a remedy starts to work, soon enough, my skin learns to overcome the cure and breaks out again. I am wondering if anyone else has experienced this? I will continue to drink the ACV and keep applying it because I like it, but my hope is gone.
Vee (Ft. Hood, Texas) on 05/30/2011:
Nay: Some time ago, I used ACV as a toner before bed on my acne ridden face. I put some on a cotton ball & spread it over my face at night. It didn't work for me-it made my face rough and didn't take away the pimples at all. Recently, I felt a pimple coming up and used ACV on a cotton ball and held it on the developing pimple for several minutes. That didn't work either. In fact-I developed a scab overnight on my face where the pimple was! I was so upset because I had a job interview that morning & I don't wear makeup, so I couldn't cover it up! My plea is that people be specific when they write about how they actually used the product. I did get the job by the way! View Entire Thread
Tracey (Glasgow, Uk) on 05/20/2011:
Hi, my daughter is 19 & suffers from acne to her face, jawline & back - it's really starting to get her down. After reading the comments on this thread she started taking ACV (1tbl x 2 daily) and also 1tsp black molasses (for good measure) - to date, nothing has improved.
She can't take her ACV in water as she hates the taste & so has it in OJ - do you think this is really making any difference? Any help/suggestions would be really appreciated!!
View Entire Thread
Meangreenapple (Brooklyn, Ny) on 04/24/2011:
ACV is one the best gifts from nature!! I wish so many more people knew about this natural remedy for so many ailments like acne. For me I had to deal with Acne since my teenage years up until my adulthood and it was cystic acne, very painful and very embarassing and so many dermatologists and antibiotics and topical creams and birth control pills did not remove the problem but just lessened it by a litttle bit but it would come back with a vengeance! I was giving up hope and my self esteem was very low because of my face.
Then I came across apple cider vinegar and all the good comments about it and I started drinking it and using it as a toner on my skin (diluted of course) and my face and my back and my skin in general is so much better! And im not taking all those medications with horrible side effects anymore, apple cider vinegar is seriously a miracle I wish someone told me about it when I was younger. Your skin is a reflection of what is going on inside your body and apple cider vinegar cleanses it on the outside and also applying it on your skin helps kill all the bacteria and takes the oils out. People with persistent severe painful cystic acne dont give up hope!! Do detox cleanses and Apple Cider Vinegar is one of the best ways to cleanse yourself. 2 teaspoons in a cup of water 3x a day or adjust it however you like and keep it up. I'll be taking it the rest of my life.
Rhonda ( Columbus, Ohio) on 01/31/2011:
i read the Remedies on using raw apple cider vinegar for acne. I already had some of the acv in the fridge so I tried it as well as my daughter and within 24 hours they were 40% better, 48 hours 60% better.. Now they are flat with just a pink cast. I figured in about 1 or 2 days They will be gone. This really works. Do not waste your money on expensive things on tv or the drug store. For under 5.00 the ACV does the trick.. Yes you will go to bed smelling like a pickle, but its worth it!
Dawn (Wildwood, Mo) on 01/18/2011:
I am getting acne on my jawline, which I know is hormonal. I have noticed that I seem to have a bit of a sensitivity to the ACV and it seems like these come out when I do that. I know sometimes you break out worse at first and then it goes away, that is not the case here! I have tested it and I definitely can pinpoint it to the ACV. Is anyone else having an issue with this or is there anything I can do to get rid of them? They are the cyst like ones, they hurt and take a long time to go away!
Amber (Akron, Pa, Usa) on 11/21/2010:
I've always had acne-prone skin, but in my early 30's, I was hit with sudden, horrible, cystic acne. I read books, websites, changed my diet, changed my cleansing--i tried everything natural I heard about, and nothing worked. Finally, I found this website and tried apple cider vinegar, and my skin was improved the very next day. Within about a week, I was no longer getting cystic acne. After a year, i'd stopped taking the ACV, and my skin broke out again. So I'm back on my ACV regimen, and my skin improved overnight, again. Amazing cure--easy, cheap and healthy. I put a splash of ACV in a tall glass of water, and drink two or three glasses per day.
Belinda (O-town, Fl, Usa) on 09/10/2010:
Better But With Side Effects
Twice a day I apply B---G ACV to my face and neck after washing. I simply dab it on with a cotton ball and leave it. The smell goes away after it is dry. I am 46 and have suffered from acne most of my life. My face cleared up within a few days. The ACV stimulated the skin and gave me a healthy flush. Other co-workers have complimented my skin. One co-worker said I looked "rested" and another asked if "I'd been to the beach". I noticed that new breakouts are occurring in the back of my neck under the hairline (right where I stopped applying the ACV). There were some strange symptoms in the first few weeks. I believe I'd had some fungus or bugs under my skin which initially protested. My rosacea cleared up and I am thrilled. Thank you! View Entire Thread
Iil0veeyou (Webster, Mass.) on 06/23/2010:
A few months ago i went off of my birth control pills. The results of that were awful. I broke out all over my face chest and even back. Ive never had acne on my back. Generally i have extremely clear and smooth skin. I was so upset and went on this website. I saw that people were using ACV for acne and since i already had a bottle of organic ACV i thought id give it a try. I applied it to my skin a few times a day (my skin is very oily so it didnt dry it out)it wasnt mixed with water just straight out of the bottle. Used it for about 2 weeks didnt see significant results. But i didnt quit. I was desperate to get rid of my gross acne. So i kept using it topically and started drinking it 3 times a day (2tbsp. in 8oz water with 1 tsp of organic honey)and finally! My skin started clearing up so fast and now it is almost flawless. I get occasional tiny zits in the spots where i sweat but who doesnt. And they are noticeable to me.
Honestly i swear by ACV it is amazing. I use it for any kind of bug bites or any other little things that may appear on my skin and by the next day its gone. Use ACV internally and topically combined with a healthy life style full of drinking water, eating fruits and veggies and exercising and you will see improvement in your complexion. Forget the strong prescription medicines that only cause more damage. Stick to the natural old remedies. Good luck! I hope you see results as good as mine. (:
Elaine (Pueblo, Co, Usa) on 05/11/2010:
I'm 26 and have never had problems with Acne until about 6 months ago. I broke out on my cheeks and my chest. I have tried everything and even went to the dermatologist. He prescribed me Retin-a and a antibacterial face wash. Neither has helped at all. A couple weeks ago I read about ACV on this site and started using it every morning and night on my face. I wash my face with an organic face wash, then use a cotten ball to apply ACV to my face. I let it dry for about 5-6 minutes then I apply a moisturizer. Make sure to moisturize afterwards or it will really dry your skin.I also have been drinking a splash of ACV mixed with water daily. I can't believe how good my skin looks. The acne is almost completely gone, replaced by a healthy glow. I would recommend this to anyone with acne problems. It really is amazing.
Holly (Portland, Or, Usa) on 04/04/2010:
Acne: Apple Cider Vinegar. CURED my non-inflammatory acne MUCH MUCH better than Retin-A!! I have a perscription for Retin-A, and have been taking it for months. It smells and i know it's bad for your skin as far as sun damage goes, so I've never used it on my face, where...for the last few years, I've had small under the skin bumps that are sort of annoying. I thought others were exaggerating on overnight success...but I kid you not, I dipped a cotton swab in ACV and ran it over the area, went to bed, woke up...excited to see the results, ran my fingers over it...baby bottom smooth! incredible! You smell a little funky, but it goes away in 2-3 minutes. Trying to ingest it too to see the results, and will try it on my legs and arms where I also have these bumps....will send results.
Toby (Wheeling, Wv, Us) on 01/18/2010:
I have had amazing success using Apple Cider Vinegar for acne. I use the organic kind. I wash my face at night,towel dry, then dab the ACV on any troublesome areas. I let this dry and leave it on. In the morning, I rinse my face with warm water (no soap) and towel dry. I then dab the ACV again on any troublesome areas. A couple of times per day, I rinse my face with warm water only & towel dry.
Bonnie (Manlius, New York) on 01/12/2010:
I just had to post my input on ACV for acne. It REALLY works and if you have acne, you MUST try it! I have used it topically every night...just a cotton balls worth rubbed into skin, then I wash it off with soap. Also, I drink two glasses of ACV, honey and water (2 tbls acv, one tsp honey and 8oz water) each day. I'm 40 and have had breakouts for years but this routine works. And my skin is amazing now. I do get the occasional pimple which I immediately attack with a q-tip full of hydrogen peroxide and that shrinks it and stops it from getting any bigger. But overall, the acv has cured my acne! I have recently started applying virgin coconut oil to my skin and that has really helped with skin tone as well as shrinking my pores. I'm so grateful to EC for this site...and to think I was wasting so much money on all those stupid chemicals when all I needed was acv. Keep posting!
Carp (Bronx, Ny, Usa) on 01/11/2010:
Apple Cider Vinegar and water, 1:1 - success!
I'm in my late 20s, and have had moderate acne for 12 years or so. It had mostly subsided, but then a few months ago, flared up in a crazy, severe way. I tried modifying my diet and my face-wash routine, but it only seemed to get worse. Finally, I found this routine: every night before bed, I do a light swab with rubbing alcohol (I don't trust my usual soap anymore) to clean, then a light swab with the diluted ACV.
The results are astonishing. I don't want to speak too soon (I've only been on this regimen for 3 weeks now), but my skin is 97% clear and looking better every day. Good luck, everybody - and thank you!
Radha (Urbandale, Ia) on 01/06/2010:
Pure apple cider vinegar cured my acne in a week and a half. I have normal skin but tend to get the usual breakout around the end of the month... ;). At one point, my entire left cheek was covered in hard, red, itchy pimples and clear little dots everywhere. I started using a gentle exfoliator for my face wash. Then I would dip a cotton ball in ACV and rub it all over my face. Just a thin layer will do. Then i would sit for alittle bit and let it dry. The smell is something you'll get used to but the first night is terrible. Have the thin layer of ACV dry then apply just a light moisturizer then go to sleep. Make sure all your pimples and such are covered by the ACV. You aren't going to get amazing results over night if you have severe acne; but after about 3-4 days you'll start to see them slowly dry up. If you start to see puss rise up in some LEAVE THEM ALONE. Picking them will only leave a scar. This is my daily routine:) my face has cleared so amazingly. Hooked for life:)
Laura (Fort Worth, Tx) on 12/16/2009:
Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) is amazing! I am 38 yrs old and have sufferered from acne since my teens. My face has never been blemish free until now. I have spent thousands on medicines and OTCounter creams to no avail. What drove me to search online for help was that my forehead broke out all over in tiny bumps and nothing (even antibiotics) was taking it away. I was also on accutane in my early 20's for cystic acne, but since then, it was just regular acne I dealt with, plus tiny whiteheads all over my forehead.
I came across ACV reviews online and thought "what do I have to lose?" I bought the raw kind with the "mother" and I used it straight out of the bottle- applied w/ a cotton ball. It stung the heck out of my face, and stunk to high heaven, burned my eyes a little, but after a while, it settled down and I went to bed like that. Now when I use it, it tingles only a little and my eyes are fine... guess I have gotten use to it.
I woke up the next day and was ****amazed**** at the results!!!!!! I had already cut out sugar from my diet many months prior (and seen a little improvement), so this effect could only be attributable to the ACV. Within 3 days the tiny bumps had vanished and my skin was baby smooth.
I've used it now for about 2 months and my skin is beautiful and acne free!!!! I am scared that I will wake up one day and it wont' work the same, it is that good. Also, it does not dry out my skin like the meds.
I wish I could post a before and after picture of myself- but I thought I would at least share the good news and help some other poor soul who has given up hope. Maybe it will work for you, too.
Sdcummings2000 (Plant City, Florida) on 12/07/2009:
I have been using apple cider vinegar for my acne for 2weeks as of yesterday. I didnt have terrible acne but enough to make me feel insecure in public. I am very vain and will not go pick up my son from school without makeup. I have to say that within 3 days my acne had cleared up nicely. It still is not CLEAR but, i think im getting there.I does take time,as does anything else.I drink 2 tablespoons 2x a day straight.Every other night i use it as a toner.i hope anyone with acne at least will try it.
Mcalzada (Encino, Ca, USA) on 09/02/2009:
Thank you for this site! I have suffered from acne for almost 20 years. Within the last 5 years I took processed sugar out of my diet completely which cleared up most of my acne, but I still had occasional breakouts and my skin had small bumps especially on my cheeks. I started using organic ACV as a topical astringent after washing my face in the morning and evening over my whole face. Within 2 days my skin was very smooth. Within 2 weeks my skin was glowing. Friends and family noticed the imporvement in my skin texture. ACV works wonders.
Amber (Buffalo, MN) on 05/02/2009:
Acne: Using Apple Cider Vinegar. Get a spray bottle ( any size works). Mix 1 tsp of Apple Cider Vinegar to 10 tsp of water in spray bottle. Use 2 times a day after washing the face or infected area. Before applying, make sure you shake the bottle. Keep away from eyes and lips. It will put moisture into your skin as well. Do not put lotion on area where you have used the acv/h20 mix. Do not over exceed the amount of vinegar as it can burn your face. Once your skin gets used to the amount of vinegar, slightly increase it.
Teri (Cedar Springs, Michigan) on 03/10/2009:
Question - My son 18yrs. has had an acne problem for years now, face and body. Have seen some results with ACV over the past 30-40 days. Seems to be at a standstill with further results. Believe he has Candida. Will start him on the H2O2 regimen. Wondered; can or should he take other things to clear up the Candida like Caprylic acid, Oil of Oregeno, Garlic. Naturally because of his age he is busy and not always wanting to cooperate. Plus he is skeptical after many meds over the years. Can he take more than one of these remedies? What would be the best/simplest for him to get rid of his acne? Sure would appreciate what you think.
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