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You may have read some DIY skincare ideas that include using apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar, or cider vinegar, is a vinegar made from fermented apple juice. Yes, it is usually used as an ingredient in delicious salads and sauces, but did you know that apple cider vinegar contains potassium, antioxidants, and amino acids, all of which can be beneficial to the health of your skin? It also has antibacterial properties.
Diluted apple cider vinegar can be used in DIY face cleansers and acne treatments, due to its natural antibacterial and antifungal properties. It has also been used as a folk remedy for some types of dermatitis. It could help combat acne caused by bacteria build up within our pores and around microscopic breaks in the skin. Apple cider vinegar also contains a natural antihistamine, called quercetin. Some dermatologists therefore recommend apple cider vinegar rinses to reduce breakouts associated with acne.
There is still a lot of research underway exploring the use and effects of apple cider vinegar as a skin care ingredient. Pure apple cider vinegar can cause chemical burns when applied to the skin in some people, so we don’t recommend using pure apple cider vinegar in a DIY skin care regimen without specific guidance from a dermatologist.
Melasma is a specific example of hyperpigmentation. Melasma looks like whole patches of brown or darker skin across the parts of the face and neck. Melasma is common among women who are pregnant - it’s even referred to as “the mask of pregnancy.” But melasma can occur in both men and women who are not pregnant, too. Melasma can be caused by UV damage, but there are also genetic, hormonal, and medication-induced causes for melasma, too.
There are a variety of topical ingredients that can be used to lighten the skin from melasma or reduce its appearance. Each ingredient works in different ways, and each has their own benefits and drawbacks. hydroquinone, arbutin, vitamin C (ascorbic acid, and tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, etc) are some of the most commonly used ingredients for melasma treatment.
Hydroquinone is a skin lightening cream that works by suppressing the production of melanin. There are drawbacks to using hydroquinone, however, including cancer risks demonstrated by recent scientific studies, as well as hydroquinone-induced ochronosis.
Arbutin is a synthesized derivative of hydroquinone. It acts as a powerful skin lightening ointment that works a bit differently than hydroquinone. It blocks the production of melanin instead of “bleaching” the skin.
Vitamin C can be used as a brightening agent to lighten the hyperpigmentation of your sunspots or melasma. It works by inhibiting the enzyme tyrosinase, preventing the formation of melatonin.
Ascorbic Acid is actually the formal scientific name for one form of Vitamin C. It can refer to either a naturally occurring Vitamin C found in foods such as citrus, or a synthetic form of ascorbic acid created to be more shelf-stable for skincare products like discoloration repair lotions and creams.
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate is another form of Vitamin C. By synthesizing this compound from Vitamin C, dermatologists are able to give us all the benefits of Vitamin C in a more shelf-stable form that can also be soluble in oil to make more effective, deeper penetrating skin products. (Herndon 2016)
Ingredients in the vitamin A family (ie. Retinol, tretinoin, etc) and acids (glycolic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid) help damaged pigmented skin cells shred faster, so they also help with melasma.
apple cider vinegar may be effective for melasma, but there are many other factors that may affect whether this ingredient would work on your skin or if there are better ingredients that may work for you. Take this skin quiz to find the best ingredients for your skin and build your skincare routine.
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