Exploring the Miraculous Benefits of Vinegar for Skin Health

Vinegar is a classic home remedy, particularly apple cider vinegar. While it can be irritating if overused, and its scent may not be particularly pleasant, it can yield remarkable results in specific instances.

Photo by Jesper Brouwers on Unsplash

We've delved into this essential topic numerous times because the natural mechanism managed by our skin is crucial. This process protects our bodies from excessive perspiration, preventing dehydration. It regulates a Fire imbalance and simultaneously guards the skin and body from external threats. This mechanism is none other than sebum production.

So, what is the connection between sebum and vinegar? Vinegar is an excellent pH regulator. It does more than that for the skin. For instance, vinegar can help reduce pimples due to its antibacterial properties, thanks to acetic acid. It also excels at exfoliating dead skin cells when it contains alpha hydroxy acids. Moreover, vinegar can alleviate scalp itchiness.

However, these properties are not direct and require precise use. It is vinegar's role as a pH regulator that underpins its magical effects. If used excessively or not sufficiently diluted, vinegar can burn or dry out the skin. An overly intense action can prevent sebum formation or reduce its effectiveness.

Sebum and vinegar, what exactly are they? Sebum is a natural emulsion produced by our body that protects our entire skin surface. The liver plays a significant role in sebum production. In traditional Chinese medicine, this is linked to the Wood element, associated with the regulation of excess sebum. Often, excess sebum production isn't purely a skin issue but a bodily response related to the liver.

Excess sebum dries, and on the skin, this can lead to blackheads appearing.

Sebum, as mentioned earlier, is an emulsion, and like all emulsions, pH is vital in its formation and effectiveness. If the skin doesn't maintain the right pH, sebum becomes ineffective. The skin loses its protection and proper hydration, leading to multiple issues: irritations, pimples, redness, and blackheads, in some cases.

The most effective products for cleansing our skin are typically basic (alkaline). For example, the natural soap from Marseille has a basic pH and can dissolve sebum and remove blackheads effectively. However, this leaves the skin with a high pH, preventing sebum reformation. To restore the correct pH, vinegar can be used, similar in function to cosmetic acids in creams and lotions.

In professional and holistic cosmetics, the intricate relationship between skin and bodily mechanisms that govern its health is recognized. Thus, there is an inclination to use products with the correct pH and those supporting overall sebum production regulation, among other functions.

Factors like pollution, stress, and the products we apply tend to disrupt or distort our skin's pH. The consequences are vast and will be discussed in future articles, but one effect is hindering the healthy production of sebum. Vinegar can help restore an acidic pH on the skin and scalp surface, aiding sebum formation.