Vinegar as a remedy for sunburn gets conflicting reports. Some folks swear by it as a perfect home remedy for a nasty summer hazard. Others say vinegar as a treatment for sunburn might make the affliction worse.
One proponent wrote into Mother Earth News stating that "vinegar liberally dosed on an accidental sunburn cleared up all but a few red spots. The use of vinegar to 'season' a tan had been part of the reader's family lore for generations." It seemed to work.
Women’s Day lists vinegar as a natural way to help “soothe sunburn.”
A clinical instructor of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City, Dr. Hadley C. King says, "There's no science proving it works, but ... it can't hurt to try it. Just soak a cloth or towel in a solution of half vinegar, half water and apply it to the affected area."
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WebMD experts warn the vinegar-to-cure-sunburn remedy is bunk. It is among the “first aid myths to ignore.”
Sunburn is a hot inflammation that could be helped with cold compresses and possibly ibuprofen to help the pain. Vinegar is an acid that could cause more pain, suggests Dr. Richard O'Brien, an emergency medicine physician at the Moses Taylor Hospital in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
Healthline warns that dilution may be important, because apple cider vinegar in full strength has been known to actually cause burns to skin on its own.
For those wanting to try the vinegar remedy, plenty of variations of the folk remedy are available online. Many recommend simply dabbing the vinegar on the sunburn with a clean cloth, or using a diluted solution of 50 percent vinegar and 50 percent water.
Butter Believer recommends vinegar to stop the stinging and coconut oil to help with healing.
Healthline recommends using a spray bottle, diluting with a wet washcloth, or simply putting some apple cider vinegar in a cool bath.
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