Are you supposed to rinse off after an apple cider vinegar bath?

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Quick Answer

There is no need to rinse off after an apple cider vinegar bath. The vinegar will absorb into your skin and you can simply pat yourself dry with a towel afterwards.

What is an Apple Cider Vinegar Bath?

An apple cider vinegar bath is a relaxing soak in a tub of warm water mixed with apple cider vinegar. The typical recipe is:

1-2 cups of apple cider vinegar
Warm bath water

You can also add other ingredients like Epsom salts, essential oils, honey, etc.

The main benefits of an ACV bath are:

Soothes sore muscles
Detoxifies the body

Balances skin pH
Kills bacteria
Softens and exfoliates skin

The acidity of the vinegar helps restore the skin’s natural pH levels. Many skin conditions like acne, eczema and psoriasis are worsened by the skin being too alkaline.

Should You Rinse Off After an ACV Bath?

There is no need to rinse off the apple cider vinegar after an ACV bath. Here are a few reasons why:

The vinegar absorbs into your skin and doesn’t need to be rinsed away. It will continue working on your skin even after you get out of the tub.

Water washes away the vinegar, reducing its beneficial effects on your skin’s pH, bacteria levels, etc.
The smell of the vinegar dissipates as it absorbs and you dry off.
Vinegar is completely safe for your skin. It’s a mild acid that is gentle enough to leave on.

Simply pat yourself dry with a towel after your vinegar bath. Within minutes the vinegar smell will become very faint and the ACV will keep doing its job on your skin.

How to Dry Off After an ACV Bath

Follow these steps after your rejuvenating apple cider vinegar soak:

Carefully stand up in the tub to avoid slipping.

Step out of the tub onto a non-slip bath mat.
Pat your skin dry with a clean cotton towel. Be extra gentle on sensitive areas.
Don’t rub vigorously as this can damage the skin and remove the vinegar.

Make sure to thoroughly dry any creases and skin folds where moisture can collect.
For excess moisture in your private areas, use a blow dryer on a cool setting.
Apply moisturizer, body oil or lotion while your skin is still slightly damp.

The vinegar smell will continue to fade as the ACV is absorbed.

Benefits of Not Rinsing Off ACV

Here are some of the benefits of leaving the apple cider vinegar on your skin after a bath:

The vinegar keeps working to restore proper pH and inhibit bacteria growth for hours after your bath.

Leaving it on allows the ACV to penetrate deeper into your skin layers.
It keeps your natural moisture barrier intact by not washing away oils.
The mild exfoliation continues as the vinegar soak loosens dead skin cells.

Any skin soothing and anti-inflammatory properties remain active.
The vinegar may continue to reduce body odor by inhibiting bacteria.

Rinsing off cuts short these beneficial processes. Leaving the ACV on maximizes the effects.

Are There Any Risks?

There are no risks to leaving apple cider vinegar residue on your skin after bathing. Here are some key points:

Vinegar is safe for your skin at the dilute concentrations used in baths.
It’s a mild acid that is non-toxic for external use.

The vinegar smell fades quickly as it absorbs into the skin.
There’s no need to worry about your towels or clothing smelling.
No vinegar remains on your skin by the next morning.

The vinegar cannot enter or alter your bloodstream from skin exposure.

The only exception is if you have highly sensitive skin. A small percentage of people experience skin irritation from vinegar. Do a patch test before your first ACV bath.

Conclusion

There is no need to rinse off after using apple cider vinegar in your bath water. The ACV is gentle on your skin and provides benefits even after you get out of the tub. Simply pat yourself dry without vigorously rubbing. Leaving the vinegar to fully absorb allows it to restore your skin’s pH, hydrate, exfoliate and inhibit bacteria for hours after your relaxing soak.