Fungal infections are common conditions caused by fungal overgrowth on the skin, nails, hair, and mucous membranes. Some types of fungal infections include athlete’s foot, ringworm, jock itch, oral thrush, vaginal yeast infections, and fungal nail infections. Many people use natural remedies like apple cider vinegar to treat fungal infections due to their antimicrobial and antifungal properties. But does apple cider vinegar truly cure fungal infections? Let’s take a closer look at the evidence.
What is apple cider vinegar?
Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is a type of vinegar made from fermented apple juice. The main active ingredient in ACV is acetic acid, which gives vinegars their sour taste and pungent smell. Besides acetic acid, ACV contains vitamins, enzymes, minerals and amino acids. It’s available in two forms – filtered and unfiltered. Unfiltered ACV contains a cobweb-like substance called the “mother”, which consists of proteins, enzymes, beneficial bacteria and acetic acid. Enthusiasts believe the “mother” enhances the health benefits of ACV.
ACV has long been used as a multi-purpose household and cooking ingredient. More recently, it has gained popularity as an alternative remedy for several health issues due to its antimicrobial effects. Research shows acetic acid has antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties that may help treat and prevent fungal and other infections.
Does ACV have antifungal effects?
A few laboratory studies provide evidence for the antifungal activity of ACV:
- A test tube study found ACV strongly inhibited the growth of Candida – the fungus responsible for yeast infections. The antifungal effect was attributed to acetic acid.
- Another test tube study showed ACV diluted in water or ethanol inhibited the growth of different types of Candida. The antifungal effect became stronger with increased acetic acid concentration.
- ACV demonstrated antifungal activity against another fungal species called Malassezia in a test tube study. Malassezia is involved in dandruff, eczema and some other skin conditions.
- Application of ACV to chicken feed prevented fungal growth and mycotoxin production. Mycotoxins are toxic chemical byproducts of mold growth on foods.
While test tube studies show promise, it’s important to note that ACV was directly applied to fungal cultures in very high concentrations. The antifungal effects of much lower concentrations of ACV on skin, nails or mucosal membranes are still unclear.
Does drinking ACV kill fungal infections?
There’s limited evidence regarding the antifungal effects of ingesting ACV. A few animal and human studies found:
- Adding ACV to the drinking water of chickens experimentally infected with a fungal disease reduced mortality and lesion severity.
- In a study in 17 people with oral candidiasis, an ACV rinse was as effective as gentian violet and nystatin rinses in reducing symptoms.
- In a case study, ingestion of 15 mL ACV four times per day reportedly cured oral thrush in an immunocompromised patient who didn’t respond to medications.
While these limited findings are promising, there’s currently no solid clinical evidence proving oral ACV kills fungal overgrowth in the body. The antifungal effects likely depend on multiple factors like the ACV dose, type of fungal infection and health status of the individual.
Does applying ACV topically cure fungal infections?
Many people use ACV topically as a home remedy for skin fungal infections like athlete’s foot and ringworm. Unfortunately, there’s very limited research on the efficacy of topical ACV for fungal skin conditions.
Here’s what a few studies found:
- In a clinical trial of 30 people with tinea pedis (athlete’s foot), applying 25% ACV or 25% acetic acid to affected areas twice daily for four weeks was similarly effective as 1% clotrimazole solution in improving symptoms.
- In a study in 152 people with tinea cruris (jock itch), applying 10% acetic acid significantly improved symptoms compared to placebo. However, it was less effective than 1% clotrimazole.
- In two people with chronic tinea cruris who didn’t respond to medications, applying 25% ACV resulted in complete symptom resolution after 4 weeks. The tinea cruris recurred several months later after ACV application was stopped.
Based on the limited evidence, diluted acetic acid and ACV may help relieve symptoms of some skin fungal infections when applied topically. However, more clinical research is needed using consistent ACV concentrations on different types of fungal infections.
Does ACV cure toenail fungus?
Many natural health websites claim ACV can cure toenail fungus (onychomycosis). However, there are currently no scientific studies investigating the effects of ACV on toenail fungus in humans.
A few people share anecdotal reports and before-and-after pictures showing improvement in toenail fungus symptoms with regular application of ACV. But this doesn’t prove ACV cures fungal nail infections.
One laboratory study found undiluted ACV strongly inhibited the growth of several fungal species that commonly infect toenails. While promising, this doesn’t mean topical ACV can penetrate the toenails and eradicate established fungal infections.
Overall, there’s no scientific evidence ACV alone can cure toenail fungus. Effective medical treatments involve oral antifungal medications, nail removal, and applying prescription antifungals under the nail.
Can ACV cure yeast infections?
Apple cider vinegar is commonly used as a home remedy for vaginal yeast infections. Many websites claim douching with diluted ACV can relieve yeast infection symptoms by restoring the vagina’s normal pH and controlling fungal overgrowth.
But again, clinical evidence is lacking. Only one published study has examined the effects of ACV on vaginal health. It found:
- 14 healthy women who soaked a tampon in diluted ACV and inserted it into the vagina twice daily for five days experienced increased vaginal acidity and decreased vaginal discharge.
- However, the effects varied widely among individuals. The ACV tampon resulted in over-acidification of the vagina in two women, causing discomfort.
The study suggests ACV could influence vaginal pH and secretions. But it’s unknown whether ACV tampons can prevent or treat vaginal yeast infections. There are no studies comparing vaginal ACV to antifungal medications.
Douching with any vinegar, including ACV, may do more harm than good. The CDC advises against douching with vinegar or other substances because it can upset the vagina’s natural balance.
Other ways ACV may help treat fungal infections
Besides any direct antifungal properties, ACV may help treat fungal infections through other mechanisms, including:
- Improving gut health: ACV may promote growth of beneficial gut bacteria that help regulate immunity and reduce overgrowth of fungi like Candida albicans in the gut.
- Boosting immunity: Compounds like antioxidants, polyphenols and vitamins in ACV may help strengthen the immune system to better resist fungal infections.
- Enhancing skin acidity: Applying diluted ACV may create an acidic environment on skin that discourages fungal growth and infection.
However, these potential mechanisms need to be confirmed by human clinical studies.
Is apple cider vinegar safe to use for fungal infections?
When used appropriately, ACV appears to be mostly safe. But excessive or long-term use of ACV could have downsides like:
- Tooth enamel erosion due to acidity
- Throat/esophageal burns
- Low potassium levels
- Drug interactions
- Allergic reactions
To avoid side effects:
- Don’t take more than 2 tablespoons (30 mL) ACV per day when ingested.
- Always dilute ACV before applying to skin or mucous membranes.
- Rinse mouth after taking ACV and don’t brush teeth immediately after to protect enamel.
- Avoid using ACV if you take laxatives, diuretics, insulin or heart disease medications.
- Discontinue use if symptoms worsen or persist beyond one week.
Pregnant women should avoid ingesting ACV due to risks of low potassium and interactions with medications. Children and teens should not use ACV without medical supervision.
Conclusion
Based on limited scientific evidence, ACV demonstrates antifungal effects against some fungal species in test tubes. There’s some clinical evidence diluted ACV may help relieve symptoms of certain fungal infections when applied to the skin or mucosal membranes.
However, there are no human studies proving ACV cures toenail fungus, yeast infections or fungal infections in other parts of the body when ingested. Using ACV alone likely isn’t an effective treatment for most fungal infections.
ACV may provide some benefit when combined with prescription antifungal medications. But more clinical research is needed on the efficacy and optimal usage of ACV for fungal infections. Talk to your doctor before using ACV as a remedy.