# Why is vinegar considered a treatment for sunburn

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-vinegar-considered-a-treatment-for-sunburn/307550>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 9, 2005, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-vinegar-considered-a-treatment-for-sunburn/307550 "2005-06-09T02:47:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2005, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-vinegar-considered-a-treatment-for-sunburn/307550/1 "2005-06-09T02:47:12Z")

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What about vinegar makes it a treatment for sunburn? I keep reading that applying it to sunburnt skin takes away the itching and burning sensation. Is it the pH of the vinegar or something else?

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**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2005, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-vinegar-considered-a-treatment-for-sunburn/307550/2 "2005-06-09T06:09:48Z")

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I haven’t heard that one before. Vinegar is basically diluted acetic acid and that seems an odd thing to put on skin that’s already burnt. All the advice I’ve ever heard suggests that sunburn should be treated in the same way as other burns to the skin i.e. with cold running water.

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**Author:** ![Queen\_Tonya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/4491bb/32.png) [@Queen\_Tonya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Tonya)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2005, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-vinegar-considered-a-treatment-for-sunburn/307550/3 "2005-06-09T12:05:00Z")

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Could it be that vinegar evaporates quickly, thereby cooling the skin? Wouldn’t actually treat anything but it’d feel better getting the heat out, maybe?

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**Author:** ![sunfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/96bed5/32.png) [@sunfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunfish)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2005, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-vinegar-considered-a-treatment-for-sunburn/307550/4 "2005-06-09T12:31:43Z")

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I haven’t used vinegar for sunburn, but I have used [witch hazel](http://www.drugdigest.org/DD/DVH/HerbsWho/0,3923,4050%7CWitch%2BHazel,00.html) with success.

The witch hazel link mentions that it’s good for topical treatment of minor cuts and skin irritations because of its astringent properties:

> [@](#):
>
> Frequently labeled as “witch hazel water”, witch hazel is most commonly used topically to relieve itchy or irritated skin. Chemicals in witch hazel cause skin proteins to tighten and make a protective layer over the damaged tissue. Due to this “astringent” effect, witch hazel is often used to stop minor bleeding. Therefore, it may be included in after-shave lotions that lessen razor burn and control bleeding from nicks. It may also relieve other minor skin surface irritations such as cold sores, insect bites, scrapes, and sunburn.

Vinegar is certainly astringent, so I suppose it might be used then with similar effects to witch hazel.