If you have a urinary tract infection (UTI) or any kind of related condition, you might be interested in knowing whether vinegar baths can be useful in the management of urinary tract infections (UTIs) and how much help can they offer in that regard.
Vinegar baths can offer some help to UTI sufferers if used in the right way due to the fact that most kinds of vinegar possess antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Still, vinegar baths should not be used as a replacement for professional, medical treatment or else this complementary remedy can backfire and cause more harm than good.
This article will contain all the information you need to know about vinegar baths and how helpful can they be in the management of UTIs and how best to use them for that purpose and more.
Is soaking in a vinegar bath good for UTI and why?
Most kinds of vinegar contain a lot of healthy ingredients that can promote health through drinking them and even possibly through applying them on the skin.
Anecdotal reports by professional dermatologists and not just by patients point out to the amazing antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects that vinegar can exert when applied on the skin of those who have acne and other dermatological conditions.
Not just anecdotal evidence, but there are also numerous studies that confirm the benefits of applying diluted vinegar on the skin for various dermatological issues that have microbial or inflammatory origins or both.
This means that vinegar cannot only exert these beneficial effects by being taken through the oral route, but it can also exert these effects topically.
Vinegar owes these healthy topical effects to the presence of organic acids, phenolic compounds and other kinds of healthy compounds.
The most common route for the transmission of UTI, especially for women, is from the rectum to the urethra.
So the area of the skin between the opening of the anus and the beginning of the urethra is extremely susceptible to bacterial invasion, and possibly, colonization.
If we could apply something on that area that has the ability to kill potential migrating bacteria and maybe has some anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that can enhance the immune defenses in that area of the skin and repair it, then that would be greatly helpful.
Oh, wait!!! we do have that something. It’s vinegar, and we can apply it by putting it in our bathtub water.
Acetic acid and organic acids found in vinegar can kill UTI bacteria
Acetic acid is the natural enemy of microbes, especially the E. coli bacteria and this acid happens to be the main constituent of vinegar in its different and multiple forms and variations.
Research shows that acetic and other organic acids found in different kinds of vinegar have the ability to cause lysis (break down) to the outer membrane of different kinds of bacteria including the UTI-causing E. coli bacteria, thereby killing them.
Another way in which organic acids can prevent the growth of bacteria is by enhancing the immune system’s white blood cells’ ability to engulf invading bacteria. See the research.
This means that vinegar has the ability to boost the immune system and strengthen it in the face of infections like UTI.
Just as vinegar can prevent bacterial growth when used on foods as a preservative, when used as a solution for ear infections and even when consumed orally, it is natural to assume that it can exert these same effects when applied on the skin.
Recent research and anecdotal reports by patients and doctors likewise are all in support of that idea although it hasn’t been fully tested yet.
Because most UTIs, especially in women, are acquired through bacterial migration from the rectum to the urethra, protecting that area of skin between those two parts of the body can have some healing effects.
Soaking in a vinegar bath can prevent bacterial growth or overgrowth in that area, thereby stopping the E. coli bacteria or other kinds of bacteria in their tracks before reaching up to the urethra and potentially causing a urinary tract infection.
And just as we said because the organic acids found in vinegar can boost the immune system’s ability to fight bacteria, they can exert that same effect on the skin, strengthening the immune defenses there against migrating bacteria, and thereby preventing a looming UTI.
The phenolic compound content of vinegar is of great importance.
It is a scientific fact that phenolic compounds in general possess a lot of healthy effects on the human body in general, especially if ingested orally through some kind of food that contains them, like fruits vegetables or even vinegar.
But what if we apply those flavonoids and flavanoids and other kinds of phenolic compounds topically on the skin by soaking for some minutes in a vinegar bath?
Well, some of these compounds can penetrate into the deep layers of the skin and from there, they can exert their beneficial antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects on the skin.
The others may not be able to penetrate deeply into the skin but they can still show their beneficial effects on the outer layers of the skin, and the scientific and anecdotal evidence backing this idea is mounting.
In fact, this study shows exactly the great dermatological effects that phenolic compounds can exert when applied on the skin.
Environmental factors and bacterial, fungal or even viral infections can cause inflammation in the skin.
In turn, a skin that has a lot of inflammatory cytokines or other pro-inflammatory mediators is susceptible to bacterial invasion or overgrowth.
Inflammatory skin has a weaker immune response towards infections, and UTIs are likely to occur because of such kinds of skin.
So, the application of phenolic compounds through vinegar baths on such kinds of skin could prevent inflammation and enhance the immune response against infections like UTI.
The antioxidant effect that phenolic compounds can have on the skin means that they can prevent skin cells from being damaged by external factors, like chemicals, irritants or a lurking bacterial infection, and that can further improve our immune defenses against urinary tract infections.
Because of all of these qualities, the phenolic compounds found in different kinds of vinegar, especially fruit vinegars, can have a protective effect on the skin in general and especially on that more vulnerable area between the rectum and urethra.
Thereby, they can have a protective effect against UTI.
Other beneficial compounds in vinegar for UTI sufferers
Anti-inflammatory and immune-improving effects are not only exclusive to polyphenolic compounds and organic acids, but there are also other kinds of compounds in vinegar that can exert these effects in addition to them.
Melanoidins and tetramethylpurazine are two kinds of compounds that have great antioxidant qualities and are found in different kinds of fruit vinegar.
As we said these qualities and effects could have a repairing effect on the skin around the genitals which could prevent the genesis of UTI.
More benefits from vinegar for people who have UTI
Another way in which women can acquire UTI is when bacteria, traveling from the rectum, instead of attacking the urethra first, colonize the vagina and displace the vaginal flora. This condition can be called vulvovaginitis.
Vulvovaginitis happens when any kind of irritation or inflammation occurs in the vagina. This inflammation could be caused by irritants, changes in the vaginal flora or it could be caused by an infection like a viral, fungal or bacterial infection.
This condition is a major UTI risk factor because in this condition not only bacteria can use the vagina to spread to the urinary tract, but an inflammatory or irritated vagina has a weaker defense against infections.
This can attract bacteria and other microorganisms of different sorts to attack the genital area and potentially cause a UTI.
One of the treatments for this condition even if it was not of bacterial origins is actually a vinegar bath. Actually, a vinegar bath could be the only kind of treatment that is required, especially for mild cases of vulvovaginitis.
So, this is a piece of great scientific evidence that vinegar baths do work and do have some benefits for UTI patients and for preventing UTI risk factors. See this study.
However, you should absolutely consult your doctor if you think you have vulvovaginitis because you don’t want to delay necessary treatment, that can prevent your condition from deteriorating
The colonizing bacteria can use the vagina as a kind of base to attack other parts around the genital area, like the urethra and that could cause a UTI of course.
A vinegar bath with its antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects can offer some help in terms of fighting vaginal infections and restoring the normal vaginal flora.
This can play a positive role in treating and preventing UTIs especially if used in conjugation with professional medical counseling.
This study shows that apple cider vinegar can be used to support the immune system of immunocompromised patients who are at risk of acquiring new infectious diseases due to the beneficial antibacterial and anti-inflammatory roles that it plays.
A less common route of infection for UTI is when bacteria travel from the rectum to the lymph nodes found between the colon and the prostate in men.
From the prostate, bacteria can cause a prostate infection and spread to the bladder or invade the bladder directly and cause an infection there.
The initial step for the bacteria in this route begins from the rectum, so a bath that can protect that area with its antimicrobial and even anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects can provide some help in terms of treating and preventing UTIs that come through that route.
Vinegar baths can have an effect on people who have UTI in the following ways:
_ The vinegar used in the bath can have an antibacterial effect on the skin in general and on the portion of skin around the genitals, which can prevent germs, microbes and bacteria, like E. coli bacteria, from crossing that distance and causing an infection.
_ The vinegar used in a bath could have an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect on the skin, and these effects could enhance the immune response of especially the outer skin layers against germs and microbes that could potentiate infections like UTI.
We know that the area of the skin around the genitals is an infection-prone area, therefore using something that can have an anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect on it is very beneficial.
_ A small portion of diluted vinegar could enter into the urethra of the person taking a vinegar bath, and that small portion could indeed practice its effects on the microbes or bacteria that could be residing in the first part of the urethra, especially if the person has a UTI.
_ Because vinegar is a concentrated acidic solution, it can have an irritating effect on the skin or it can cause allergy, especially for those who have more allergic skin than others or those who might be allergic to vinegar.
Even those individuals who do not have sensitive skin might suffer from allergic reactions or irritation to their skin if they do not dilute vinegar enough in their bath or if they apply it directly to their skin.
To learn about other kinds of baths and their effects on people who have UTI, see our Baths for UTI article.
What are the side effects of using a vinegar bath for UTI people?
There could be a lot of unwanted or side effects that can emerge from soaking in a vinegar bath for UTI patients and for those who are prone to UTIs. Mainly they are irritation and allergy-related side effects.
Vinegar baths of course might cause allergies to people who have sensitive skin or to people who are allergic to vinegar.
If not diluted to the right degree, vinegar baths can cause irritation to the skin even for non-allergic people
There are many reports of people who have come to the emergency room because they have received a chemical burn due to using undiluted vinegar directly on their skin or due to not diluting vinegar enough with water before applying it to their skin. See this study.
How to use vinegar baths in the best way to improve UTI?
Because vinegar is highly acidic a vinegar bath can cause irritation to the urethra or to the sensitive skin around the genitalia or to the skin in general, and that, of course, can reflect negatively, especially on UTI patients or on people who want to prevent UTI.
This can be avoided by diluting vinegar to the right degree in the bath, however, there are some people who could be allergic to one or more than one kind of vinegar, so these people should avoid the vinegar baths that cause them irritation.
As we said the vinegar used in a bath to improve UTI symptoms and condition has to be diluted to no less than the right degree of dilution so as not to cause side effects.
Also, it has to be diluted to no more than the right degree so as to let it exert its beneficial effects on the skin, especially in the area around the genitalia.
The right vinegar dilution ratio or vinegar-to-water ratio that you should use in a bath is about 3-5%, which means that in a 135L bathtub, you should use about 500 milliliters(ML) of vinegar.
In this way, the probability of allergies and irritation of the skin from vinegar would be reduced to a minimum, and the mixture would still retain most of the vinegar’s antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities.
To test yourself, soak your palm or a part of your hand in the vinegar bath for a few minutes and see if your skin becomes irritated or develops any kind of allergic reaction. If not, then you are good to go.
Soak in the bathtub for about 15-30 minutes and after that take a shower and wash yourself thoroughly with water.
Vinegar baths for children.
For toddlers and younger children, I wouldn’t recommend vinegar baths because their skin is usually so sensitive.
For older children above 6 years of age, I would also not recommend using a vinegar bath for them.
However, if you want to, you can dilute the vinegar used in the bath even more than you would for adults and then let the children test the bath using the same hand-soaking method, and if no allergic reaction develops, then they can stay in the bathtub for a few minutes only.
After soaking in the bath, children should also be rinsed thoroughly with water.
What are the best kinds of vinegar baths for UTI?
Generally speaking, it would be best to select a vinegar variety that hasn’t gone through a lot of processing because recent research indicates that extra processing reduces the phenolic and organic acids content of vinegar.
Processing can also reduce the antioxidant activity of vinegar in general, so it would be better to select an organic or a traditional and less processed variety of vinegar for your bath as opposed to the more processed versions.
Let’s begin by exclusion.
White vinegar is basically acetic acid and water, and while acetic acid does have antibacterial activities, I doubt that it’s going to be of great help in the absence of phenolic compounds and other organic acids that may offer additional antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Balsamic vinegar does have antioxidant activity because of the presence of melanoid compounds, and it also has a large phenolic compound content, especially the traditional version, and we know that phenolic compounds are responsible for most of the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties found in vinegar.
So, balsamic vinegar could be a good choice for UTI baths, especially if it was the traditional variety.
Fruit vinegars are generally helpful for people who have UTI because in their different varieties, they do contain the antibacterial acetic acid and they also contain other organic acids that can offer great anti-inflammatory and immune-strengthening effects to UTI people in addition to their antimicrobial effects.
Moreover, fruit vinegars are rich in phenolic and flavonoid compounds that have extremely helpful anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties even when used on the skin.
That’s why fruit vinegars including grape vinegar and apple cider vinegar are the best kinds of vinegar to be used in a bath for UTI people.
Bragg’s Organic Apple Cider Vinegar is the most trust worthy apple cider vinegar brand.
This version of apple cider vinegar comes naturally with the highest concentrations of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial compounds because it was not subjected to much processing. check its price on Amazon.
The Japanese rice vinegar is also a rich source of acetic acid, organic compounds and phenolic compounds, so it’s also a good option to be used in a bath for UTI people.
For other kinds of vinegar, generally speaking, if you see that they contain a lot of organic acids, phenolic and flavonoid compounds and a good percentage of acetic acid, then generally they would be a good option for UTI people.
Be on the lookout for carbohydrates and sugars because these ingredients are not good for UTI people whether they were used in a bath or consumed orally.
We have now come to the end of our article, so If you need any more help with your UTI, feel free to contact us or check the multitude of articles we have about this subject on our website KNOW & TREAT UTI.
Stay healthy and have a wonderful rest of your day.