White Vinegar for Folliculitis

I had itching and then bumps on my thighs. Because of the location, I thought it might be "jock itch, " so I tried an anti fungal cream for two weeks. Nothing! Tried aloe, A&D ointment, tea tree oil -- nothing worked.

Then I tried the white vinegar compress, 2-3 times per day and within a couple of days, voila! I used one part white vinegar to 3 parts water. I soak a small washcloth in the solution, then leave it on the affected area for about 20 minutes. Works like a charm. This was great, because I had called a dermatologist and couldn't get an early appointment. Saved myself $$.

Highly recommended!

Anyway, after reading the postings here I decided to try white vinegar. Nothing fancy, when I got home from work I simply splashed it into the palm of my hand and applied it to the affected areas. It stung a bit and of course it smells quite strongly, but I allowed it to air dry then went to bed after a long night shift.

So far, I'm amazed at the difference after just one application! I have been suffering from a particularly bad recurrence after finishing a seven month course of antibiotics (that offered some relief but also seems to have developed a stronger, resistant condition), and the spots on my legs were quite large and painful. When I got up after a good sleep the difference was profound: the inflammation was considerably reduced, the itching also reduced, and the spots seem to have shrunk quite dramatically. And this is just after day one!

I'm so excited that I may have finally stumbled upon an effective remedy. Thanks to previous posters for their contributions that have pointed me in, hopefully, the right direction. Good luck to all in beating this curse.

I've had folliculitis twice within the past 7 months. The first time was very very bad case of folliculitis. They looked like large pimples with hair in the center. It was all over my legs. Because they were so bad, I submerged and agitated vinegar over each leg for about an hour every night and then I let it air dry. I did this for about 6 weeks. 'The second time I got folliculitis was about a month ago. I saw the familiar tell tale signs of folliculitis starting on my calves. The small red bumps were forming, and at the center were the hair follicles. So I immediately started the vinegar treatment that night. This one took me about 3 weeks or maybe a little more. Every night I'd submerge and agitate vinegar over the affected area (and maybe a little more)

It does smell, but if you let it air dry before going to bed and then showering in the morning, the smell shouldn't be noticable to others at all if you wear jeans over it.

A little warning, I do swear that this treatment works, but it does tend to burn like crazy. This can be the most depressing hour of your life because it does burn, but the burn only lasts for about the first week or so of treatment. maybe a little longer. You'll notice that the affected spots will dry up and form scabs and eventually flake off.

Do not scratch at the spots. I suggest wearing socks over your hands and maybe evening tying them up at night when sleeping.

This truly does work!! try it. Beats antibiotics and doctor visits. I buy 3 gallons of white distilled vinegar and pour em into a bucket and put one leg at a time in. I use my hands to scoop vinegar all over the legs. I change vinegar whenever it gets cloudy.

My dermatologist had me on minocyclin 100mg for 3 months along with duac for 3 -4 months with no success. He couldn't figure out how to cure it. I gave up on him and gave in to my mom's suggestion of trying vinegar treatment. This treatment is faster than the conventional treatment of using duac for the suggested 8 weeks.