Acne, what a pain in the neck, and it can be literally just that. There are so many different types of treatments for acne. Skin cleansers, skin masks, facial peels, over the counter medications, laser treatments, surgery, birth control pills, hormone treatment and the list goes on. Perhaps you don’t feel comfortable with all these processed medical treatments. Maybe none of these are working for you; well here are some home remedies that have proven to work over years.
Home Remedies for Acne
- Chamomile Tea – Chamomile tea is best known for its use in helping relax people after a stressful day. However few people know about its benefits for acne. It is a natural anti-inflammatory and when applied topically to an outbreak it can help reduce acne flare-ups. To use soak a chamomile tea bag in a cup of cold water and place the tea bag directly on the skin for roughly 30 seconds. Chamomile can also be used in a facial mask. Brew a cup of chamomile tea and make it quite strong. Steep it for at least 5 minutes. Then get a very ripe banana and mash it up and add a few teaspoons of the strong chamomile tea to the banana as a paste. Apply the paste to the skin with a Q-tip or cotton ball to the affected areas. It is important not to use your finger as there can be bacteria on the finger tips.
- Tea Tree Oil – Tea tree oil is a native to Australia and is a pleasant-smelling essential oil extracted from the leaves of a tree native to Australia, Melaleuca alternifolia, and has been shown to have both antibacterial and cosmetic properties. In a recent study comparing tea tree oil and benzoyl peroxide it was found that while benzoyl peroxide worked faster tea tree oil produces significantly less side effects like dryness, stinging etc. It can be found in numerous health food stores. It is currently an ingredient in many current skin care products. If you are interested in reading more about the study here is the link: http://ukpmc.ac.uk/abstract/MED/2145499/reload=0;jsessionid=Z2cNg3FX0UP5V1dUww03.24
- Strawberries – Most people don’t realize that strawberries are a great natural source of salicylic acid. If you are not familiar with salicylic acid, it is a product that is common in many commercial acne products. Salicylic acid is derived from the bark of a willow tree and helps plants which contain it conduct photosynthesis. Or in other words it helps them function to live and helps protect. Many fruits and vegetables are natural sources of salicylic acid, especially strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, cantaloupes, dates, raisins, guavas, apricots, green pepper, olives, tomatoes, radish, chicory and mushrooms. Some herbs and spices contain quite high amounts of salicylates while most dairy and meats do not. Beans, nuts and seeds don’t contain large amounts at all on the average but almonds, water chestnuts and peanuts do have high amounts. So in order to use strawberries to treat your acne you can make a facial mask. Mix ½ cup of pureed strawberries with about a tablespoon of sour cream and use weakly. If you don’t have a lot of time you can actually cut a strawberry in half and rub it directly onto your outbreak in order to help treat it.
- Saw Palmetto – There hasn’t been a lot of studies conducted on saw palmetto however it is on the increase in showing it has potential for its effectiveness on acne. Saw palmetto has beenshown in some studies to help minimize the conversion of testosterone into DHT (dihydrotestosterone), which makes it very effective in treating stubborn acne caused by fluctuations in testosterone levels. What is even better is that it can also help minimize unwanted facial hair in women!
- Colloidal Oatmeal – Colloidal oatmeal is created when rolled oats have been processed into a fine powder. Once the oatmeal is turned into colloidal oatmeal you will then take 2 cups of the oatmeal and mix it with water that is purified or distilled. If you use regular tap water it canimpact the effectiveness of the treatment due to the amount of chlorine. Add enough water to make it paste like or the consistency of hand or skin lotion. Don’t apply to the eye area or near mucous membranes like the mouth or nose. Apply to those areas of the face and body that are affected with acne. Place it on with about the same thickness as a facial mask that you would put on over-night and leave it on for about fifteen or twenty minutes. Make sure you remove it with fresh water and it is cold and rinse it thoroughly. You can use this every day and put it on in the morning and night. Your skin will feel fresh, soft, not too dry and it will glow.
Alternative Treatments
There are also many holistic remedies that can be used to treat acne. These are often safer alternatives to the medications which western medical doctors often prescribe.
- Acupuncture – Studies have been conducted regarding acupuncture which have found that acupuncture is about 90% – 98% effective in treating acne. There are some adjunctive techniques that used by practitioners of Chinese medicine which can help reduce acne. Cupping which is a procedure where cups are applied with suction onto the skin can be very effective in reducing acne. Herbal therapy is also very effective in treating acne.
- Reflexology – In Chinese medicine there are parts of the body that are linked to a microsystem, or basically one part of the body that is mapped to other parts of the body. This is what reflexology is based on. On the hands a feet there is a mapping of the entire body and by stimulating these parts of the body physiological changes can occur that will help the body heal itself. It has been proven effective in treating acne, and once understood, a person can stimulate these areas of the body at home as well.
- Hydrotherapy – Using steam and heat can open the pores and help drain them. This can also help heal the acne and treat outbreaks. Yarrow is a plant that can be used to help heal the skin, if you take a few tablespoons of it and place it into the water which is being boiled to steam. Place your face close enough to feel the steam but far enough away to not be burned.
- Stress Reduction – reducing stress can help control the secretion of some of these hormones that can lead to the increase in acne.
Acne can be a difficult problem to deal with. Hopefully some of these tips will help you in your fight against acne and set you on the road to cleaner, glowing and more beautiful skin!
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