Home Remedies for Acne
Admit it! At some point of time, we all face a skin problem called acne. Acne is a skin condition that occurs due to the increase in production of sebum by the sebaceous glands and the changes in the hormones. Several other factors such as stress, pollution, and sleep deprivation contribute to acne. Acne often appears on the face, chest, and back. This problem aggravates when external triggering factors such as usage of the harsh skin care products on the skin. So, better try using the natural remedies that are cost effective and have no side effects.
Below are the natural remedies we can try for treating acne at home.
Tea tree oil:
Tea tree oil is an essential oil having anti-inflammatory properties. This essential oil can help treat acne by killing the bacteria that is responsible for the acne on the skin. However, you need to dilute tea tree oil.
How to use?
Mix a few drops of tea tree oil along with 15-20 drops of carrier oil such as olive oil and apply it on the skin using a cotton swab dipped in this concoction. Follow this remedy twice a day until it is no longer needed.
Caution:
You need to dilute tea tree oil with water or any carrier oil as it is strong in nature. Never use it internally.
Aloe Vera:
Aloe vera is one such herb that has a wide range of health benefits. It helps treat acne naturally. It has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Aloe vera helps soothe the inflamed skin and reduces the red bulges and swellings caused due to acne.
How to use?
Extract the pulp of aloe Vera by piercing an aloe Vera stem and apply it directly on the acne prone skin. Let it sit for a few minutes and wash off.
Caution:
Aloe Vera has no side-effects on the skin. However, it might initially cause little itching but it goes away after applying another coat of aloe vera pulp on the skin.
Lemon juice:
Lemon juice helps in treating acne and other such skin problems. It is a good source of vitamin C and also contains citrus properties that help in exfoliating the skin. It is an amazing astringent as well. It helps treat blemishes, acne scars, and redness on the skin and even helps whiten your skin naturally.
How to use?
Mix a few drops of lemon juice and milk. Use a cotton swab to apply this concoction on the acne affected areas and wash off after it completely dries. Follow this remedy for a few weeks until you experience better results.
Caution:
Don’t use lemon juice directly on the skin as it can cause rashes and blemishes if your skin is sensitive. Dilute it with milk, yogurt, or any other soothing ingredient.
Oatmeal:
Oatmeal is a great way to treat your acne and skin problems. Oatmeal mask, when applied on the skin, can help reduce the redness and inflammation that is accompanied along with the acne breakouts. You need to follow a complete acne treatment along with an oatmeal mask to treat acne.
How to use?
Take a small cup of oats i.e. one serving. Prepare oatmeal using oats, honey, and milk. Grind it to a smooth paste using a blender. Allow it to cool and then apply it on the skin as a mask. Wash off after it dries completely and use a good moisturizer.
Caution:
You need to include this oatmeal mask in your acne treating procedure for getting the best results. Simply applying this oatmeal mask will show no great results.
Honey avocado mask:
Acne can turn worse depending on the diet you follow. Avocado is one such healthy food that is high in fats and can help in treating acne when taken internally or applied topically. It contains a great combination of vitamins and other nutrients that help in treating acne. People with any skin type can try using avocado as it is mild in nature. Try choosing different combinations such as avocado and honey.
How to use?
Take one avocado and mash it up after peeling its outer surface. Stir it in a 15ml honey and mash it again to a fine paste. Apply it on the skin and leave it for a while. Wash off your skin after finishing this treatment and pat dry. Use a good moisturizer later.
Caution:
These ingredients are mild in nature and show no side-effects while treating acne prone skin.
Potato:
Potato helps in treating acne due to the presence of enzymes in it. This wonderful vegetable is rich in starchy carbohydrates and contains potassium, sulfur, chloride, and phosphorus. All these compounds help treat blemishes and acne scars. Also, the potent antioxidants present in potato help rejuvenate the growth of healthy cells
How to use?
Wash off your face and leave it damp. Take a potato and peel it skin. Grate it and apply this pulp on the acne prone skin. Let it sit for at least 15-20 minutes. Rinse off with warm water and pat dry.
Caution:
Using potato for treating acne has no side-effects.
Garlic:
Garlic is known for its antibacterial properties. It is an effective remedy for treating acne problems. You can ingest it or apply it topically after diluting it for treating acne and preventing acne outbursts.
How to use?
Extract the pulp or juice from a few garlic cloves. Dilute it with water. Use a cotton swab and dab this concoction on the acne prone skin. Let it sit for a few minutes before washing off the skin. Pat dry and apply a good moisturizer.
Caution:
Never apply garlic on the skin directly without diluting it with water. It has a strong compound which can actually worsen your acne problems when applied directly on the skin.
Baking soda:
Sodium bicarbonate, often called as baking soda can help in treating acne issues easily and naturally. This super ingredient has multiple uses in treating several skin problems such as sunburns, acne etc. It is known for its mild antiseptic properties that help dry the excess oil, kill the fungi and bacteria, and soak the extra oil present on the skin.
How to use?
Take 5 grams of baking soda and add a few drops of water to make a paste of medium consistency. Apply it on the skin and wash off after it completely dries within 10 minutes. For exfoliating the dead skin cells present on the skin, mix equal proportions of baking soda and water. Gently massage the skin and then rinse off with warm water. Pat dry and moisturize your skin by applying a good moisturizer.
Caution:
Don’t add too much of baking soda as it can dry out your skin. Also, gently scrub your face using this baking soda concoction else it can lead to acne breakouts. Use a good moisturizer after following this treatment to retain the lost moisture.
Orange peel powder:
Acne is caused due to over-accumulation of oil and bacteria that blocks the pores. So, use an orange peel powder mask in your acne treatment routine. Orange peel powder contains citric, astringent properties and can help in soaking up the excess oil present in the skin. Vitamin C in it helps in rejuvenating the growth of the healthy cells. Also, exfoliating your skin using this remedy can help in clearing off the dead skin cells.
How to use?
Take 15 grams of orange peel powder. Add a few drops of lemon juice and water and make a paste with a thin consistency. Apply it on your skin and let it sit for at least 20 minutes. Wash off after it dries completely. Pat dry and apply a good moisturizer.
Caution:
Orange peel powder therapy for acne treatment can dry your skin due to its astringent and citric properties. So, use a good moisturizer after this treatment.
Strawberry-honey mask:
Honey and strawberries are helpful in treating acne naturally. Both these ingredients are used to scrub, cleanse, and moisturize your skin. Strawberries contain salicylic acid which is one of the major ingredients used in several acne treatments. It helps in clearing off the dead skin cells present on the skin, helps in unblocking the clogged pores, and helps neutralize the bacteria. It even helps in shrinking the pores a little more which can further prevent from clogging up and encourage the growth of the healthy cells. Honey has anti-inflammatory properties and can help in treating acne.
How to use?
Take three or four fresh strawberries and mash them. Add a few drops of honey as per requirement. Wash off your face and pat dry before applying this mask on the skin. Leave it for 20-25 minutes after application and then wash off. Pat dry and apply a moisturizer. Follow this remedy twice a week until you see best results.
Caution:
You skin may dry out while following this treatment. So, you need to use a good moisturizer that suits your skin type.
Honey and yogurt mask:
Some people say that using lactose products can increase the acne outbreaks. However, when applied topically lactose products show no side-effects. Use yogurt and honey and prepare a mixture. Yogurt can help soothe the inflamed skin and this treatment can help reduce red acne bulges.
How to use?
To prepare this concoction, add one spoonful of curd and a few drops of honey. Mix this well and then apply it on the acne prone skin using a cotton swab. Apply another layer of this mixture after the initial one completely dries off. After 20-25 minutes wash off your skin and pat dry.
Caution:
This treatment has no side-effects and can be followed twice a week for greater results.
Apple Cider Vinegar:
Apple cider vinegar helps in treating acne naturally. Firstly, it deals with the root cause by killing the bacteria that is responsible for the acne. It is alkaline in nature and can maintain the pH balance of the skin by making it hard for the bacteria to live. Also, use lemon juice along with ACV in this treatment because of the astringent properties of the lemon which can soak up the excess oil present on the skin.
How to use?
Wash off your face and pat dry. Use raw ACV and dilute it with water in the ratio of 1:10 i.e. for one part of ACV mix 10 parts of water. Add a few drops of lemon juice to this solution. Use a cotton swab to apply this solution on the skin. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes. Wash off and pat dry. Follow this remedy once every week until you experience best results.
Caution:
Don’t overdo this treatment as it can dry out your skin and make it harsh. Also, you need to apply a good moisturizer after following this treatment.
Brown Sugar:
Brown sugar scrub is helpful in treating acne prone skin. It acts as an exfoliator and helps in unblocking the pores. Prepare your own brown sugar scrub by adding ingredients such as olive oil, honey etc. All these ingredients together can help in getting rid of the acne woes.
How to use?
Take a cup of brown sugar and add an equal proportion of white sugar. Add 5 grams of rock salt to it along with a few drops of vanilla extract, and a 5 ml of olive oil. Mix all these ingredients well. Now use this mixture to scrub your skin gently to get rid of the clogged pores and dead skin cells. Wash off after a few minutes and pat dry. Apply a good moisturizer.
Caution:
Don’t overdo this treatment as it can cause scars on a sensitive skin and might even lead to acne outbursts. Gently exfoliate your skin and make sure you clean it off completely leaving no residues.
Green Tea:
Green tea contains antimicrobial properties and potent antioxidant known as EGCG that help combat acne. This antioxidant helps in reducing the production of sebum, growth of the bacteria, and inflammation. Also, drinking green tea can help detoxify your body and applying it topically can help fight acne.
How to use?
Prepare green tea by adding a green tea bag in 100ml water. Allow it to boil. Cool it and use this green tea to wash off the face. You can even put that green tea bag on the acne prone skin. Follow this remedy several times a day.
Caution:
This treatment has no side-effects and shows amazing results.
