Acne is one of the most common skin disorders in the world, affecting somewhere in their lives an estimated 85 percent of people. Conventional acne treatments can be costly and often have unwanted side effects such as dryness, redness, and irritation.
This has caused many people to wonder how acne can be treated naturally at home. The web is full of ideas, but do natural remedies work?
What leads to Acne?
Acne begins by clogging the pores in your skin with oil and dead skin cells. Each pore is connected to a sebaceous gland producing an oily substance known as sebum. Extra sebum can block pores and cause bacteria known as Propionibacterium acnes or P. acnes to grow.
- acnes are attacked by the white blood cells which contribute to skin inflammation and acne. Many acne cases are more severe than others, but whiteheads, blackheads, and pimples are typical symptoms.
Several factors contribute to the improvement of acne including genetics, diet, stress, changes in hormones, and infections.
Avocado Oil
Only when you felt you couldn’t even enjoy avocado any more, we found a whole new use for them: skincare. “Avocado oil is high in linoleic acid, linolenic acid, and oleic acid, minerals and vitamins A, C, D and E,” Dr. David Lortscher, founder of Curlogy, told TODAY Style, adding that it can be used topically to fight free radicals and produce radiant skin. “It is an ideal source of supplementation for raw, weakened, or chapped skin.”
Colloidal Oatmeal
They provide antioxidants and relief for hot, irritated skin when the oat kernels are ground into a fine powder. Dr. Lortscher recommends trying this as an ingredient in the drugstore aisle, pointing out Eucerin Skin Soothing Lotion is one of his preferred colloidal oatmeal over-the-counter items.
Ice
It may sound like the story of an old lady, but in fact, icing out the pimples may be one of the easiest ways to handle sore, bloated suckers. “Ice covered in a thin cloth spread on and off will help to bring down all swelling and hydrocortisone cream over-the-counter for spot care,” Abramowitz said.
Aloe Vera
You’ve already used Aloe Vera to cure sunburn but maybe you don’t know it can even be used to treat acne. “(It’s) well-known for its self-soothing and self-healing qualities (and is) perfect for the eyes,” said Dr. Lortscher, who prefers Burt ‘s Daily Facial Moisturizer as it extracts aloe as one of the key ingredients in it.
Egg White
“Egg whites have been declared as a home cure for wrinkles as well as acne blemishes — some people whip them into a meringue and either let it settle on their face, or blend the egg whites with other DIY ingredients,” Lortscher said. “As this dries, it forms a coating on the skin that provides a ‘tightened’ look. Yet any decrease in wrinkles will be very brief (think of minutes after wiping this off).
Quinoa
Here’s another fashionable superfood that’s found its way into the field of skincare. “If used as a tactile exfoliator, cooked quinoa can be a soft scrub — both non-abrasive and environmentally friendly — as compared to the polyethylene microbeads found in other exfoliating cleansers,” said Lortscher, who recommended Pacifica’s Quinoa Sensitive Super Soft Face Wash to treat acne at home.
Clean Diet
When the immune tract is disturbed, it will show itself as a breakdown. “Try to eliminate sugar to dairy because bacteria feed off it so it will make the acne worse based on the patient’s genetic profile,” Abramowitz said. When you’re having a trend of dark, cystic acne, speak to the doctor and see whether it can be related to the diet.
Honey
“Honey has been used for medical purposes for thousands of years; its protective function is believed to be due to antibacterial action,” Lortscher said. “Medical-grade honey such as manuka honey and Medihoney has been used to treat symptoms such as ulcers and wounds. While in most cases pure honey is usually fine to be used on the skin for acne and other skin problems, non-medical grade honey can contain viable bacterial spores and show less reliable antibacterial properties.
Look for masks with manuka honey, or use the ingredient as a soothing — and even delicious — antibacterial mask straight (you can find it online or at most health food stores).
Apple Cider Vinegar as Toner
Apple cider vinegar is popular for many applications as a cure-all but be careful when using. “Vinegar is an acid, which can be very unfriendly to bacteria, encouraging a light exfoliation,” Lortscher said. “Gradually add that to the skin until you plunge in. Most people enjoy using vinegar extracted from apple cider as a toner. I do not consider using a full-strength spray, as it will burn delicate skin. Rather dilute the vinegar with water from one part to four parts before use.
Be sure to test the mixture on your hand or inside your arm before using it on your face to make sure it can be handled by your skin.
Light
You may be shocked, but adding such lights to your humiliating skin issues may be as successful as adding luxurious lotions and creams. “Blue light serves like a disinfectant which can destroy acne-causing bacteria. Red light deals reduce inflammation,” Abramowitz said. Use an LED mask such as the Neutrogen Light Therapy Acne Mask and enjoy the effects at home.
Conclusion:
People can choose from a wide variety of home remedies for their acne care. However, not every solution can work for all, or in any event.
Please consult with a doctor about serious, chronic, dark, or painful acne sores before using natural remedies. Speak to a doctor about mild acne sores that are not responding to basic treatment or keep getting worse.