Acne can be very hard to deal with. It is painful, unsightly, and can lower confidence for just about anyone, especially if you are an adult. Most of these treatments can be found around your house already, and can make a big difference in keeping your complexion clean and clear.
Here are 8 best at home remedies to try on your face to eliminate acne once and for all:
#1: Oil Cleansing
Using a cleanser on your face is one of the most basic acne prevention methods there is, because less bacteria means less acne, right?
Simply using water and soap does not always fully remove makeup, dirt, oil, toxins, and other impurities from the face, which means they stick around to clog up your pores. A great alternative to traditional cleansers is to replace the cleanser with an oil to clean your face with.
The reason this works, is many makeup products are oil based, so oil will remove them better than water and soap. This will help ensure that all of the product has been washed away, and will help prevent more breakouts from the dirty stuff like makeup and sunscreen. The best method is to apply the oil to dry skin, and remove with a warm, wet washcloth
#2: Baking Soda and Honey
Baking soda is a natural cleanser, and is used to clean many things. Honey is a natural anti bacterial and anti inflammatory, and has been used for generations to treat a variety of ailments.
Mixing these two together can help kill the bacteria on the face that cause acne, gently clean out the pores so they don’t become clogged, and soothe redness, painful blemishes, and irritation.
The best method to use this mixture is to mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda with 2 teaspoon of honey and rub on your face. Allow to sit for 10-15 minutes, then wash it off with a warm washcloth
#3: Aspirin
Surprisingly, aspirin can be a great acne treatment when applied topically. The reason it works so well is that it contains salicylic acid, which is an active ingredient in many face washes and acne treatment products. Not only will it help clear the pores out and dry up excess oil, but it can also reduce the redness and irritation from blemishes and cystic acne.
The best way to apply this is to crush an aspirin pill and mix with a small amount of water until a paste forms. Apply as a spot treatment to irritated and inflamed areas on the face and let dry. Gently wash it off with warm water or a warm washcloth
#4: Watermelon
A recent viewer on Dr. Oz swears by her watermelon and banana fruit mask, and it turns out there may be some truth to her claims. Watermelon has very high water content, and mixed with the highly nutritious banana can possibly be a treatment worth a try.
For best results, mix a teaspoon of mashed banana with a teaspoon of watermelon juice. Mix it well and apply to the face as a mask. Allow it to sit for 10-15 minutes and wash off with warm water or a washcloth. It is gentle enough for daily use, but should start to clear your skin within a couple of applications.
#5: Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is being recognized more and more as a miracle treatment for a growing list of ailments. Malic acid is a key component of apple cider vinegar, and is great at keeping both bacteria and fungal infections at bay. It can also help heal the blemishes caused by acne, and repairs the damage the skin has sustained due to recurring breakouts. The high acidity of the vinegar can help clear out pores and control oil production also
For best results, use apple cider vinegar diluted with water or witch hazel on a cotton swap or clean washcloth as a toner directly on the face.
#6: Toothpaste
Using a plain white toothpaste as a spot treatment for breakouts and blemishes can be a great way to clear up acne. It contains powerful cleaning agents and the mint can help soothe red and irritated skin. Even though there has not been scientific proof to back it up, it has repeatedly shown to dry out pimples and calm the angry redness of breakouts
To use for an acne treatment, dab a small spot of toothpaste directly on the blemish. Do not use gel varieties as they are not as effective. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes and wash off with warm water or a warm washcloth
#7: Don’t Use Your Fingers!
DO NOT POP THE PIMPLES WITH YOUR NAILS/FINGERS!! As tempting and annoying as it is, do not pop any of the acne on your face with your fingers! It can lead to bacteria getting in the pore and infecting it, deep scarring, and more acne from the oils on your skin!
Bacteria is one of the biggest reasons for acne, and popping a pimple with your fingers is a sure fire way to add bacteria into the already inflamed pore! This can lead to more breakouts, infection, and worse! Pressing too hard on the skin around the pimple can scar the skin around it, also, and cause more redness, irritation, and pain.
If you have a pimple that has a ‘white head’ and the pressure is becoming painful, use a sterilized needle to gently puncture the top and drain the fluid. Follow that with a toner or skin treatment to help heal the blemish and soothe the redness.
#8: Essential oils
Essential oils are taking the natural health market by storm. The growing list of things that essential oils can help with includes acne and other blemishes! Many essential oils are soothing for the redness (lavender, melaleuca, helichrysum, rose), can help penetrate deep to clear the bacteria out (melaleuca, peppermint, eucalyptus), and more.
Some essential oils can be quite potent, so it is important to dilute them 1:1 with a carrier oil like coconut oil, jojoba, or others. It is also good to try the oil on a small part of the skin before trying it on the entire face.
Best At Home Acne Remedies Resources
Acne doesn’t have to ruin your life. If you take control of the symptoms and use these natural remedies, you can clear your skin, get your confidence back, and live better.
Some resources for additional information are:
http://www.healthextremist.com/10-best-all-natural-remedies-for-acne/
https://draxe.com/essential-oils-for-acne/
