Natural Home Remedies for Acne

The Five Best Natural Home Remedies for Acne and Pimples

If you are a teenager, the chances are that you are here looking for a natural home remedy for acne and pimples. Of course, you don't like the look of that zit on your face and you want to get rid of it as fast as you can. No one likes a pimple on the face and it doesn't matter whether you are a teenager or an adult.

Before we go and look at some fantastic natural home remedies for acne and pimples, let's have a brief look at what is acne and what are its causes.

What is acne?

Acne refers to those bumps on your face. If you are a teenager, these bumps are mostly caused due to hormonal changes characteristic of puberty. You are also more likely to get acne on the face if your parents had it when they were teenagers. So, blame it on your genes!

Most teenagers and even adults get acne in the form of blackheads, whiteheads, pimples and cysts on their face, neck, upper back, chest and shoulders. If you have consulted a skin specialist for your condition, you probably have heard the name 'acne vulgaris'. The word 'vulgaris' means 'of the common type' and it is exactly as it means, that is, this is the most common type of acne.

Now, let's have a look at how acne occurs.

What causes acne?

The pores or the hair follicles that you see on your face contain oil glands. These oil glands are medically called the sebaceous glands. These oil glands produce a substance called sebum. This substance moisturizes your skin and hair and is quite useful for the skin. However, when you are a teenager, the hormones stimulate these glands, thus, increasing sebum production.

As more sebum is produced, the pores tend to get clogged. These pores get infected with bacteria. The result is quite obvious on your face. There is swelling and redness indicating that acne has just hit your face.

Now, before we have a look at some natural home remedies for acne and pimples, let's find out the difference between whiteheads, blackheads and pimples.

What is the difference between blackheads, whiteheads and pimples?

As mentioned above, increased sebum production causes the pores to be clogged. A whitehead occurs when the pore closes. However, you can still see it in the form of a white bulge on the skin.

When the same clogged pore stays open, it gets darkish in color. This is a blackhead.

A pimple occurs when the pore is open and bacteria, dead skin cells, and sebum enter the skin. These pimples are sometimes filled with pus.

If the pores open up too deep into the skin, it can take the form of cysts and boils. These are often quite painful and much larger than the usual small pimple.  

Now that we know a little bit about acne, let's move on to how to treat pimples.

Here is a look at the five best natural home remedies for acne and pimples.

The Top Five Natural Home Remedies for Acne and Pimples

Honey

Since it has anti-bacterial properties and also quite gentle on sensitive skin, honey can safely be used by anyone as a treatment for acne. You can apply honey as a face mask once or twice a week.

Alternatively, you can even mix it with a little bit of cinnamon powder. Cinnamon is also known for its antibacterial properties. Just mix cinnamon powder and honey and apply it on your pimples before going to bed at night. You will surely see a difference within a week. 

Sandalwood

Another very effective natural home remedy for acne and pimples is sandalwood powder. This has a cooling effect on the skin and also has anti-bacterial properties. The best way to reap the benefits of this home remedy is to make a paste of sandalwood powder and rose water. Apply it on the face and wash it off after about 20 minutes. This is not only effective for the treatment of pimples but is also an effective remedy for treating acne scars.

                                                   

Turmeric

Known for its antibacterial properties, turmeric is a well-known spice used in Indian cuisine. However, not many people know that it is also quite effective as a natural home remedy for acne and pimples. It is also quite useful in removing acne scars.

Turmeric should not be applied alone since it will leave a yellowish color on your skin. A pinch of turmeric should be added to your face mask. You can add it to your sandalwood powder acne mask or even your honey mask.

                                                          

Tea Tree Oil

You have probably heard about the benefits of tea tree oil. However, did you know that it is quite effective in treating pimples as well? This is an essential oil which needs to be diluted before being applied on your pimples. It is known to kill the bacteria that cause acne lesions, Propionibacterium acnes. So, once the bacteria are gone, the pimples will disappear as well. 

                                                          

Orange Peel

You may love to eat your oranges but don't throw away the peels if you have acne! Dried orange peels are quite an effective natural home treatment for acne and pimples. Just allow the orange peel to dry out in shade and grind it into a powder. Store it in an airtight container. If you don't want to go through the hassle of drying and grinding it, you can buy also buy it.

Take as much as you want and mix it with plain water or rose water. Add a pinch of turmeric and apply it on the affected areas. Instead of water, you can also add plain yogurt to make a paste. Just let it stay on the affected area for about 15 minutes and then wash it off by scrubbing it gently. 

                                                         

Tips to Cure Acne and Pimples

While the above natural home remedies for acne and pimples are surely going to help clear up your face in no time, there are certain other things that you should keep in mind. Here are these tips:

• Avoid touching your face.
• Make sure to keep you face clean. Wash it with a mild soap or face wash twice a day.
• Don't overdo the washing! It will only further increase sebum production and lead to more clogged pores.
• Don't scrub your face with the wash cloth or any harsh substance. Be gentle while washing or drying your face or the other acne affected areas.
• Keep your hair away from your face, especially if you use hair oils or hair sprays.
• Make sure to wash your face after you get back home from your school or office or when you get back from exercising.
• The most important, never ever squeeze or pick or touch your pimple. If you do so, you will end up with more inflammation, more clogged pores, and the acne will leave scars on your face.

What to do if none of the natural home remedies for acne and pimples help you?

While the above home treatments for acne and pimples are quite effective, sometimes you may need a stronger product for getting rid of these bumps on your face and back. In this case, you may want to try out some over-the-counter medications for acne treatment. Look for products based on benzoyl peroxide, retinol, and salicylic acid since these are especially effective as a treatment for acne and pimples.

Here is a list of some of the most popular acne treatments.

      

If these acne treatment products do not work, it is time to consult a skin specialist or dermatologist. This specialist will look at your skin condition and prescribe a topical medication as well as an oral medicine to help you get rid of the acne.

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© Copyright Roohi Khan, 2012