Home Remedies For Acne

It can be a major dampener on one’s social life although not life threatening. Yes, I’m talking about acne. It generally flairs up during times of hormonal changes and the severity can be compounded due to stress, diet, hygiene and lifestyle (e.g. lack of sleep).

You probably won’t be surprised with the numerous treatments available on the market today. It might be even likely that you’ve tried several of these treatments with limited success. If you are seeking an alternative form of treatment because you’ve tried everything else or you desire a less harsh or chemical free and less synthetic option, then you might want to consider home remedies for acne treatment.

I bring you this hub to list out some of the popularly discussed home remedies for curing acne. You may find that some are more effective than others but please note that this is not an exhaustive list nor should you expect miraculous results from applying them. Additionally, for those wanting to find home remedies for acne scars, the following options may also help with scarring.

This is something with which you are likely to be familiar. The scientific name of this particular species of plant most associated with medicinal treatments is aloe barbadensis. It is the gel within the aloe vera leaves that does the work of soothing the skin and acting as a mild form of anti-inflammatory. The gel also is a natural antibiotic so in another words, it kills bacteria on the skin when applied.

You can choose to either grow your own aloe vera plant and cut the leaves to gain access to the gel when needed, or purchase the gel from your local chemist. Just take note that the skin of the leaves is quite thick. Some people have claimed that this is one of the more effective home remedies for cystic acne because of the soothing properties, and as you know cystic acne can be quite painful compared to the milder forms of acne.

That’s right, I’m referring to the same oatmeal that some people have for breakfast. People have used this as a home remedy for acne treatment. It apparent cleanses pores of skin by absorbing the excess sebum oil and it also exfoliates the skin.

You will need to cook the oatmeal first just as if you are eating it. After which, you then mix in some honey and let the whole mixture cool down. The honey is a natural moisturizer that can help with reducing the appearance of acne scars. This is when you can apply to your skin. You’ll need to leave it on your skin for around 10 to 20 minutes. If you find it difficult to keep the oatmeal on your skin (e.g. on your face), then you might need to lie down during the treatment.

Another home solution is to combine lemon juice and rose water. The former ingredient naturally helps shrink the pores and act as a mild antibacterial agent. The latter ingredient is a natural skin toner and also has antibacterial properties. The reason to use rose water together with lemon juice is to help counter the acidity from using lemon on its own.

Once you have mixed these two ingredients (in equal parts), you can directly apply the mixture to your skin. You then are supposed to wash it off after about 15 to 30 minutes. Take note that you may feel a stinging sensation on initial application. If the irritation continues, you should stop this treatment immediately.

The idea behind homeopathy is to use the same substance that causes the specific symptoms of acne in the remedy such that the body’s system is stimulated to naturally overcome these symptoms. In order to make it effective and safe to use as medicine, the preparation of the remedy needs to undergo a process called potentization. This process basically consists of a series of exact dilutions and vigorous shaking (i.e. succussions). Homeopathic remedies for acne are very much customized for each person’s system. In another words, a treatment that works for one person may not work for another.

Here’s an example of how this works - For someone who has fair complexion and whose acne worsens after eating fatty, rich foods and/or from exposure to heat, they should look into pulsatilla. From a behavioral perspective, the person would exhibit a moody expression and has soft emotions, and tend to feel worse in warm rooms, opting for fresh air.