Home Remedies for Acne

Acne is an infection of the oil glands resulting from clogged skin pores. The skin naturally expels dirt and impurities on its own. However, too much oil makes it difficult for the skin to remove the dirt and this result in acne breakouts. Treating acne involves assisting the skin in removing the oil and dirt that is plugging up the pores. You need to keep the skin as clean as possible by washing at least twice a day with water and using a mild skin cleanser. When suffering from acne you should avoid using make-up.

Natural Home Remedies For Acne
You may need to try several different products before you find the one that is most effective for your particular acne problem. Also, these home remedies take time to have an effect on the acne, so you will need to be patient.

Baking Soda – or sodium bicarbonate, has many applications, the obvious usage is in baking cookies and bread. But, it’s also used in many health care products such as shampoo, shaving cream, toothpaste and relaxing bath salts. It’s antiseptic and anti fungal so it’s used for skin care it helps regulate the pH keeping the skin neither too acidic nor too alkaline, its natural effect is to neutralize the pH and when mixed into a paste with water it can be applied to the acne , when washed off it will remove dead skin and clean and unclog the pores.

Garlic: – has many health applications it is known for its healing properties to reduce heart disease, lower LDL cholesterol levels and reduce high blood pressure. Research has also shown that garlic can reduce the pain of rheumatoid arthritis and reduces the size of some cancerous tumor. Garlic has powerful antibiotic, antiviral and anti fungal characteristics. It is useful against acne. When applying as a wipe to the acne area it should first be diluted with water, the garlic solution will kill the bacteria of acne after several applications.

Breakfast Oatmeal and Honey – mixed together with a little water to form a sticky paste that can be applied to the face as a mask and left for about 20 minutes and then washed off with water. By applying the oatmeal to the skin it will absorb the excess oil from the skin and pores. When the mask is washed off it will help to remove dead skin cells and exfoliate the skin. Honey is used to make the oatmeal sticky and pasty so it can form a mask. Care should be taken when applying the mask so as not to get too close to the eyes as it may cause irritation.

Green Tea – has antibacterial properties and antioxidants. It is also becoming very popular as an aid to reducing weight. Green Tea when used for treating acne can be either applied directly to the skin or can be used as a drink. By simply rubbing a green tea bag on your skin has also been shown to have the same effect as 4% solution of Benzyl peroxide which is a popular medication for acne. As a drink the antioxidants in green tea help in detoxification and reducing inflammation.

Toothpaste – There are mixed opinions on the effectiveness of toothpaste as a treatment for acne. Many toothpaste contain triclo sen which is an antibacterial ingredient that is also used in soap and deodorant. Triclosen will effectively kill the bacteria and will help to clean the infected area. Although, some toothpastes will also contain other additives that may cause skin irritation. The toothpaste is normally applied onto each spot rather than a face mask and should not be left for more than 30 minutes before washing off.

Strawberries – are a natural source of salicylic acid, which is one of the most common ingredients used in acne treatment products. Strawberries also contain antioxidants and various vitamins which will help to repair acne scars. The strawberry can be sliced and rubbed directly onto the infected area or you can make a face mask using strawberries mashed with cream and spread over the face and leave for about 20 minutes before washing off with water.