I used to have acne. Like any teen, I suffered from this myself. I was fortunate - I paired healthy eating with over the counter skin care products and it worked.

But now that I'm an herbalist, I'm not sure it was actually smart to put all those chemicals on my face. If I could go back and do it again, I'd use a natural acne remedy to heal it. So, I put together this hub to help all of you learn more about how to cure your acne using natural methods.

If you have acne you may feel like it's an endless process. You may purchase an over the counter cream or lotion that is designed to help clear up your skin. It does work, but only for a short time. And is it just your imagination or does it come back worse than before? Even if you're one of those people who have been dealing with their acne fairly successfully maybe there still is room for improvement.

Overall This process can get old pretty quick. If nothing you've tried seems to help, your next approach should be to try a natural acne remedy because it has a higher likelihood of creating lasting results. And this isn't an approach that just treats the acne itself. You tackle the problem from different areas which also increases the likelihood of success.

Proper Skin Care Program

The first thing you should do when healing acne is make sure that you are taking care of your skin. Everyone's acne situation is a little different so it may take you a few tries before you find a program that works for you. In general your plan should include products that will wash, exfoliate, moisturize, and protect your skin.

Since your skin is considered "acne prone" I'd focus on products labeled as such. If you're confused about which products to choose you may want to review your options with the dermatologist. They may have an acne skin care program in mind for you to try.

You may also want to get facials a few time a year from someone who has experience with acne prone skin. You can review with them which products you should use as well. Be careful of this strategy though - they may try to sell you the expensive spa products. It is especially good if the facialist uses natural acne remedy products on you.

Change Your Diet

Are you the type of person who doesn't really pay attention to what you eat? If so then you should consider changing your eating habits. Focus on eating healthy foods like fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, and healthy fats. If your body is fed the right foods then it will help normalize your body which will indirectly help contain your acne.

Another important element is to drink enough water. Water keeps your skin well hydrated which is important to normalizing its appearance. Make sure you get the recommended amount for your body weight and activity level. On average this amounts to about 8 cups a day.

Focus on Natural Products

When searching for the best treatment for acne is to focus on those that contain natural ingredients and not those that have harsh chemicals in them. This is especially important if you've already gone down that route with no success. There are a lot of companies that have some great treatment systems. It just may take some time to find the one that will work best for your skin.

Just one thing to keep in mind - just because a product is labeled natural does not mean that it's necessarily better than other products that are out there. If you choose this route, you will need to research and find the programs that are not only natural but also better than their synthetic counterparts.

Best Treatment Plan for You

If you have acne, you could be frustrated and tired of dealing with the problem. If this is you then you shouldn't give up hope. If things you've tried up until this point haven't worked then it's time to try something new.

For long term acne care, natural acne cures are always preferred. But the natural acne remedy that is right for one person may not be right for another. Just follow the advice in this article and consult with a dermatologist so that you can find a system that produces lasting results.

Another great thing about taking the natural approach to clearing acne is that you can use ingredients right in your own kitchen to make a soothing mask.Just wash your face then prepare one of the recipes. Let it sit for 15-20 minutes. Rinse off. I like to rinse these off in the shower.

• Oatmeal mask. Prepare oatmeal as directed on the box. Let it cool down to room temperature and smear on your face. Oatmeal is soothing to irritated skin.
• Egg white facial. Egg whites help tighten pores. Beat the eggwhites with a mixer until fluffy and spread on your skin, especially in your t-zone.
• Yogurt. Spread plain yogurt on your face (make sure it has a little fat). Let it sit for 20 minutes and rinse off. You can also use this as a cleanser.

Do you have any mask ideas? Share them in the comments.