Natural and Home Remedies for Acne

Acne is a type of skin disease which is characterized by the appearance of pimples on the face, neck, or other parts of the body. Acne develops when gland oils clog thousands of tiny hair follicles we have on the skin. These follicles are also known as pores and they can become blackheads or whiteheads depending on the type of the pores. Blackheads develop in the area of the bigger pores with wide openings. The whiteheads develop in the small skin openings and they look like white bumps. Both can be equally annoying and unpleasant and can also develop into swollen inflammations looking like big bumps. They can become very tender and infected at times turning into even bigger lumps. Sometimes acne can cause not only pain and inflammation, but also severe scaring on the sensitive areas.

Unfortunately, as of today, acne affects about 80% of the population, both teens and adults. There are many treatments offered on the market today but only few of them work, and only for a short period of time.

Regrettably, acne is a curse of many people but mostly the younger ones. About 25% of people suffering from acne are adults and most of them had acne since they were teenagers. Acne usually starts between the ages of 10 and 13 and may well continue for over 10 years for some people. The majority of those affected with acne, will see the improvement when they are in their mid-twenties.

The causes of acne are not fully understood yet but most of the experts agree that hormones and heredity may be the two main reasons. The hormones, mainly testosterone, are commonly blamed as number one possible cause simply because acne usually starts in children during their puberty years. During this time, the hormone production would normally increase in both girls and boys which causes the glands to produce more oils, also called sebum.

As the oil production increases, it starts clogging the small openings at the hair follicles. This mostly occurs on the face, neck, upper arms and on the back. Boys tend to get more severe acne than girls which can lead to scaring of the skin. Because of the excessive oil build up inside the hair follicles, the bacteria starts to develop causing blackheads or whiteheads to appear. Sometimes the oil can cause the follicles to break and spread the infection to the follicles nearby. This causes bigger bumps and inflammation.

Some experts point out that birth control pills may also trigger the development of acne in teenagers. There is no scientific data to back this claim up, but it may be correct. Few more factors may be the cause of acne such as poor diet and poor hygiene. Many doctors disagree, however, confirming that these factors can be contributing, but not causing acne.

Stress and sleep deprivation can also cause acne to flare up in adult women. Menopause, which is the leading cause of hormonal disbalance, may also promote the development of acne in women after 40.

Balanced diet is the most important part of the acne treatment plan. Although, poor diet may not offset the symptoms of acne, it definitely contributes to making it worse. Consumption of foods filled with saturated fat, not eating enough fruits and vegetables, too much carbohydrates and sugar - all can cause occasional acne flares.

Here is the list of natural remedies for acne that proven to be effective:

Turmeric has very strong antibacterial properties and it has been used for centuries to treat various bacteria related conditions. Turmeric can be taken internally to help purify the blood and externally as a mask to help get rid of acne causing bacteria on the surface of the skin. Here is a simple recipe of the turmeric mask to help with acne:

Take half-cup of plain yogurt, one teaspoon of turmeric powder and one teaspoon of honey. Blend everything together until all of the ingredients have been properly incorporated. Apply to the dry and clean face and other areas with acne and keep the mask for about 30 minutes. You may repeat the mask every other day or at least 3 times a week.

Turmeric also has anti-inflammatory properties. It will not only treat the surface bacteria, but will also reduce the inflammation in case of severe acne. It takes few applications to see the results after using turmeric on your skin. People report that they were able to reduce and even clear acne within few weeks of turmeric use.

Manuka Honey is a great natural remedy you can use to clear up your acne. Manuka honey is produced in New Zealand and is considered to be the most potent honey with the anti-bacterial properties. Manuka is a unique honey because it doesn't lose its strength once it comes in the contact with body heat or mixes up with natural oils. Manuka honey has been known for hundreds of years for its unique healing properties and it can be a great help in treating acne and scaring.

For the best results, you may take a teaspoon of Manuka honey up to 3 times a day. Also, use Manuka honey for a facial mask by applying it to the clean dry skin for about 30-40 minutes. Manuka honey will kill the bacteria on the skin, absorb excess oils, and reduce the inflammation and redness. Manuka honey has no side effects and can be used daily to help maintain healthy skin and body.

Water appears to be next great completely natural remedy that can help to manage acne. Water not only hydrates our body and skin, it also eliminates all of the toxins from the body and purifies the skin. Drinking enough water daily will help flush out the bacteria and bring more moisture to the skin pores.

For the best results, make your own vitamin water by adding few slices of cucumber, kiwi and lemon to the glass of water. Let it sit for about 15 minutes, add a teaspoon of honey and enjoy. Vitamin water will help to make your skin healthier.

Carrot Juice is an excellent source of vitamins including vitamin A which helps reduce the production of excess oils in the body. Carrot juice is also a very powerful antioxidant and can help stop the growth of bacteria.

You may consume one glass of carrot juice daily. Other fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin A can also come in handy when treating acne. Try adding cantaloupe, papaya, sweet potatoes, lettuce, squash and red sweet peppers to your diet daily to treat acne.

Salmon and any kind of seafood have proven to be helpful for improving the immune system and helping to eliminate acne. Seafood is very rich in zinc and the lack of this mineral is often blamed for the appearance of acne breakouts.

Try eating seafood at least twice a week to help improve your acne.

Eggs are also recommended as a home remedy for treating acne. Eggs can help reduce the inflammation, open up and clear the pores, and reduce the redness.

Try this simple egg whites facial mask. Separate one egg white from the egg and whisk it together with one teaspoon of honey. Apply the mask to clean dry skin for about 20 minutes and then rinse with cold water. This mask will purify the skin and pull all of the dirt and bacteria out. Washing with cold water will help to close the pores.

Evening Primrose is very high in essential fatty acids called GLA which help to reduce the inflammation. It also works great as an acne treatment because it has the ability to reduce the sebum or oil production which is responsible for acne outbreaks. Evening Primrose also helps to clear the skin pores. It is also a great natural remedy for balancing the hormone levels. As we know, acne is mostly caused by hormonal changes in the body. Taking Evening Primrose can help bring those hormones to normal levels.

Evening Primrose can be taken in the form of soft gels sold online or in the grocery and health stores.

Spearmint tea can also aid when it comes to treating acne. Drink a cup of spearmint tea with a spoon of honey once a day to help get rid of toxins on the skin.

Aloe Vera has been mentioned since the times of Cleopatra as a wonderful remedy for any skin problems. Aloe Vera is packed with various vitamins and minerals and it's also nature's most powerful anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory remedy. It also repairs the damaged skin cells and reduces the appearance of the acne scars.

The Aloe Vera gel may be used twice a day to treat the stubborn acne outbreaks. Many people like using Aloe Vera gel because it doesn't dry out the skin. It kills the bacteria and moisturizes the skin restoring its natural tone. Rinse your face with cold water after using the Aloe Vera gel.