Acne Home Remedy

Acne is one of the most agonizing causes of low self-esteem particularly among young people. It robs teenagers and young from socially enjoying what young people should be doing at that age. The scars left behind by the acne continue through life as a drag to one's self esteem. To help in these agonizing grief, nature has provided some very effective acne home remedies that alleviate or even prevent the breakout of acne. The substances used in these acne treatments are common household items or at least readily available from your grocery store.

What Causes Acne?

The body secretes oil, known as sebum, which is necessary for our skin to stay pliable and moisturized. The skin is made up of pores, very small holes that allow the skin to breathe, hair to grow and toxins to be expunged. The oil serves to clean the pores and allow 'good' bacteria to grow and fight 'bad' bacteria that land on the skin from the environment. Unfortunately, when too much oil is produced and there is too much dirt on the skin, the pores get clogged and infected. The infection manifests itself as acne breakouts. In short, too much oil and dirt sets the stage for bacteria to grow and cause infection. Any home acne remedy must address these issues.

What makes the skin secrete too much oil in the first place? Hormonal changes are usually the most common reason. Teenagers experience increased oil production during puberty as the oil gland gets stimulated by certain hormones. The constant changing in the hormonal balance of the young body makes regulation of oil production out of kilter. Luckily, the body in time matures and control is restored. Inflammations diminish significantly. Genetics is also a factor such that certain individuals naturally have oily skins and are more prone to acne infections. Any acne home remedy must reduce the excess oil, clean skin dirt and fight the bacteria causing the infection.

Different Types of Acne

Acne appears in different ways. They appear as blackheads, whiteheads, pimples or cysts. No matter what form, the acne is a symptom of an infection at the pores of the skin.

Clear Any Underlying Medical Issues

An Ounce of Prevention

Wouldn't it be a lot better if acne breakouts did not occur at all? Or at the very least reduced in intensity and aggravation? This can be accomplished by developing lifestyle habits that will manage excess skin oil, facial dirt and bacteria. These simple practices go a long way to getting your acne episodes under control. Any home acne remedy loses any effectiveness if these conditions are not corrected.

• Avoid greasy foods as they provide extra oil athat clog your pores. Foods that are high in trans-fatty acids are known to cause acne.
• Get enough sleep, notice how you get acne breakouts after an all nighters?
• wash your face in the morning and before you go to bed. wash your face whenever you perspire like after exercising or a brisk walk. Don't use too much soap as they tend to dry your skin too much. Use a moisturizer if your gets too dry.
• Avoid touching your face with your hands. Wash your hands often if you do have the habit of touching your face.
• Drink 6 to 8 glasses of water a day. Water helps flush out dirt from our skin. Drinking water keeps your skin hydrated and looking fresh and clean.
• Exercise keeps the body working efficiently. It also relieves everyday stresses that are known to aggravate acne breakouts.
• Stay away from foods that contain iodine. Balanced sea salt is a good substitute for iodized salt.
• Cut down on milk, sugar, refined processed food, meats that are high in fat, nuts and white flour as these are known to aggravate the acne condition.

Aloe Vera is well known as a remedy for all sorts of human ailment. This is due to it being anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and antiseptic. Experiments have shown that aloe vera's antibacterial properties helps to prevent infection. It has been used to reduce inflammation and its associated pain. Aloe vera gel is used for burns and injured skin and is ideal for skin repair. it accelerates the healing process and its soothing nature calms blotches, redness and swelling of the skin. Be careful and aware that aloe vera may cause itchiness and rashes in some people. When starting to use aloe vera, apply a small amount to a small area and monitor for any skin irritations. If this happens wash off the aloe vera with soap and warm water as you may have an allergy to the plant. Otherwise, use the aloe vera gel liberally and it will yield pleasant results.

Honey is well known for having anti-bacterial qualities and has been used by the ancients to prevent or treat infections. It has also been observed to fade out the scars of acne. Needless to say, this is a very desirable effect sought by acne sufferers. It has been reported that applying honey directly to an existing acne breakout reduces the existing inflammation. Honey can also be used regularly on the face to prevent the breakout of new acne. Usually, a sticky paste consisting of oatmeal mixed with honey and water is applied to the face as a mask. The mask is left on for about 15 minutes to let it absorb excess oil from the skin pores. When done, the mask is washed off with water. Gently rub in the paste while washing removes dead skin cells from the face leaving a fresh exfoliated skin.

Tea tree oil is derived from the foliage of the Melaleuca tree native to Australia. The oil extract has antibiotic properties which can reduce the bacteria that triggers acne. It is known to reduce the inflammation. Caution must be used when using Tea Tree Oil as it may cause skin irritation particularly if used too often. Tea tree oil is typically diluted with either water or aloe vera gel. A much diluted mix is recommended as a start until sure that the skin does not get overly irritated. A few users have reported lessening of acne breakouts, minimum scarring and clearer skin.

Baking Soda's antiseptic and antifungal properties have proven to be one of the inexpensive acne home remedies. It regulates the skin pH by keeping the right level of acidity/alkalinity. It is a very effective acne treatment that clears up acne quickly. Mix baking soda with water into a paste and apply to the acne breakout. Some people suggest mixing baking soda with honey instead of water. The combined acne fighting properties of baking soda and honey makes it a potent acne home remedy. Leave the paste on for 5 minutes then massage the paste in a gentle, circular motion. If you find that your skin is too sensitive, wash the paste immediately with soap and water. You may want to try again after a while but reduce the time you leave the paste on for 2 minutes. You can use Baking soda as a regular preventive treatment to reduce the breakout of new pimples. Wash your face with baking soda to clear away dead skin that blocks oil and dirt in the pores. This should be done in the morning and before going to bed.

Witch hazel is a shrub that exhibits antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. The plant contains tannin acid which proves to be effective against fighting acne and other skin conditions. The extract of Witch hazel is an effective topical treatment for acne and acne scars and known decrease the swelling and redness of pimples. A distilled form of the extract when used as a wash has been shown to inhibit acne breakouts without the usual irritation that comes with other commercial astringents. Witch hazel is applied directly to the facial skin. For breakout areas, apply witch hazel twice a day, once in the morning and once at night before bed time. Witch hazel has a tendency to dry the skin. If you notice your skin getting too dry, reduce your use of witch hazel or use a moisturizer to restore skin moisture.

Apple Cider Vinegar helps restore the natural condition of the skin ravaged by unhealthy lifestyle such as smoking, drinking, poor diet and lack of sleep. Used as a wash, it kills the bacteria that cause acne. Apple cider vinegar is used as a topical treatment. The vinegar is diluted to 20 percent using water. The solution is applied to the affected area using a cotton ball and let to stand for 10 minutes then washed thoroughly with water. This is repeated 2-3 times daily until the pimples go away. The treatment should tingle at most and should never burn at the proper dilution. The undiluted acetic acid of the vinegar can irritate the skin. Apple cider vinegar is cheap and available at your local grocery store making it a popular acne home remedy.

Green tea is known to be antibacterial and exhibits antioxidants effects. Studies have demonstrated that green tea has significant antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties. Used as an acne home remedy, it has few if any side effects. It is all natural and is cheaper than other types of acne home remedies. Green Tea may be used to treat acne by direct application to the affected skin. This is soothing to the skin and quickly reduces any inflammation and redness. A wet green tea bag may also be used by rubbing it on the skin regularly and prevents the recurrence of acne.

Garlic has been known since ancient times as nature's anti-inflammatory and antibiotic remedy. It is highly effective in reducing the swelling and redness that comes with acne. It kills the bacteria causes acne in the first place. If you can tolerate the smell and taste of garlic, it is probably best to incorporate it in your diet to minimize the recurrence of acne. Some people mix honey with the garlic to make its taste more bearable. Raw garlic should not be rubbed directly on the affected skin area as it will sting and burn your skin. It should be diluted with water and the garlic solution used as a daily facial was. This cleans the pores and kills the acne bacteria before inflammation starts. The smell of garlic makes it an unpopular home acne remedy in spite of numerous reported successes in treating acne.

Toothpaste contains an ingredient called "triclosen" which is antibacterial and will effectively eliminate the acne bacteria and sanitize the infected skin area. The toothpaste is applied topically to the affected spot and left for about 30 minutes then rinsed clean with soap and water. Exercise caution as toothpaste contains other additives which may prove to cause irritation. Positive results have been reported although there have been mixed opinions as to the role of toothpaste as a home acne remedy.