Acne or pimples is one of the most common skin conditions in the United States, affecting 85% of people at a certain point in their life. Acnes tends to develop when our skin pores start getting clogged or infected by certain bacteria. At times, pimples and acne are a simple result or reaction to a particular cosmetic product, and your diet also plays a significant role. Additionally, there is a common belief that not drinking enough water during the day can cause acne. While these conditions can aggravate the pimple problem, there are several other factors such as genetic, hormonal imbalance, drugs, or smoking cigarettes that can also cause pimples.
Home remedies for acne
Listed below are some of the most popular home remedies for pimples that involve natural herbs; many of these natural and traditional remedies have been used for hundreds of years.
Below, we have listed the best home remedies for pimples.
- Tea Tree Essential Oil:
Tree tea oil is one of the most beneficial essential oil extracted from the Melaleuca alternifolia leaves. Tea tree oil is a natural anti-inflammatory and antibacterial, which means that it might kill bacteria’s that cause acnes. Its anti-inflammatory properties can also reduce redness and swelling around your pimples.
A study found that in comparison to the placebo, the tea tree essential oil gel was almost more effective for reducing acne lesions and acne severity. Another study found that the tea tree essential oil was proven to be equally effective for reducing acnes and sores in people with moderate to mild acne compared to benzoyl peroxide. The treatment can show some adverse effects such irritation, burning, and dryness.
If you are willing to try tea tree oil, make sure you use it safely and perform a test patch on your skin, castor oil can irritate and should not be applied on undiluted.
How to use tea tree oil:
- Add one drop of tea tree essential oil with one teaspoon of carrier oil.
- Deep a cotton pad and apply it to your pimples.
- Make sure to repeat this two times a day.
- Jojoba Oil:
Jojoba essential oil is a waxy natural substance that is extracted from the jojoba shrubs seeds. The natural waxy substance present in this essential oil helps repair damage and acne-prone skin. It can also help in healing wounds, including pimple lesions and sores. Some of the oil components might also help reduce inflammation, swelling and redness around the acnes, whiteheads, and inflamed lesions.
In an experiment, researchers gave 133 individuals clay face mask that it had jojoba oil in it. After six weeks of using that clay two to three times per week, many people reported a 50% improvement in their pimples.
How to use jojoba oil:
Try adding few drops of jojoba oil with a face or body mask, cream, or gel before applying it to your acne. Otherwise, you can add a few drops of this essential oil to a cotton ball and use it gently over your acne sores.
- Aloe Vera:
Aloe Vera gel or cream is an effective natural anti-inflammatory and antibacterial, which can help reduce flare-ups and prevent acne breakouts. It contains a fair amount of water and can be used as moisturizer for your skin and face. It is very suitable for individuals suffering from dry skin by using anti-acne products.
Researchers provided tretinoin cream and aloe vera gel to individuals suffering from mild to moderate acne to use for eight weeks in an experiment. Many individuals reported improvement in both non-inflammatory and inflammatory pimples compared to people who used only tretinoin gel.
How to use aloe vera:
- Make sure you clean your face before applying a layer of Aloe Vera gel or cream.
- You can also use a moisturizer with gel or cream that contains at least 10% of aloe vera.
- Honey:
Honey is a very beneficial natural component used for treating numerous skin conditions, such as pimples, for hundreds of years. It contains antioxidant properties that can quickly help in clearing debris and waste from your clogged pores.
Many doctors use honey while dressing the wounds because it contains wound healing and antibacterial properties.
How to use honey:
Use a cotton pad or clean finger, and apply honey to your acne’s. Otherwise, you can also add few drops of honey to your body and face mask.
- Green tea:
Green tea carries high concentration of polyphenols antioxidants known as catechins. Many individuals suffering from acne have too much natural body oil or sebum in their pores and not enough antioxidants to fight them. Antioxidants present in our body help break waste products and chemicals that can cause damage to our healthy cells. Green tea e helps in clearing out all the waste and debris to build up in open pores and acne sores.
Green tea has proven to be useful in two ways: by applying green tea extract on their face or by regularly consuming green tea. However, an experimental study has proven that 80% reduction in blackheads and whiteheads after seven weeks of using polyphenol green tea extract.
Green tea contains many beneficial components that may help in:
- Reduce P.acnes
- Reduce the skin’s sebum production
- Reduces inflammation.
Lifestyle changes for acne
Besides natural home remedies, specific lifestyle changes can also show improvement in keeping our body healthy, making the skin less dry or oily, and reducing pimple flare-ups.
Lifestyle changes to adapt for improving acne include:
1. Never touch your acne:
Touching, squeezing, rubbing, or popping pimple sores can introduce more bacteria to your lesions, causing further inflammation and infection. Squeezing your acne can push debris and bacteria further into your skin, so your acne may come back worse than it was before.
2. Choosing the right cleanser:
Regular soap has pH or acidity that is too high and can irritate our skin, making acnes worse and painful. While choosing a cleanser, make sure it has a pH closer to the skin as a natural pH scale, around 5.5, to reduce acne and flare-ups.
3. Staying hydrated:
Staying hydrated is very important as it makes it easier for acne to heal and reduces the overall risk of acne breakouts and flare-ups. Many health authorities have recommended consuming between 6 to 8 glasses of water daily.
4. Reducing stress:
Stress is listed as a possible cause of acne flare-ups and breakouts by the American Academy of Dermatology. Pressure can increase the level of androgen present in our body. This hormone stimulates oil glands and hair follicles in pores, which increases the risk of pimples.
5. Using oil free skincare:
Skin care products that are oil-based or greasy can block your pores, increasing acne’s risks. Make sure you buy skin care products and cosmetics labeled as non-comedogenic or oil-free, which contain ingredients that can allow your pores to breathe.
When to consult a doctor:
you should consult your doctor if your acne sores are:
- Often infected
- Very painful
- Not responding to home treatment
- Deep under skin
- Causing emotional distress
- Covering a large area of your face
Conclusion:
Acne is one of the most common problems that can be very frustrating to treat. Much conventional treatment can cause dryness, redness, or irritation, whereas many natural alternatives may not work. Minimal studies support the natural home remedies listed in this article as one of the most effective and natural ways to reduce acne.
Nevertheless, applying green tea, various essential oils, and Aloe Vera gel to your skin is one of the quickest and easiest ways to eliminate pimples. At the same time, medical supplements may take a longer time to show desired results. The remedies in this article might not work for everyone under identical circumstances.
Always consult with your doctor before applying natural remedies for deep, painful, chronic, or severe acne sores. Consult your doctor about minor acne that does not respond to continuous treatments and gets worse.