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11 Effective Home Remedies to Treat Acne in Record Time

Sep 29, 2020 Precious Ade

Tags Acne

home remedies for acne (pimples)

It is everyone’s dream to have a bright, smooth, clear, and evenly toned skin.

Apart from your skin performing the primary function of protection against lots of things, it can also be a center of attraction for many people.

Imagine you being on a quest to achieve supermodel-like skin, then on your pursuit, boom!!! Acne shows up as a threat. Frustrating, right? Yeah, we know that feeling.

Follow this blog as we take you through the process of getting rid of acne with 11 proven, home remedies.

What is Acne?

Acne is one of the inflammatory skin conditions that occurs when your hair follicle becomes clogged with your skin’s oil and dead cells.

A study in 2006 showed that acne is the most common skin disorder in the U.S. It affects up to 50 million Americans annually. It is often common during puberty when the sebaceous gland is activated. The gland produces oil when stimulated.

Acne is mostly found on the face, shoulder, neck, back, upper arms, and chest. Different studies have shown that you can have acne at any age, and it can continue until age 30 to 40.

You don’t have to go broke treating your acne; keep up with us as we show you easy remedies for your acne from the walls of your home.

Quick facts about Acne

Before you get more details from this article, here are some facts about acne;

Acne is a skin condition in which oil blocks the base of hair follicles.
It is the most common skin disease.
Acne is not a dangerous skin disorder, but it leaves scars and spots.
It affects 8 in 10 people aged between 11 years and 40 years.
Treatment depends on how severe it is..
Your chances of having acne are increased due to genetics, anxiety, menstrual cycle, stress, hot and humid climate.

ACNE AND PIMPLES, ARE THEY THE SAME?

The difference between acne and pimples is the most frequent question people often ask when it comes to acne. Most people confuse acne with pimples; many people even refer to them as the same thing.

The simple difference between acne and pimples is that acne is the disease, while pimples are just symptoms.

WHAT IF IT IS NOT ACNE?

Before you conclude or even assume that you have acne, you need to know what you are dealing with and what to look out for.

The signs and symptoms of acne vary depending on how severe the condition is. Also, the different symptoms displayed shows the different types of acne.

The following are the signs and symptoms associated with acne;

Blackheads: this happens when there is a clogged pore on the surface of the skin. These small bumps are called blackheads because its surface is dark or black. It is a mild type of acne often found on the face but can also be present at other body parts.

Whiteheads: it is more of the opposite of blackheads; the clogged pore is under the skin. It is due to the oil and dead skin cells getting trapped in the pore of the skin.

Papules: it is a small red, tender bump. It appears in various color shapes and sizes.

Pustules: it is a papule with pus or fluid on its tip. It looks like pimples but appears bigger.

Nodules: it is quite painful and runs deeper under the skin. It looks like a lump.

Cyst: it is also painful and runs deeper under the skin, but it is filled with pus.

WHY DOES ACNE HAPPEN?

Not to bore you with big clinical terms, your skin contains very tiny pores connected to oil glands below the skin.

What connects the pores on the skin to the glands are follicles. The oil gland produces an oily liquid called sebum.

The follicle performs the function of carrying dead skin cells through the sebum to the skin’s surface and allows it to serve as a passage for small hair to grow out of the skin.

When these follicles get blocked, oils build up under the skin, which then causes pimple, resulting in acne.

The follicle blockage can result when skin cells, sebum, and bacteria clump together. Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) is bacteria that adds to the infection on pimples.

The bacteria live on the skin, and according to research, the strain of the bacteria determines how severe and how often the acne occurs.

A trigger that starts of your acne can be caused by a hormone that increases at puberty. The hormone is androgen in men, and in women, it gets converted to estrogen.

The rise in the hormone causes the gland that sebum to grow, thereby increasing its production. The more the sebum, the more the bacteria growth.

Other possible cause of acne includes;

Using greasy cosmetics
Menstruation
Stress and Emotional stress
Using medication that contains androgen and lithium
Hormonal changes

11 HOME REMEDIES FOR ACNE

We mentioned earlier that you don’t have to go broke treating your acne issues, however we’d be remiss not to mention that conventional treatments have the potential to drain your purse and even leave you with unwanted side effects.

You can use specific home remedies to get rid of your acne and even prevent its future breakout. Here are 11 home remedies that you may find useful for your acne;

1. Tea tree oil

Tea tree oil is from the leaves of Melaleuca alternifolia, which is located in Australia.

Its natural anti-inflammatory property makes it potent to reduce the redness and swelling of pimples. Its antibacterial ability fights the P. acne bacteria, which causes acne.

Researchers have found that tea tree oil or a product from it can reduce your acne sore at a mild to moderate stage. The study also showed that it results in fewer adverse effects like dryness, burning, and irritation.

How to use Tea tree oil to treat acne

Step 1: Dilute a portion of tea tree oil in 9 portions of water; that is, if you are using 3mls of tea tree oil, you will dilute it in 27mls of water.

Step 2: Soak a ball of cotton wool into the mixture and gently apply on affected areas.

Step 3: Leave it for a few hours. You can leave it overnight when repeating the process at night.

Step 4: Repeat the process 1-2 times per day.

2. Garlic

Apart from the smell, garlic is a whole load of a package filled with great importance.

Garlic effectively treats infection and boosts the body’s ability to fight germs and infection.

It can be chewed raw, crushed, and applied topically, or even included in the diet. Some people even make it into a hot drink. All thanks to its natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect.

How to use garlic topically for acne

Step 1: Mash your garlic completely to extract its juice.

Step 2: Mix the small quantity of the juice with a carrier oil, for example, coconut oil, grapeseed oil.

Step 3: gently apply on the affected spots and leave for a while.

Step 4: repeat the process routinely

Caveat: Garlic is very potent and may not be suitable for all skin types. Apply on a small area of the skin at first to see its reaction, and if a reaction occurs, avoid the use.

Make sure you add to a carrier oil to control its reaction. To use garlic without a carrier oil, crush the garlic paste in water and clean off after 5 minutes.

3. Jojoba oil

Jojoba oil is from the seeds of a jojoba shrub. It is a waxy substance with a clear yellow color and a nutty smell.

It is an everyday recipe in acne treatment as it can work independently to cure acne and also can serve as a carrier oil for other substances (proven in research) such as tree oil.

Apart from treating acne, it can also remove scars after healing. A review in 2013 revealed that jojoba oil has anti-inflammatory properties and improves skin disorders, including acne.

How to use jojoba oil for acne

Step 1: Put little drops of jojoba oil on cotton wool.

Step 2: Rub gently on the acne sores.

Step 3: Leave for a while.

You can also mix with other oil, cream, or face clay masks before applying on the skin. Though jojoba is not known with any side effects, regardless, you should apply on a small area and check reactions before using totally. This is so to rule out allergies.

4. Honey

Honey has been known for ages to work wonders when it comes to skincare and treatment.

It contains many antioxidants that can help unclog your pores. Honey is used in a clinical setting by doctors to dress wounds.

This is so because of its antibacterial and wound-healing properties.

Aside from honey being able to reduce inflammation, raw honey is a natural exfoliator.

This means that applying honey will reveal new skin underneath and take off dry, dull skin. Honey would also help to fade acne scars

How to use honey for acne

You can use honey alone on the affected areas, and it also can be combined with other ingredients for skin care. Follow the following steps to use honey alone as to cure acne;

Step 1: Rinse your hand and use a finger or cotton wool to swab the honey.

Step 2: Apply gently on the surface of the affected area of the skin.

Step 3: Leave it for 15 minutes and then rinse it off with warm water.

5. Green tea

Green tea is native to China or India and has been used for different health benefits over the years.

Drinking green tea can promote good health as it is high in antioxidants. Antioxidants help to break down chemicals and waste products in the body that can damage healthy body cells.

Several studies have revealed that applying green tea on the skin can significantly reduce sebum production and pimples in those with acne.

How to use Green tea for Acne

Step 1: Soak the green tea in boiling water for about 4 minutes

Step 2: Allow the tea to cool down

Step 3: Soak your cotton wool with the tea and apply it to the acne infected part, or you can put the tea in a spray bottle and use it.

Step 4: Allow the surface to dry, then rinse with water and towel dry.

6. Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is a tropical plant. The gel from the leaves, when cut, contains antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It can be used to treat several skin conditions, including acne.

Aloe vera has high water content. Hence, it helps to moisturize your skin, especially if you have dry skin.

How to use Aloe vera to treat Acne

Step 1: After you pluck the leaf from the plant, cut it open.

Step 2: With a spoon, scrape the gel from the leaf into a container

Step 3: gently apply the gel directly to the areas affected by acne.

Step 4: Wash the surface off after 30 minutes

Step 5: Repeat the process 1-2 times a day.

Caveat: apply in a little amount at first to check for allergy reaction. Withdraw if there are any irritations or side effects.

7. Ice

Yeah!!! You do not see it wrongly. Ice can help your acne condition. Just as you use ice on your sprained ankle, you can use ice to reduce inflammation on a pimple.

Applying ice on your acne spot would reduce blood flow to the area, thereby reducing the swelling.

How to use Ice to treat Acne

Step 1: Wrap the ice cubes in a washcloth.

Step 2: Apply it gently on the surface.

Step 3:Remove the wrapped ice after a minute.

8. Lemon juice

Lemon hail from the citrus fruit family and its juice contains citric acid. It also contains ascorbic acid, which helps to contract skin cells. Ascorbic acid is also a good antioxidant. Lemon helps likewise shed the skin of its old cells, thereby removing scars from acne.

How to use Lemon juice to treat Acne

Step 1: Squeeze the liquid into a container

Step 2: Soak a cotton ball in the juice and wipe the affected area with it

Step 3: Leave to dry

Do this procedure overnight for a more effective result.

9. Coconut oil

Coconut oil, just like other natural treatments, contains anti-inflammatory and antibacterial compounds.

Coconut oil is a good moisturizer; in that way, improving dryness in the skin. It speeds up the healing process in open acne sores.

How to use Coconut oil to treat Acne

Apply coconut oil on the part of your skin, showing the symptoms of acne.

Ensure that the skin is moist before applying the oil. It helps to keep the skin moisturized and reduce the chance of inflammation.

You can also use coconut oil based organic moisturizers like this Hemp Seed Body Butter.

You are strongly advised that you put coconut oil on your skin overnight for maximum absorption.

10. Resist the urge to touch

There is always a temptation to touch your acne sores, especially when it becomes bumpy. If you rub your hand over your skin, and suddenly notice a small elevation, the urge to touch and press begins..

Touching your acne sores only irritates the skin and makes the pimples worse. When you find pleasure in popping, rubbing, and squeezing acne pore, you introduce more bacteria to the skin, thereby making the condition worse than it was.

11. Reduce stress

When you are stressed, the hormones during these periods have been shown to increase sebum production and skin inflammation, making acne worse.

Also, during stressful periods, studies reveal that wound healing is reduced by 40%. This may slow down the healing of acne sores.

Tips for reducing stress

You can reduce stress by practicing the following;

Finding time to sleep or taking short naps
Practicing yoga
Exercise
Meditating
Taking deep breaths
Eat healthily

CAN I PREVENT HAVING ACNE?

You can prevent acne. You know you are prone to acne by taking note of the risk factors. The next step in action is to take precautions to prevent it from happening. You can control and manage your acne in the following ways;

Wash your hands regularly before applying makeup or cosmetics
Don’t pop your pimple.
Always clean your eyeglasses. They collect sebum and skin residue.
Wash your face not less than two times a day with warm water and soap prescribed for acne
Remove makeup before sleeping.
Avoid greasy cosmetics and hair products.
Avoid stress and anxiety.
Avoid a temperate environment to prevent sweating.
Use a sharp shaving razor or electric shaver when shaving. Also, soften your beard with warm water before applying shaving cream.

ROUNDING-OFF

Acne is a prevalent skin disorder in which you know its underlying cause can be prevented. Using conventional treatment has various adverse effects.

On the bright side, natural home remedies are effective and won’t drain your pockets either. Although the results of these home remedies may vary by person, we strongly believe they are worth a try.

Most natural remedies have not been scientifically proven to work, due to the underdevelopment of naturopathic medicine.

If your skin condition is not better in 4 to 6 weeks, see your doctor for more instructions.

REFERENCES

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