Powerful Home Remedies for Acne

The idea that there are home remedies for acne sounds like the secret to a clear complexion now hides in your kitchen or grocery pantry instead of your dermatologist’s office. But it's a little more straightforward than that, really. You see, unlike the professional treatment that you could get from your favorite pharmacy, the best home remedies for acne can help stave off breakouts and zap pimples at a fraction of the cost, sometimes even for free. Speaking of which, the more mild and less pugnacious your acne is, the easier it will be to treat at the comfort of your home with a host of natural solutions.

And here's a comprehensive premise to that.

Home Remedies for Acne and Blackheads

1. Simple Grape Cleanser

One of the fast home remedies for acne to try out without shelling hundreds of dollars resides in your kitchen fridge - the grapes. And no, this is different from snacking on the very delicious and refreshingly succulent snack in between meals. Most of you don't know this, but according to a report following a thorough research in the years leading to the publication of the 2016 Advances in Allergology and Dermatology, it was found out that resveratrol found in the skin of red grapes exhibits beneficial antibacterial activity against P. acnes. This is the same bacteria that is usually found nestled in your skin pores and whose activity contributes greatly to blackheads and zits.

In short, as one of the good home remedies for acne, you only need to use fresh cut grapes as an alternative face cleanser the next time you are washing your neck and face.

2. Make a Cucumber Face Mask

Anyone who has ever been to a high end spa must have noticed how the masseuses put cucumber slices (sometimes alongside a special mask) on the eyes in a bid to reduce puffiness. Well, it is not exactly a coincidence that cucumber peels are also one the fast home remedies for acne floating around.

If anything, research shows that cucumbers have a soothing and calming effect on skin that works wonders to reduce pain, swelling, irritation and general inflammation. Therefore, it is no surprise that they can relieve symptoms associated with blackheads, zits and acne. At the end of the day, acne is majorly a result of inflammation and irritation of the skin stemming from the sebaceous glands that advances to angry and red bumps or sometimes blackheads. Therefore, if you can find a way of stopping the inflammation cycle in its track, you will also have succeeded in halting the development of a sore that later becomes filled with oil before rupturing and developing into a blackhead.

What's more, the hydrating properties of cucumbers means that they are not just another one of the many last minute quick home remedies for acne. Instead, you can integrate it into your daily skin care or self care regimen thanks to their calming effect that can be beneficial in soothing blackheads.

3. Honey Mask

It's a well-documented fact that honey has a host of incredible healing properties. And it is its propensity to relieve sore throats and colds that makes it one of the easy home remedies for acne that you can slap on in just a few minutes.

In fact, according to an August 2016 study conducted by Central Asian Journal of Global Health, it was identified how honey's antibacterial properties that make it an effective wounds and burns healing agent also inhibits the replication of c.acnes. Reduced activity of this acne-causing bacteria will then translate to a lower chance of blackheads and zits forming since the pimples don't get as inflamed as when you are not using a honey mask.

Having said that, remember to rinse your face with ample warm water before putting on the mask for at least 30 minutes to improve your chances of getting the best results. Also, rinse the honey off with another round of warm water.

4. Oatmeal Facial Mask

It is not easy to deny that the anti-inflammatory properties that oatmeal harbours make it one of the best home remedies for acne and blackheads. The combination of oatmeal and baking soda is not just soothing but also excellent at relieving irritation caused by a broad range of dermatological problems including erythema, rashes, itch, burns and even eczema.

Oatmeal, according to a 2017 Journal of Drugs and Dermatology publication, also has skin-hydrating and protecting benefits. Besides, its anti-inflammatory benefits can prove to be godsend when it comes to soothing inflamed and dry skin which is a characteristic of acne and blackheads. This is actually the reason why leading dermatologists and skin experts will recommend oat-based lotions and moisturizers for patients with extremely sensitive and easily inflamed skin.

5. Turmeric Face Mask

Being one of the renowned home remedies for dark spots from acne it should not come as a surprise that this mask is used on brides in rural India before their wedding to make sure that they look flawless and gorgeous on their big day. The spice's potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-microbial properties are not exactly foreign but its ability to lessen the severity of several skin conditions such as alopecia, acne, atopic dermatitis, pruritus, oral lichen, planus and psoriasis that has caught global attention.

Going by an August 2016 study which was published in Phytotherapy Research, turmeric can stop the progression of p.acnes thereby giving your skin a fighting and healing chance against the devastating symptoms that this bacteria leaves in its wake.

Making a turmeric facial at home is also as easy as its sounds. You simply only have to mix 1/2 glass of chickpea flour, sandalwood powder, almond oil, ghee with 2 tablespoons of turmeric powder. Apply and leave the resulting paste for around 10 to 15 minutes, massage your face gently but thoroughly before finally rinsing it off with ample warm water.

Acne Home Remedies for Sensitive Skin

Acne treatment for sensitive skin home remedies are a bit milder and less truculent in their mode of action than regular ones. They include the following.

1. Green Tea Facial Mask

Green tea is, without a doubt, very high in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents. It is also not a surprise that drinking green tea has for long been associated with good health and better immunity.

Besides, new revelations now show that green tea is a one of the reliable acne home remedies for sensitive skin thanks to the numerous polyphenols that it packs which work to reduce inflammation and fight bacteria. You should, at this stage, already know that these two are the biggest causes of zits and pimples, outside of hormonal imbalance and genetic predisposition. In fact, research shows that EGCG (epigallocatechin-3-gallate), which is the main antioxidant found in green tea, is effective in reducing sebum production, combating inflammation and, overall, inhibiting the growth and proliferation of p.acnes in people with extremely sensitive skin.

You can bump up its effectiveness by adding green tea leaves to raw honey before applying the resultant combination as a mask.

Other than its use as a facial mask, studies show that drinking green tea regularly can also help to lower one's blood sugar and hence bring their insulin levels under control which could help in relieving the severity of acne symptoms.

2. The Witch Hazel

Despite its peculiar name, this is one of the least irritating home remedies for acne sensitive skin that you can make in your kitchen. It derives its potency from leaves and bark of the North American Hamamelis virginiana also known as witch hazel shrub. The tannins, to be more specific, harbour the anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that make it such an effective mask for people with sensitive skin looking for relief from pimples.

Extensive research has also shown that when witch hazel is combined with honey, it can be effective in speeding up the healing process of the scars left behind by a recent acne breakout.

That aside, it has been used for ages now to treat a number of debilitating skin conditions such as dandruff, varicose veins, bruises, burns, eczema, insect bites, etc.

3. Aloe Vera

Arguably the best acne home remedies for sensitive skin, aloe vera inclusion in this list does not come as a surprise to most. The tropical plant is an active ingredient in almost all creams, lotions, soaps and ointments produced commercially with the promise of silky smooth skin. It has been used to treat rashes, burns and abrasions for ages now, and its anti-inflammation properties are a welcome respite for skin ravaged with atopic dermatitis.

You see, aloe vera packs natural sulfur and salicylic acid - two of the most potent ingredients used in the control of acne symptoms. And applying its gel, preferably accompanied by tea tree oil or tretinoin cream, has proven to be effective in clearing acne in persons with highly sensitive and easily inflamed skin.

As far as aloe vera gel application goes, the better if you can find scrap it yourself from the plant (instead of buying the gel directly from the store.)

4. Spot Treatment with Tea Tree Oil

All of the above home remedies for acne sensitive skin involve the application of a mask or an all-encompassing facial covering of some sort. However, anybody with easily-inflamed skin knows that application of foreign reagents on perfectly healthy areas can ignite zits and pimples where they weren't originally. That's why spot treatment of individual blackheads is sometimes preferred over facials and masks.

Now, tea tree oil has a renowned ability to combat acne-accelerating bacteria and lessen skin inflammation. Applying tea tree oil, especially on individual problematic spots, can relieve symptoms without necessarily igniting others as it happens with other remedies such as benzoyl peroxide.

What's more, being a natural antibacterial remedy, there is no risk of developing bacterial resistance if you use it as a long-term replacement of conventional topical and oral antibiotics.

Homemade Acne Recipes For oily Skin

Just like sensitive skin, there are a few acne treatment for oily skin home remedies that would come in handy for people with very active sebaceous glands. And this includes;

1. Yoghurt and Yeast Mask

A study published in the IJWD (International Journal of Women’s Dermatology) suggested fermented dairy products could be beneficial in promoting a healthy and clear complexion in people with oily skin types. And it's easy to see why it ranks as one of the reliable home remedies for acne and pimples for oily skin - yoghurt is a renowned probiotic. This means that it has the ability to inhibit the progression and activity of c.acnes.

Making the mask is even easier. Combine a teaspoon of brewer's yeast with a cup of natural yoghurt and stir continuously to create a thin paste. Apply it gently on all oily spots and leave it on for at least 30 minutes. After this, consider rinsing it off with warm water before splashing cold water on your now cleansed face to close the pores.

2. Taking a Zinc Supplement

Although it is not exactly one of the home remedies for acne and oily skin you can make in your kitchen, one cannot overlook the ability of zinc when it comes to clearing pimples. Zinc, as you may already know, plays a critical role in accelerating fast healing of wounds and lessening inflammation.

As such, research has unearthed how people with lower zinc levels (not necessarily a full-blown deficiency) are more predisposed in sprouting blackheads and pimples than those with healthy levels. In such cases, taking a zinc supplement regularly has been observed to drastically improve one's symptoms to the extent of 80 to 100% of the pimples clearing within a month of starting taking between 30 and 45mg of elemental zinc everyday.

That being said, avoid taking too much zinc above the recommended threshold as it can predispose you to gut irritation and needless stomach pain.

3. Take Brewer's Yeast

Another one of the unconventional home remedies for acne and pimples for oily skin, brewer's yeast (especially Saccharomyces cerevisiae Hansen CBS) is believed to decrease the severity of breakouts when taken in minimal amounts. As much as it tends to be a rich source of chromium, B vitamins, iron, zinc and copper, its ability to heal pimples most likely stem from its famed antibacterial effects.

Research and several studies have also shown that there are no major side effects to taking brewer's yeast regularly as an acne remedy, although a few users reported a bit of bloating and gas after consumption.

In Closing

As much as home remedies for acne and oily skin are easily available and accessible, sometimes they may not bear the results that we are looking for. It is advisable to contact your dermatologist if you don't see any marked improvement in your acne symptoms within a month (at most) of using any of the above home treatment methods. Delaying treatment can scale up the risks of developing permanent or near-permanent scars in the skin that may prove to be impossible to get rid of in the future.