How to Get Rid of Acne Naturally with Effective Home Remedies

Disclaimer: Results are not guaranteed*** and may vary from person to person***.

How to Get Rid of Acne NaturallyFor most of us, acne has been an issue at one point or another. Maybe it was when you were in your teens, maybe you still get it from time to time now, or maybe you battle full on outbreaks as an adult. In any case, you’ve probably wondered how to get rid of acne naturally.

Well, wonder no more! In this article, we’re going to look at what causes acne, and more importantly, how to naturally get rid of acne. We’ll look at everything from diet changes to face masks, as well as how to eliminate acne naturally.

What Causes Acne?

The answer isn’t incredibly clear as there are many factors that go into the creation of acne. That’s partially why some people get acne really bad, and others barely get it at all. The main culprit in the cause of acne is a hormone called androgen.

Androgen is a hormone that tends to rise with the onset of puberty. In women, it becomes estrogen. And in both women and men, it can increase the creation of sebum, which is a natural oil the body creates to help lubricate pores for hair growth. If those pores become clogged with sebum and debris like dead skin, it is fertile ground for bacteria to take hold and acne to begin.

There are a few other circumstances that can contribute to acne as well, like stress, greasy makeup, stress, hormonal changes (especially in women going through their period or menopause). While greasy foods can’t promote acne, if you work at a place that makes greasy food, the environment may help create acne. The acne itself can come in different varieties:

Whiteheads – Small, white-headed blemishes that remain under the skin.

Blackheads – Visible, black blemishes that appear on the surface of the skin.

Papules – Small, pink bumps that are visible on the surface of the skin.

Pustules – Red and puss-topped bumps that are visible on the surface of the skin.

Nobules – Large, sore and painful pimples that are deeply embedded in the skin.

Now that we have a better understanding of what creates acne and what it is, we can move on to ways to stop it.

How to Get Rid of Acne Naturally

There are several ways that may be able to help you get rid of acne naturally. Usually, these natural ways to get rid of acne fall into two categories: prevention, and treatment. The following are six tips that will show you how to reduce acne naturally.

1. Don’t overwash your face

It seems like common sense to wash your face to help prevent acne. Washing your face can help remove excess oil, debris, and dead skin from your face. But at the same time, washing your face too much can cause skin damage. Keep face washing to twice a day and make sure you use a mild soap.

2. Keep your sugar intake low

While the connection between sugar and acne isn’t entirely clear, there is some connection. It doesn’t necessarily mean that eating one candy bar will produce a breakout, but you should try to keep sugar to a minimum.

3. Keep hydrated

Keeping your body hydrated can help prevent acne by helping to flush out your pores and keeping your skin supple.

4. Remove makeup

Makeup can clog pores and leave debris that can cause oily and greasy skin. Remove it before going to bed to avoid this.

5. Don’t pick at it

Picking or scratching at the acne can just make things worse by damaging skin and possibly spreading the acne-causing agents further across your skin. Resist the temptation to pick or scratch at the acne.

6. Eat a healthy diet

Eating a healthy diet is good for numerous reasons, but it may have the pleasant side effect of being good for your acne as well. It can help keep your skin and pores healthy.

Beyond prevention, there are several natural remedies that can help you treat acne after it occurs.

Steam

Steam has the great ability to not only help open your pores allowing any excess build to be released, but it can also help melt the gunk out of your pores that’s causing your acne. You can do this in two different ways.

The simplest and easiest way is to have a hot shower with a good build up of steam. The second is to boil a pot of water and cover your head with a towel like how you would treat a cold. Dong this has the added benefit of you being able to add some essential oils to the water like thyme or lavender, which have antibacterial properties and can help to clean up the causes of your acne.

Exfoliate

Exfoliating your skin can also help clean out dead skin and debris. Try and use a natural scrub like oatmeal or sugar. Just be careful not to damage your skin in the process.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Often used as a home remedy for many ailments, apple cider vinegar may be able to help with your acne as well due to its antibacterial properties.

For this remedy, try mixing one part of apple cider vinegar with three parts water. Dip a cotton ball into the solution and wipe it on the problem areas. Leave it on your skin for at least 10 minutes, but you can let it sit overnight before washing it off.

Honey

Honey is an excellent natural remedy for many acne treatments due to its great antibacterial properties and versatility. You can use it as part of an exfoliating scrub or face mask.

You can make the face mask by combining two tablespoons of honey with one teaspoon of cinnamon. Rinse your face and then apply the face mask. Allow it to sit for 10 to 15 minutes before rinsing it off completely. Pat dry with towels (as opposed to rubbing it dry).

You can also do a similar mixture with honey and yogurt by mixing one tablespoon of yogurt with one tablespoon of honey. Apply this mixture to your face for 10 to 15 minutes and then wash off. After washing off the mask, scrub gently to get rid of any dead skin that was loosened by the mask.

Papaya

Papaya can help out with your acne. Take the flesh of a fresh papaya and mash it into a smooth consistency so that you can spread it on your skin.  Apply it to your skin, and allow it to stay there for 15 to 20 minutes before washing off.

Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is used in many home remedies, especially for conditions that have to do with your skin.

Start with a mixture that is one part tea tree oil and nine parts water and apply it to the areas that have acne with a cotton swab. Tea tree oil can be some very strong, so use the mixture above as a guideline. You can then gradually increase the amount of tea tree oil in the mixture if you feel the need.

Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is often used for numerous skin conditions and problems (like sunburns) due to its antiseptic properties. It can also help your skin’s healing process.

Take a fresh aloe vera leaf or two and place them in the fridge for a few hours. Cut the tips of the leaves off, squeeze out the gel, and gently rub it into your face. Allow it to sit for at least 15 minutes before washing it off and patting dry your face.

Before using any of these home remedies, it is always a good idea to do a small test area first to make sure allergies are not an issue, or it doesn’t irritate your skin. If there is no reaction, hopefully, your home remedy of choice can help take care of any acne issues you may have.

Eliminate Those Pesky Pimples Naturally!

Some people get lucky and don’t have much of an issue with acne, or manage to be able to outgrow major outbreaks once they pass their teenage years. Meanwhile, others may have lifelong battles with acne that may leave scars and cause social anxiety, and some may just have to deal with acne in times of stress. Whatever the reason, hopefully, the home remedies that we’ve provided here can help you with your acne issues, and allow you to get on with the rest of your day acne-free.


Related Articles:

Bacne: The Causes and How to Get Rid of Back Acne

Redness on the Face: Treating Rosacea, Acne, Red Spots, and More

Treating Chest Acne, Scars, Pimples, and Bumps


Sources:
“7 Simple Natural Ways to get Rid of Acne Forever,” Organics; http://organics.org/7-simple-natural-ways-to-get-rid-of-acne-forever/, last accessed June 26, 2017.
Gianni, A., “5 Foods to Eat—and 5 Not To Eat—to Reduce Acne Outbreaks,” ANNMARIE; https://www.annmariegianni.com/5-foods-that-reduce-breakouts/, last accessed June 26, 2017.
“How to Get Rid of Acne Naturally,” wikiHow; http://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-Acne-Naturally, last accessed June 26, 2017.