Homemade Solutions for Acne

Acne is a condition that frequently occurs during adolescence and occurs on the skin of the face and back due to chronic inflammation, usually clogging the openings in the skin known as pores. Excess fat is a closely related cause, however, other factors often influence acne.

It can also appear in middle-aged women due to hormonal imbalances or allergies which can cause pimples and blackheads.

Food

A balanced diet contributes to healthy skin, drinking plenty of water throughout the day helps to prevent the occurrence of acne and keep our skin hydrated and smooth. Besides moisturising our skin, water also removes dead skin cells.

As well as drinking water, you should avoid salty foods, cured meats, junk processed foods and preparations rich in fat, especially saturated fats like butter.

It is advisable to go for non-refined grain (wholegrain) foods and to avoid refined sugar and white flour.

Oatmeal Mask

Oatmeal is a very nutritious food, but also can be applied to the skin as a mask to help combat outbreaks of acne.

Ingredients:

½ cup of milk
3 tablespoons of oatmeal

Preparation:

Mix oats with milk and whisk until thickened, Reserve it in the fridge until cold and then proceed to cover the face with the mixture for 15 minutes. Finally, rinse with warm water. Try to do this procedure once a week.

Hydrogen peroxide

A common remedy is to directly apply oxygenated water to the affected area with cotton wool, two or three times a day. This is a particularly effective remedy when the pimple has manifested. Press firmly on one side of the pimple to remove excess puss and then apply the hydrogen peroxide again, leaving it on to dry.

Green clay mask

Green clay is also a great remedy for helping to cure bouts of acne as it prevents the proliferation of bacteria, as well as cleans and softens skin. Prepare a homemade mask with Green Clay and apply it 1-3 times a week on the affected area(s).

If you have oily skin, you should prepare the mask with water and lemon juice, while for dry skin you should add a few drops of sweet almond oil.

Alcohol

Applying alcohol can help eliminate acne. Just dip a swab in a little alcohol and apply on the affected area and leave it to dry naturally. It is recommended to do this once a day until the acne breakout disappears.

Garlic

Garlic may help treat scars left after skin is damaged by acne. You should cut up a garlic clove and apply it to the area you wish to treat. Repeat this every night before you go to bed and then wash your face with warm water.

Aloe Vera

Used since ancient times to treat skin problems, aloe vera is an excellent plant for treating acne. Cut a small piece of aloe vera and gently rub the affected area with the pulp before going to bed. Leave on overnight and wash your face with warm water in the morning. Keep in mind that aloe can stain fabrics and clothing, so it is recommended that you protect them when using it.

Lemon juice

You can take advantage of freshly squeezed lemon juice to treat annoying acne breakouts: Only a drop is necessary and should be applied to the affected area, before being left to dry naturally. You may experience burning or dry skin, but lemon can help to dry out pimples and make them disappear within days.

References

1. Burris, J., Rietkerk, W., & Woolf, K. (2013). Acne: the role of medical nutrition therapy. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 113(3), 416–430.
2. Norstedt, S., & Lindberg, M. (2016). Dietary Regimes for Treatment of Acne Vulgaris: A Critical Review of Published Clinical Trials. Acta Dermato-Venereologica, 96(2), 283–284.
3. Zaenglein, A. L., Pathy, A. L., Schlosser, B. J., Alikhan, A., Baldwin, H. E., Berson, D. S., … Bhushan, R. (2016). Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 74(5), 945–73.e33.
4. Fiedler, F., Stangl, G. I., Fiedler, E., & Taube, K.-M. (2017). Acne and Nutrition: A Systematic Review. Acta Dermato-Venereologica, 97(1), 7–9.
5. Shokeen, D. (2016). Influence of diet in acne vulgaris and atopic dermatitis. Cutis, 98(3), E28–E29.
6. Fabbrocini, G., & Saint Aroman, M. (2014). Cosmeceuticals based on Rhealba((R)) Oat plantlet extract for the treatment of acne vulgaris. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : JEADV, 28 Suppl 6, 1–6.
7. Damak, A., Dziri, C., Kouki, R., & Kamoun, M. R. (1990). [New Tunisian products in the treatment of acne]. La Tunisie medicale, 68(11), 679–684.
8. Meier, L., Stange, R., Michalsen, A., & Uehleke, B. (2012). Clay jojoba oil facial mask for lesioned skin and mild acne–results of a prospective, observational pilot study. Forschende Komplementarmedizin (2006), 19(2), 75–79.
9. Martin, K. W., & Ernst, E. (2003). Herbal medicines for treatment of bacterial infections: a review of controlled clinical trials. The Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 51(2), 241–246.
10. Hajheydari, Z., Saeedi, M., Morteza-Semnani, K., & Soltani, A. (2014). Effect of Aloe vera topical gel combined with tretinoin in treatment of mild and  moderate acne vulgaris: a randomized, double-blind, prospective trial. The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 25(2), 123–129.
11. d’Alessio, P. A., Mirshahi, M., Bisson, J.-F., & Bene, M. C. (2014). Skin repair properties of d-Limonene and perillyl alcohol in murine models. Anti-Inflammatory & Anti-Allergy Agents in Medicinal Chemistry, 13(1), 29–35.
12. Pazyar, N., Yaghoobi, R., Rafiee, E., Mehrabian, A., & Feily, A. (2014). Skin wound healing and phytomedicine: a review. Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 27(6), 303–310.

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