Home Remedies for Acne
Teenagers around the world often find themselves embarrassed by acne, or pimples; though commonly occurring in young people, especially those undergoing puberty, acne can affect people of all ages.
Acne is an inflammatory skin disorder that affects the sebaceous (oil) glands just under the surface of the skin; these glands are attached to hair follicles, and the oil that they produce, called sebum, keeps the skin and hair moisturized. During adolescence, these glands are enlarged and, driven by increased hormonal activity, produce excessive quantities of sebum. This hormonal activity decreases around the age of twenty.
A bacteria that normally resides in the skin gets nourishment from sebum, and multiplies when the sebum level is increased. This leads to increased levels of white blood cells around the follicle, causing inflammation of the skin. For reasons that are still not properly understood, the sebum, which would ordinarily have free passage from the follicle to the skin surface, thus providing moisturization, becomes blocked in the follicle, causing the follicle to swell into acne in the form of what are commonly called blackheads or whiteheads.
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Acne can be exacerbated by one's habits: improper diet (excessive sugar or fats), improper use of cosmetic products, and lack of proper hygiene can all contribute to acne. So proper control of acne can begin with simply changing these bad habits. Eating chocolate is commonly associated with acne; one doesn't need to cut out chocolate entirely, but simple moderation can go a long way. The benefits of eating more fruits and vegetables, while cutting back on sugars and fats, go well beyond acne control. Also, get plenty of exercise and sleep, and wash regularly, particularly your hands. Although you might not think about it, you probably touch your face all the time, and if your hands are dirty or oily, you are transferring those oils to your face.
Also, when you sleep, try not to sleep on your face; just like oily hands, a pillowcase that might be damp with perspiration can transfer oils to your face and exacerbate your acne.
One of the most common substances that helps control acne is garlic. Although there is as yet no scientific evidence for garlic as a cure for acne, it is known that garlic has antibiotic properties, and thus can help decrease the bacteria that builds up in the hair follicles of acne sufferers. To apply garlic to affected areas, crush a few peeled garlic cloves, and squeeze the juice out with a garlic press and cheesecloth. Apply the juice directly to your face, both affected areas and clear areas as well. Leave the garlic juice on your face for only five minutes, then wash it off; garlic is strong, and may burn your skin.
As an alternative, mix the garlic juice with an equivalent amount of white vinegar, and apply this solution to your acne with a cotton ball. The vinegar acts as a skin balancer. Or, you can simply eat garlic, but it should be raw -- if you cook the garlic, that will diminish the garlic's antibacterial properties.
Another natural substance that has anti-inflammatory properties is aloe vera, and applying aloe vera in a gel form, both in the morning and in the evening before going to sleep, can help control acne. At night, you can apply a mask of aloe vera gel to affected areas, and sleep the night through without washing it off. The next morning, scrub your face with aloe vera soap. Various products, including soaps and moisturizing creams, contain aloe vera, and these can be used regularly to soften the skin and reduce acne.
Rose water is another antibacterial agent that can kill the bacteria that leads to blockage of hair follicles on the face. You can either directly apply rose water to affected areas, or utilize aromatherapy. Or, dissolve some oatmeal powder into rose water until you have a thick paste, and apply this paste as a mask to your face. After 10-15 minutes, the oatmeal will begin to flake off, and you can then wash the mask off with warm water.
Or, purchase essential rose oil, or rose extract, which is more concentrated; mix a few drops of this with an oil (such as olive oil) and massage the solution directly into affected areas. As with aloe vera, rose water and rose oil are available in many cosmetic products, such as facial cleansers.
Acne sufferers have used various other natural substances to treat this sometimes embarrassing condition, many of which can be found easily in your local supermarket. Honey, fresh lime juice, papaya, nutmeg, cucumber pulp, and poultices with various recipes including even grated potato, have all been used with success. Do your research, and try out various methods until your acne is cleared up for good.
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