Natural and Herbal Remedies for Treating Acne
Acne is a very distressing skin condition that affects people all over the world, but although there is lots of skin care products marketed at people suffering from acne, many of them contain harsh chemicals that cause unnecessary discomfort and unpleasant side effects. Consequently, many people choose to look for natural and herbal remedies for treating acne instead.
Natural and herbal remedies for treating acne contain no harsh chemicals and are usually made from naturally occurring plants, herbs and other healthy ingredients that are readily available. Unlike prescription medications and over the counter skin care acne products, natural and herbal acne remedies do not normally cause any side effects unless you are allergic to one of the ingredients, which makes them a safe alternative.
Are natural and herbal acne treatments expensive?
Cost is often a big factor when choosing acne treatments. Products made by the big skin care companies tend to be very expensive and you can easily spend a huge amount of money when buying the recommended selection of cleansers, toners, moisturizers and topical lotions and creams. Natural remedies can be much cheaper, especially if you make your own acne treatments using ingredients you already have.
What ingredients are used in natural and herbal acne treatments?
Tea tree oil is a common ingredient in natural acne remedies. Tea tree oil is distilled from the leaves of a plant that grows in Australia: Melaleuca alternifolia. Thanks to one of its key constituents, terpinen-4-ol, tea tree oil has powerful antibacterial properties and has been used in herbal medicine for thousands of years. When applied directly to the skin, tea tree oil can kill acne causing bacteria, and studies have shown that topical use of tea tree oil is just as effective as a common prescription acne remedy—benzoyl peroxide; it takes longer to work, but it causes far fewer side effects.
Undiluted tea tree oil can sometimes cause mild burning and irritation of the skin, but it can be diluted in water or added to aloe vera gel before applying to the affected areas. Tea tree oil can be found in natural over the counter acne treatments, where it is often combined with witch hazel.
Zinc is known to help reduce the inflammation associated with acne. Zinc is found in red meat, poultry, whole grains, fortified breakfast cereals, some seafood, nuts and beans. It can also be taken as a dietary supplement, although you must take care not to exceed the recommended amount of zinc in your daily diet as too much zinc can cause all kinds of nasty side effects, including stomach cramps, nausea, headaches., and loss of appetite. You must also be careful not to take zinc supplements at the same time as antibiotics as one inhibits absorption of the other.
What herbal medicinal ingredients can be used to fight acne?
Herbal medicine can help improve the symptoms of acne. A commonly used Chinese herb called dong quai has been found to have similar benefits to antibiotics prescribed in the treatment of acne.
Licorice also has significant anti-acne properties and is often used in Chinese medicinal cures for acne and other skin complaints. Licorice has been used as an ingredient in herbal medicines since the Middle Ages and is known to stimulate the body’s adrenal system, which helps with the removal of bacteria and toxins that cause acne and its associated skin lesions.
Guggul is an herb used in traditional Indian herbal medicine and studies have shown that it can help to reduce the skin lesions experienced by acne sufferers when taken as a daily supplement for three months.
Green tea is a popular drink in Asian cultures. Green tea contains powerful antioxidant properties and can help lower excessive hormonal activity in the body, which is often a major cause of acne related skin conditions, particularly in pubescent teenagers and women.
Ginger is another powerful ingredient used in Chinese herbal medicine and can be taken to reduce the inflammation and redness associated with acne. Ginger can be infused in boiling water and drunk as a tea or it can be taken as a dietary supplement.
Echinacea is widely available in health food shops and can be used to boost the immune system when treating acne the natural way. Echinacea can be taken as a dietary supplement or included in herbal teas.
What natural ingredients can be applied as a topical remedy for the treatment of acne?
Oatmeal is very soothing for inflamed and sore skin and can be used as a natural face mask for calming inflammation and promoting healing of the skin. Mix some oatmeal with boiling water and leave to cool before applying it on the face and body. Leave it to soak in for around ten or fifteen minutes and then wash off. You should find that the itchy inflammation is soothed and your skin feels much softer.
Honey also has a similar effect. Honey contains natural antibacterial properties and can also be used as a topical face mask to promote healing and sooth inflammation of the affected skin.
Distilled white vinegar can be applied directly to the areas of skin affected by acne lesions. It helps to deep cleanse the pores and promote healing by way of its natural antibacterial qualities.
Citrus juices have natural antibacterial properties and can be included in home made face masks and facial cleansing scrubs. They help to deep cleanse clogged pores and exfoliate the dead skin cells, which can reduce the appearance of skin lesions and promote healing.
