Home Acne Treatments

Treatments for acne range in effectiveness and price, with some of the most effective acne products costing the most, and providing the harshest side effects. With this in mind, more and more people are turning to acne home remedies to complement orthodox treatments, and support tissue healing and recovery from acne. Not all home acne treatments work for everyone, so you have to try a bit of everything to find out what is going to be most effective.

Acne Home Treatment #1: Home Detox

Not all acne is the result of hormones — other contributors include allergens, pollution and toxins. When your liver cannot handle all of the toxins it has to process, your skin takes up some of the burden, allowing the toxins to pass through it. In order to flush chemicals and toxins from the body, there are several acne home treatments you can do. Increase your water intake by drinking fresh clean water every two waking hours. Increase your fibre intake — as dietary fibre is required for the liver to eliminate toxins — by consuming more whole grains, nuts, seeds and vegetables. Ground flaxseed is a beneficial source of fibre as well as anti-inflammatory oils such as omega-3 and omega-6. Reduce your alcohol and coffee intake, and increase the amount of organic food ending up in your home cooked meals.

Acne Home Treatment #2: Beta-carotene

Beta-carotene is a pre-cursor to Vitamin A and an important nutrient for the proper maintenance and repair of skin cells. While beta-carotene can be purchased as a supplement, it’s simpler and far cheaper for you to get it from the diet. Excellent food sources of beta-carotene include any orange or yellow vegetables such as pumpkins, squash, carrots, corn, yellow peppers, oranges, mandarins, bananas and dark-green leafy vegetables. If you do take vitamin A or beta-carotene as a supplement, always follow the guidelines for use very carefully — too much can be toxic.

Acne Home Treatment #3: Slippery Elm Paste

Use Slippery Elm bark to improve the healing of skin tissues and relieve infection. Slippery Elm contains phytochemicals that reduce inflammation, improve tissue healing, and when applied as a poultice, can help to draw out infection and pus. Mix Slippery Elm bark powder with water until you achieve a paste consistency. Three times daily apply the paste to lightly cover your whiteheads and blackheads. Leave it to sit for 10-15 minutes before removing the paste and cleansing the skin. Slippery Elm applied in this way relieves discomfort, reduces pain and inflammation, and draws out infection and pus naturally from the skin.

Acne Home Treatment #4: Aloe Vera Gel

Aloe Vera is a succulent plant commonly found in many gardens and can be used as an acne home remedy for treating acne topically. The leaf contains a thick gel with wound healing, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Cut the Aloe Vera leaf carefully down the middle and use a small spoon to scoop out the clear, sticky gel inside. It is light on your skin and quickly cools and relieves inflammation and swelling. If you cannot find any gardens with Aloe Vera, it can be easily purchased through pharmacies, health food stores, and sometimes supermarkets.

Acne Home Treatment #5: Juices and Smoothies

Juices and smoothies are an easy way to help your body detoxify harmful toxins that exacerbate acne, and provide essential vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals that support skin tissue healing. Vegetable juices such as carrot and beetroot support liver function while providing beta-carotene for tissue repair. Green smoothies like chlorella and spirulina stimulate immune function to fight against bacteria, and reduce allergic responses. Fresh or frozen berries are an excellent source of antioxidants and vitamin C for supporting skin healing, reducing inflammation and improving immunity. You can add a teaspoon of ground flaxseed for extra fibre for detoxification, and two teaspoons of wheatgerm to provide vitamin E for reducing tissue scarring.

Using any of the home acne treatments above can help give you clear skin, reduce inflammation and redness, and a more healthier looking complexion.

Sources:

• “Prescriptions for Natural Cures”; Mark Stengler, James Balch; 2004
• “Clinical Guide to Blending Liquid Herbs”; Kerry Bones; 2003