Red bumps, puss-filled pimples, unappealing blackheads, and permanent scarring all results from America’s most popular skin condition – acne. Fortunately for people affected by acne, it’s not deadly, although it is far from visually appealing.
It’s estimated that more than 50,000,000 Americans have this condition, in which oily, naturally-secreted sebum clogs up pores and causes pus and blackheads to build up.
While virtually everybody with acne would love to rid themselves of the unsightly skin condition, showing off to the world, saying “goodbye” to the disease isn’t so easy.
Here are 15 100% natural remedies to getting rid of acne. Utilize these strategies and maybe, just maybe, will your skin become clear.
1. Wave goodbye to acne by cleaning up your not-so-ideal diet
Americans are often labeled as unhealthy by stereotypes around the world, and there’s actually quite a bit of truth to this sentiment. Diets held by people outside of the West generally feature higher concentrations of problem-causing omega-3 acids, in comparison to healthier omega-6 lipids.
Western diets generally feature proportions of 5% to 10% omega-6 fatty acids to 100% of their their healthier counterparts, ranging from ranging from 3:10 to 5:10 in Eastern diets.
The United States’ National Institute of Health suggests that people outside of the western hemisphere suffer from acne less frequently than others because of their better diets.
According to Healthline, you should refrain from eating out, cooking with vegetable oil, and any oils made from seed, including sunflower, peanut, coconut, and palm oil.
2. Make use of the ever-helpful apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar has a wide range of health benefits, including properties that lower blood sugar and insulin, getting rid of toxins, and eliminating bacteria and viruses.
Dilute two ounces of apple cider vinegar in six ounces of water. Use Q-Tips, cotton balls, or skin-friendly towels to apply the diluted solution of apple cider vinegar to trouble areas. Let the mixture remain on your skin for thirty seconds, and repeat the process twice daily.
3. Honey and cinnamon masks help absorb blackheads and pus
Honey and cinnamon are both completely natural, helping mitigate oiliness and redness associated with acne. Simply mix these two ingredients together in any concentration.
Apply to facial or other trouble areas in the mornings and evenings, letting them sit for several minutes at a time. Don’t forget to remove these masks prior to falling asleep, or else you might place your bedding in a sticky situation!
4. Green tea is natural and packed full of antioxidants
Green tea is found in virtually ever supermarket. This herb is filled with natural antioxidants — and packed full of flavor, too — the most helpful of which is EGCG, or epigallocatechin-3-gallate.
Make use of this natural remedy by allowing teabags to steep in boiling water until saturated, then apply the cooled green tea solution to problem areas with skin-safe cotton or washrags. Make sure to rinse with water.
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5. Although it’s not made by evil witches, witch hazel is very helpful
Witch hazel is one of our favorite remedies for acne. It’s cheap, safe, found in most stores, and can be used for other health needs.
All you need to do is soak a few cotton balls in witch hazel, then dab away red, puffy, oily problem areas with them. It’s OK – you can thank me later.
6. Aloe vera’s natural ingredients bust away bad skin
Aloe vera plants are unique, consisting only of thick sprouts filled with gel bursting with health benefits. They aren’t expensive to purchase, fortunately, and regenerate more gel quickly, and without human intervention.
The National Institute of Health recognizes aloe vera’s help in dealing with acne — simply apply, with no need to wipe gel off trouble areas.
Gel from this plant can be used for a variety of other health problems as well. If you’re experiencing IBS, constipation, liver problems, or simply in need of nutrients, turn to aloe vera for all-natural assistance.
7. Utilize potatoes’ nutritious pulp to reap dermal rewards
While this natural home remedy for acne might seem like it doesn’t help, I can attest their acne-related benefits. Grate a rinsed potato from farmers’ markets or grocery stores, or slice it into small pieces.
Mash the juice out of the potato, then apply to red, oily areas. Leave the potato juice for around thirty minutes, then rinse away.
8. Stifle hormones causing acne by ceasing dairy consumption
Physicians, dermatologists, and people suffering from acne have debated dairy products’ effects on acne and other skin conditions. However, research from New York University carried out over a 50-year period found that dairy worsened and triggered acne, oiliness, and splotchy red skin.
If you have trouble simply giving up milk, cheese, and other dairy products, consider switching to almond milk and yogurt.
9. Busting away stress reduces hormones that spur acne, too
While you might not understand how hormones work in the human body – and that’s OK – it’s indisputable that releases hormones that result in acne. Many people suffer from stress, and those same people fail to engage in activities and behaviors that reduce mental worry.
Try meditating for just 15 minutes every day, practice deep breathing exercises when you’re overwhelmed, aim to exercise on a regular basis, and get higher quality, sound sleep.
Don’t believe it? Various bouts of research indicate stress’ link to acne, with most effective treatments being those you can perform at home.
10. Relax with an avocado mask, boasting vitamins and healthy fats
Just like the remedy utilizing potatoes above, simply applying avocado masks each night might seem too simple to prove beneficial.
However, avocados have high stores of vitamin E, biotin, oleic acid and other healthy fats, and protectants that prevent dirt and debris from clogging pores.
11. Sugar might cause acne if you eat it, despite its unarguable skin benefits when applied
Similar to milk, sugar has been demonstrated to cause acne and exacerbate existing cases of skin problems – but only when you actually eat sugar. Even though it’s difficult to stay away from foods containing troves of sugar, raw cane sugar can help reduce the severity of acne when it’s directly applied to skin.
It’s not necessary to be selective in choosing brown or white sugars, as both host the same benefits.
Measure out a cup of sugar, then add olive oil, water, or even honey to the sweet granules of sucrose. Gently scrub clogged pores, whiteheads, blackheads, and red portions of skin with your all natural solution.
You can even wear the sugary solution as a mask for a few minutes, or up to an hour, as long as you remove the mask prior to falling asleep.
12. Garlic might stink, but it’s loaded with nutrients harmful to acne
Garlic, a spicy, delightfully pungent member of the onion family, is often used in dishes to spruce up their flavor profiles.
It’s also rumored to keep vampires away, although people wearing it might deter literally anybody I pray that nobody I know attempts to ward off mythical creatures with the staunch stench of garlic, although I do hope that you utilize its natural powers to help mitigate acne.
You can take advantage of garlic’s properties by applying it to dermal regions populated with acne, or even simply ingesting it.
Aim for eating healthy dishes that include lots of garlic, mince it and consume it via gelatin capsules, or take supplements with high concentrations of garlic. A more effective approach is applying it to irritated, greasy areas affected by acne.
Make sure to dilute the garlic in water, oil, or another medium, as garlic’s pungency may result in causing further damage to your skin.
13. Baking soda has innumerable uses, including banishing acne with its antiseptic traits
Baking soda, whose chemical name is sodium bicarbonate, is used to freshen up refrigerators and freezers, whiten teeth, clean greasy surfaces, among many other applicants. Fortunately for you, this affordable, all natural household staple can be used to mitigate the severity of acne.
While baking soda should never be left on acne-ridden skin areas overnight, it’s not very harmful when applied for less than an hour consecutively.
You can pour water into baking soda until it forms a thick, creamy paste, that can be worn as a mask. Conversely, add more water and scrub troubled dermal regions. Either way, baking soda can eradicate bacteria, as well as dry up stores of lipids.
14. Don’t slip! Banana peels effectively reduce inflammation
Individual banana can be purchased for little more than 25 cents at grocery stores, ranking this remedy as one of this list’s most affordable.
To reduce inflammation around acne-stricken pores, simply rub the interior of the banana peel around reddened areas and let sit for 15 to 30 minutes.
15. Orange peels are similarly inexpensive, hosting affordable acne-eradicating properties
Using orange peels for getting rid of acne is slightly different than that of bananas, although equally as effective. Remove the casing from an orange and scrape off pulp on the inside of the peel.
To make use of oranges’ high levels of citric acid and vitamin C, both of which help remedy acne, mix the pulp with water to form a thick paste, then apply as a mask and leave on for at least 15 minutes, but no longer than one hour.
Final thoughts
It’s true that nobody – and I mean nobody – is comfortable with acne littering their faces, arms, chests, backs, and other visible areas. Acne can cause pain in some cases, scarring that lasts for entire lifetimes, and is almost always impossible to cover up.
Many people feel that purchasing unnatural supplements from supermarkets, TV advertisements, and the Internet is the only way to cure acne – but that’s entirely false.
Avocados and potatoes are able for purchase practically everywhere, regardless of how far you live from warmer climates in which growing these vegetables are easier.
Most localities have nearby beekeepers that sell honey, with even more areas hosting grocery stores that sell pure, entirely natural nectar harvested from beehives. Aloe vera is a hardy plant that will survive in most homes at room temperature.
Rather than worrying about your acne, failing to take responsibility for the quality of your skin, try these all-natural home remedies to help rid your once-perfect skin of red, greasy, itchy acne.
What are you waiting for?