Home Remedies for Acne

Acne is an inflammatory skin disorder that affects the sebaceous glands just under the surface of the skin; these glands, commonly known as oil glands, are attached to hair follicles, and the oil, or “sebum,” that they produce moisturizes the skin and hair. It is general during adolescence for these glands to become enlarged and to produce excessive quantities of sebum.

A common bacteria that resides in the skin is nourished by sebum and propagates when the sebum level is increased. This increases the levels of white blood cells around the follicle, causing inflammation of the skin. These inflammations then lead to the formation of what we know as acne, in the form of blackheads or whiteheads.

The best way to control acne is by changing one’s personal habits: cut back on sugars and fats; use cosmetic products properly; and practice good hygiene, washing your face and hands frequently. We commonly touch our faces all the time without ever thinking about it, and if our hands are oily, we’re transferring those oils directly to our faces. Also, get plenty of exercise and sleep. However, try not to sleep on your face; your pillowcase might become damp with perspiration, and again transfer excessive moisture to your face.

Apart from changing personal habits, there are a number of home remedies that are known to help control acne. One such substance is garlic. Garlic is known to have antibiotic properties, and thus can reduce bacteria levels in your hair follicles. Simply crush a few peeled garlic cloves and squeeze the juice out with a garlic press and cheesecloth. Apply this garlic juice directly to your face, particularly to affected areas but elsewhere as well. Do not let the garlic juice stay on your skin for longer than five minutes, or it may burn the skin; wash it off thoroughly.

Alternatively, you can mix garlic juice with an equal amount of white vinegar, and apply the solution to your skin with a cotton ball. The vinegar acts as a skin balancer.

A natural substance with anti-inflammatory properties is aloe vera; applying aloe vera gel, in the morning and in the evening before going to sleep, can help control your acne. In fact, you can sleep the night through wearing a mask of aloe vera gel and wash it off the following morning, scrubbing your face with aloe vera soap after you wake up. There are various products on the market, such as soaps and moisturizing creams, that contain aloe vera; you can use these common products regularly to control your acne as well as soften your skin.

Another antibacterial agent is rose water, which can kill the bacteria that leads to blockage of hair follicles on the face. If you don’t want to directly apply rose water to affected areas, you can use aromatherapy. Or, buy rose extract or essential rose oil, which is more concentrated, mix a few drops with olive oil, and gently massage the liquid directly into your acne.

Various other commonly found grocery items, including honey, papaya, nutmeg, and fresh lime juice, have all been used with success in alleviating acne.