Certain home remedies may help a person’s acne pimples and sores. Home remedies for acne include gentle herbal lotions and gels, essential oils, natural vitamins, and lifestyle modifications.
Acne arises when pores get clogged or infected with germs. Acne is a widespread skin ailment that affects an estimated 50 million people in the United States.
People can employ certain home remedies to help balance the skin’s oil levels, reduce inflammation, kill bacteria, and prevent future acne breakouts.
However, there is little scientific evidence to support the usefulness of most home remedies. This article examines the existing evidence for certain home remedies that people may find useful. Go with Teeanime for all your doubts!
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not test home remedies for safety and effectiveness, so use caution when substituting them for professional medical care. It is always better to notify a doctor of your symptoms and explore potential treatment choices.
Causes of acne
Acne is a hypersensitivity of the skin’s sebaceous glands. It lesions on the skin can be caused by hormones, germs, and inflammation.
Acne can also be caused by:
- certain medications: lithium, steroids, anticonvulsants
- restrictive clothing: shoulder pads, backpacks, underwire bras, headbands
- endocrine disorders: polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
- genetics: inherited from family members
- smoking: especially in older individuals
Home remedies for acne
Herbal extracts are used in many of the most popular home remedies for acne. Many of these extracts are also used in traditional medicine.
Below, we talk about the best home remedies for acne, what research says about them, and how making changes to your lifestyle can help.
If someone wants to try a topical treatment, they should talk to a dermatologist first or do a patch test by putting a small amount of the treatment on their wrist or hand to see if their skin reacts to it.
1. Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil is a natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, which means it may destroy the bacteria that causes acne, P. acnes.
Because of its anti-inflammatory characteristics, tea tree oil can help minimize pimple swelling and redness.
A review research published in 2019 looked at the existing data regarding tea tree oil and acne. Because of the antibacterial properties of tea trees, the researchers discovered that tea tree oil products can reduce the frequency of acne lesions in people.
This same review included research indicating that after 8 weeks of utilizing tea tree oil cosmetic treatments, the total number of acne lesions in study participants decreased from 23.7 to 10.7.
How to use tea tree oil
In the form of lotions, gels, or essential oils, tea tree extract can be used to treat acne. A 2016 review paper, on the other hand, says that tea tree oil can cause allergic reactions in some people. To avoid skin irritation, people should use tea tree oil products with a concentration of less than 5%.
Although studies suggests that essential oils may have some health advantages, it is vital to remember that the FDA does not monitor or control the purity or quality of these. Before utilizing essential oils, a person should consult with a healthcare practitioner and thoroughly study the quality of a brand’s goods. Before using a new essential oil, always perform a patch test.
2. Jojoba oil
It is made from the seeds of the jojoba shrub, which are waxy and natural.
Jojoba oil contains waxy substances that may help repair damaged skin and speed up the healing of wounds and acne lesions.
Some of the chemicals in jojoba oil might help reduce inflammation in the skin. This could make pimples, whiteheads, and other irritated lesions less red and swollen.
In a study done in 2012, 133 people were given clay face masks with jojoba oil. When people used the masks twice or three times a week for 6 weeks, their acne got better by 54%.
How to use jojoba oil
If you have acne, try mixing jojoba essential oil with a gel, cream, or clay mask and putting it on. If that doesn’t work, put a few drops of jojoba oil on a cotton pad and gently rub that over the acne.
3. Aloe vera
It is a natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, which means it may help reduce the look of acne and stop acne from breaking out.
Aloe vera has sugar molecules, amino acids, and zinc, which make it a great way to protect and moisturize the skin. It works especially well for people whose skin gets dry from other acne treatments.
In a 2021 study, researchers found that the number of bumps, sores, and patches of dry skin went down when aloe vera was used with ultrasound and soft masks.
How to use aloe vera gel
After washing with soap, a person with acne should put a thin layer of cream or gel on the sores twice a day.
4. Honey
Honey has been used to treat skin problems for thousands of years because it has a lot of antioxidants that can help clear out clogged pores.
There is evidence that honey has some antimicrobial effects, but a 2016 reviewTrusted Source did not find strong evidence that honey helps acne.
How to use honey
Rub a little honey into pimples with a clean finger or cotton pad. If not, put honey in a mask for your face or body.
5. Zinc
Because of its anti-inflammatory characteristics, zinc is frequently promoted as a way to minimize acne lesions and redness.
According to a 2021 articleTrusted Source, research on zinc’s usefulness is inconsistent. However, administering the supplement straight to the skin yields superior outcomes. The reason for this is because when taken orally, some of the supplement is broken down during digestion and may lose efficiency.
How to use zinc
People can apply zinc topically onto the skin or take it via supplement form.
6. Green tea
Green tea has a lot of antioxidants called catechins, which are a type of polyphenol.
Some people with acne have too much sebum, which is natural body oil, and not enough antioxidants in their pores. Antioxidants help the body get rid of chemicals and waste that can hurt cells.
There are also chemicals in green tea that may help:
- reduce the skin’s sebum production
- reduce P. acnes
- reduce inflammation
How to use green tea
People can drink green tea or put green tea extract on their skin, but researchers say there isn’t a lot of evidence for either one right now.
One 2017 study, on the other hand, found that whiteheads and blackheads went down by 79–89% after using a polyphenol green tea extract for 8 weeks.
Green tea can be found in most grocery stores. Green tea extract is harder to find, but you can buy it online or at some health food stores.
7. Echinacea
Echinacea, which is also called purple coneflower, may have chemicals in it that kill viruses and bacteria, including P. acnes.
Many people think that echinacea can boost the immune system and reduce inflammation to help fight infections like colds and flu or stop them from happening. There is some evidence that echinacea can stop the spread of P. acnes and reduce inflammation caused by bacteria, but there isn’t much research on this topic right now.
How to use echinacea
People with acne can put on echinacea creams or take echinacea supplements. You can buy supplements or creams with echinacea at health food stores or online.
8. Rosemary
Rosemary extract, also called Rosmarinus officinalis, is made up of chemicals and compounds that fight inflammation, bacteria, and free radicals.
To figure out how well it works, more research needs to be done.
But a 2016 research article suggested that P. acnes-causing bacteria can cause inflammation. Rosemary extract could help reduce this inflammation.
9. Purified bee venom
Bee venom that has been cleaned has antibacterial properties, but it is not easy to get.
In a 2016 study, people who put a gel on their face that contained purified bee venom for 6 weeks saw their mild to moderate acne go away.
Even though more research needs to be done, purified bee venom could be a useful ingredient in acne medicines in the future.
10. Coconut oil
Like some of the other natural remedies on this list, coconut oil has compounds that reduce inflammation and kill bacteria.
Because of these qualities, coconut oil may help kill bacteria that cause acne and make pimples less red and swollen. Coconut oil may help open acne sores heal faster because it is soothing and keeps the skin moist. But there isn’t much research on coconut oil as a way to stop acne.
How to use coconut oil
Try rubbing pure, unrefined coconut oil right on the acne. Look in the natural foods section of grocery stores or online for coconut oil.
Lifestyle changes for acne
Along with home remedies, certain lifestyle changes can have a big impact on keeping the body healthy, making the skin less oily, and reducing acne flare-ups.
11. Avoid touching pimples
Touching acne sores can be very tempting, but it can irritate the skin, make the pimple worse, or spread pimples to other places.
Touching, rubbing, squeezing, or popping acne sores can also spread infection by letting more bacteria into the lesion. If you squeeze a pimple, you may push bacteria and dead skin deeper into the skin, making the spot worse than it was before.
Talk to a doctor about large sores or ones that are deep under the skin to find out how to treat them safely.
12. Choosing the right cleanser
The pH of many regular soaps is too high, which can irritate the skin and make acne worse.
Choose gentle cleansers, rinses, and washes to reduce the chance of acne flare-ups and let sores heal.
13. Using oil-free skin care
Oily or greasy products can clog pores, which makes it more likely that acne sores will get clogged and get worse.
Look for cosmetics and skin care products that say “oil-free” or “noncomedogenic” on the label. These products have ingredients that let your pores breathe.
14. Staying hydrated
When the skin is dry, it can get irritated or damaged, which can make acne worse. Staying hydrated also makes sure that healthy new skin cells form as wounds heal.
There is no set amount of water a person should drink every day because it depends on their age, how active they are, the temperature, and any health problems they may have.
A good place to start is to try harder to drink more water during the day.
15. Reducing stress
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, stress can make acne worse.
Stress raises the amount of the hormone androgen. Androgen makes the hair follicles and oil glands in pores work harder, which makes acne more likely.
Some ways to deal with stress are:
- talking with family, friends, a doctor, or other supportive people
- getting enough sleep
- eating a healthful, balanced diet
- exercising regularly
- limiting alcohol and caffeine consumption
- practicing deep breathing, yoga, mindfulness, or meditation
Hormonal acne
Hormonal acne occurs from a hormone imbalance and can occur from:
- Foods containing hormones. For example, dairy products can consist of hormones.
- Premenstrual flare-ups. Hormones fluctuate before a menstrual cycle and may lead to acne flares.
- Stress hormones. Feelings of intense anger and anxiety may aggravate acne due to stress hormones rising with the emotions.
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is a common endocrine system disorder that can affect individuals during their reproductive years.
A doctor may offer potential treatment options or ways to avoid acne flare-ups with each type of hormonal acne.
Allergic acne
Acne doesn’t usually cause itching, so itching could be a sign of something else that looks like acne.
For example, allergic dermatitis and hives look like acne because they are both caused by allergies to things like medicines, foods, or skin care products. Because of this, allergic reactions can cause very bad symptoms that need medical help.
Gluten sensitivity can cause dermatitis herpetiformis, which can look like acne because it causes a red, itchy rash and blisters. When someone has gluten sensitivity, they may need to change their diet and/or take medicine to control their symptoms.
Outlook
People can treat their acne with a variety of home remedies. However, not all therapies will work for everyone or in every situation.
Herbal goods and essential oils are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Furthermore, many natural acne remedies have not been scientifically confirmed to work, but some people may find them beneficial.
Before utilizing natural remedies for severe, chronic, deep, or painful acne lesions, always consult a doctor. Similarly, consult a doctor if mild acne sores do not respond to primary care or continue to worsen.
