19 Home Remedies for Acne That Work

In this article, you’ll learn and discover 19 home remedies for acne that actually work.

Acne is an extremely common skin condition with a prevalence of 80% in female and 90% in male teenagers. But it can occur at any age. A growing number of adults are being diagnosed with adult acne.   For most people, it is a bothersome condition characterized by occasional flare-ups of blackheads, pimples, and pustules. Most often, pimples develop on the face, neck, upper chest, and/or the back. More severe forms can result in inflamed nodules and cysts with scarring.   Hormones called androgens stimulate increased oil production. The oil is broken down into free fatty acids by bacterial enzymes, which causes skin inflammation and abnormal plugging of the oil glands and hair follicle.  Pimples eventually rupture.

For most people, it is a bothersome condition characterized by occasional flare-ups of blackheads, pimples, and pustules. Most often, pimples develop on the face, neck, upper chest, and/or the back. More severe forms can result in inflamed nodules and cysts with scarring.   Hormones called androgens stimulate increased oil production. The oil is broken down into free fatty acids by bacterial enzymes, which causes skin inflammation and abnormal plugging of the oil glands and hair follicle.  Pimples eventually rupture.

Acne can sometimes be confused with these conditions:

• Rosacea
• Folliculitis
• Dermatitis

What can make acne worse?

• Menstrual cycle–acne often worsens premenstrual or mid-cycle
• Prescription medications, such as certain birth control pills, steroids, and lithium.
• Being overweight–increased insulin production can signal the body to release extra male hormones, called androgens, which are involved in pimple formation.
• Stress
• Pore-clogging (comedogenic) cosmetics, sunscreens, moisturizers, greases, and oils
• Adolescence
• Poor diet–Excessive sugar, trans fats, fried, salt, and processed foods. Insufficient intake of water, healthy oils, fruit and vegetables, and fiber.
• Excessive intake of foods such as chocolate, caffeine, carbonated beverages, milk products, and seafood and other iodine-rich foods.

Tumors in the adrenal glands, polycystic ovarian syndrome (especially when adult acne occurs with irregular menstrual periods), and other health conditions can cause acne. Examination by your family physician is recommended to rule out these conditions.

Treatment:

Conventional treatments for acne are usually quite successful. They can include cleansing agents and lotions made with benzoyl peroxide, gels or creams made modified forms of vitamin A, and antibiotics applied to the skin or taken orally. The risk of scarring is an important factor when considering the type of treatment.

Diet

A diet based on whole, unprocessed foods may benefit people with acne.

Try to eat at least five servings of vegetables per day and at least one serving of fruit per day

Avoid eating refined sugar. Fried foods and trans fats such as milk, milk products, margarine, shortening, and other hydrogenated vegetable oils should be eliminated. Foods containing healthy omega-3 oils such as ground flaxseeds and sardines should be increased. Some people find that chocolate, caffeine, carbonated beverages, iodized salt, shellfish, wheat and/or milk products aggravate acne.

Regular bowel movements are important.

Drink at least 8 glasses of water daily. Increase fiber intake. In addition to eating fresh vegetables and fruit, choose whole grains. Some people may benefit from a one- to four-week liver detox diet based on fresh vegetables and fruit.   Acne is a tremendously embarrassing and burdensome problem. It is easy to feel that you don’t have control over your breakouts. But the fact is, you do. Now, your first response may be to assume that I’m going to recommend you see your dermatologist. Well, think again.

Natural remedies can be just as effective and medications

Possibly more powerful. Sometimes, all your body needs are the right nutritional balance and proper skin care. Here are some easy things you can start doing today to help you heal your acne. You should notice a difference in about 4 weeks.   Apply a honey mask to your face once or twice a week – Honey has antibacterial properties so it is great for disinfecting and healing minor blemishes. It is also gentle on sensitive skin.   Wash twice a day with acne soap – You should wash your face twice a day with a sulfur-based soap designed for acne.

Once when you first wake up in the morning and then, right before you go to bed at night

Be extremely gentle to your skin when washing – do not scrub or use any sort of rough cloth. Overwashing your skin will actually stimulate your sebaceous glands to produce more sebum, thus increasing your acne.   Keep your hair off your face – If you have long hair or bangs, pull your hair off your face. Your hair contains oils as well and will contribute to your breakouts. You’ll also want to wash your hair every day and after workouts.

Take a potent multi-vitamin

Acne can be a sign that something is wrong on the inside. Your skin depends on nutrition. It is a vital organ that is usually neglected. If your body is not receiving the right nutrition, it will fight back. One common way it will rebel is to produce excessive sebum, clogging pores, and reducing the ability for your skin to heal and fight bacteria.

Include chromium in your diet

Chromium is well known for weight loss diets. But it is also excellent for healing infections on the skin. Taking a chromium supplement once a day will help heal your pimples quickly and prevent future breakouts.

Eat carrots for beta-carotene (Vitamin A)

Vitamin A strengthens the protective tissue of the skin and actually prevents acne. It helps reduce sebum production. This vitamin is essential for the maintenance and repair of the tissue which the skin and mucous membranes are made of. Vitamin A is also a powerful antioxidant needed to rid your body of toxins. Did you know that a deficiency in vitamin A can actually cause acne?   Avoid wearing makeup – Leaving makeup products on your skin only contributes to clogging your pores, causing more pimples and blackheads. If you feel you must wear makeup, be sure it is water-based.

Drink 8 glasses of water

Drinking water is essential for clean skin and your overall health. Water is essential for carrying waste material out of your body… and is quite possibly flare-ups   Do not pick or squeeze your blackheads and pimples – As tempting as it may be, do not squeeze, scratch, rub or touch your pimples and blackheads.

Do any of these actions, actually, increases the sebum production. Plus, when you squeeze, you are actually rupturing the membranes below your skin, causing infection and sebum to spread underneath your skin. The result is more pimples.   Wash your pillowcase every other day – Your face lays on your pillowcase every day. Your pillowcase absorbs the oils from your skin and reapplies the dirt and oil. Thus causing breakouts. Keep your sheets and pillow cases clean.   Eat foods rich in zinc – Zinc is an antibacterial agent and a necessary element in the oil-producing glands of the skin. A diet low in zinc can actually cause acne breakouts.

Vitamins & Nutritional Supplements

Vitamin A

Vitamin A may help to reduce sebum production. However, high doses of vitamin A can carry a risk of decreased bone density, birth defects, headache, and muscle and joint pain. Like the modified vitamin A prescription drugs, vitamin A can cause birth defects. Sexually active women of childbearing age should not take more than 5,000 IU per day unless they are under the guidance of a professional and are using at least two reliable forms of birth control. Vitamin A supplementation may not be necessary if there is an adequate intake of beta-carotene, vitamin E, and zinc, all necessary for vitamin A formation. Decreasing unhealthy fats such as margarine, hydrogenated oils, processed foods, and other sources of trans fats can also improve absorption.

Zinc

Zinc, especially in the form of zinc gluconate or zinc sulfate, can help prevent acne. It helps heal blemishes, reduces inflammation, and reduces androgenic hormonal effects on the skin. Begin by increasing food sources of zinc. Two studies comparing zinc to the antibiotic tetracycline found zinc to be as effective as tetracycline. Another study found a mild yet definite effect of zinc.

Vitamin B6

Vitamin B6 may help premenstrual or mid-cycle acne. This vitamin is essential for the proper metabolism of steroid hormones and can reduce the sensitivity of skin to the effects of testosterone.

Herbs

An herbal blend that can help with acne consists of equal parts of the herbal extracts of sarsaparilla, yellow dock, burdock, and cleavers. These herbs are believed to be potent blood and lymph cleansers. Half a teaspoon per day of this blend can be taken three times per day combined with a healthy diet.

Tea tree oil

Applied to acne lesions may help to eliminate bacteria and reduce inflammation. It is an essential oil that is diluted and applied topically to acne lesions.  Tea tree oil contains a constituent called terpinen-4-ol that’s thought to be responsible for most of tea tree oil’s antibacterial activity. Because tea tree oil can kill bacteria, applying topical tea tree oil to acne lesions is believed to kill Propionibacterium acnes, the skin-dwelling bacteria involved in causing acne.

Bodywork

Massage is often recommended for people with skin problems. It can help to increase circulation and lymphatic drainage and speed the healing of blemishes.

Stress Reduction Techniques

• Yoga
• Exercise
• Breathing techniques
• Biofeedback
• Massage
• Meditation