Natural Acne Treatments

People with acne will try almost anything to get rid of it. Many turn to prescription medications and various over-the-counter medications. But there are just as many effective natural acne treatments you can use to clear up skin. Once you know more about natural acne treatment, you can decide which form of treatment will work better for your skin.

Among the ingredients most commonly found in traditional acne treatments are astringents. Witch hazel is a natural astringent that some alternative health practitioners recommend to their clients with acne. It turns out; however, that witch hazel may not be an effective acne treatment. You should consult with your dermatologist for recommended and proven treatments for acne.

The disfiguring effects of acne affect adults at times too. When that happens, many people seek for a homemade acne treatment, rather than resorting to creams or gels. Homemade acne treatments, while cheap and accessible, often exist due to myths and confusions about their use, or their effectiveness may be exaggerated. Taking a look at some of the most common home acne treatments may help see through the myths to practical reality.

When choosing the correct acne treatment, a closer look at herbal remedies for natural acne treatment could be beneficial.

You Are What You Eat

Certain dietary practices may be helpful in treating your acne. Eliminating all refined and concentrated sugars from your diet is one of the most important and effective dietary strategies in treating this condition. Consider also avoiding foods that contain trans-fatty acids, such as margarine and shortening. Beneficial dietary additions may include almonds, beets, cashews, Swiss chard, grapes, strawberries, pineapples, shellfish and sunflower seeds.

Cashews may be one of the most useful foods in treating your acne. Rich in zinc, cashews may decrease the negative health effects of acne. A dosage of 30 mg of zinc twice daily for 30 days is recommended for combating your acne. You should avoid consuming high doses of zinc, as too much zinc may cause negative health effects and interfere with certain medications you might be taking.

Natural Oatmeal Remedy for Acne

Another favorite food utilized as a home acne treatment is oatmeal. This morning cereal, which naturally has the consistency of glue, works great as a mask or it can be reduced to powder and used like a bath salt. These methods carry some slight inconveniences, however. Sticking oatmeal to your face tends to be a messy process. Putting oatmeal in your bath should be done with care to avoid clogging pipes. However, for those on a budget, oatmeal really is one of the cheapest things at the supermarket.

Aloe Vera for Acne

Aloe Vera is another homemade acne treatment that seems to pop up every time acne home treatments are mentioned. The gel inside the plant can easily be applied and generally has a strengthening and healing effect on skin. What's more, it has been proven to help reduce scarring, redness, swelling, and essentially all the ugliest results of acne. What this home acne treatment will not do is prevent or cure acne. If the goal is to reduce scarring or improve the overall health of skin, by all means buy a plant or an aloe based cream, but leave the acne solutions to real medicines.

Herbal Treatment for Acne

Many acne sufferers in search of a natural acne treatment find that tea tree oil offers an effective alternative. Research suggests that tea tree oil works by killing the bacteria that promotes acne. Aficionados of natural acne treatments also recommend black seed currant oil. Black seed currant oil is said to limit free radicals effectively protecting your body from irritants. Echinacea, goldenseal, and a host of other herbs often get touted as near panaceas for any kind of inflammation or ailment. The important thing to remember is that all of these herbs have specific effects on the body. Not one of them guarantees to cure everything, and many of them exaggerate their worth as acne treatments.

Natural Treatments

There are three natural acne treatments appear to minimize acne. Gels that contain at least 5 percent tea tree oil might be as effective as benzoyl peroxide. Zinc supplements might also treat acne. Zinc is an important substance the body uses in the healing process. This substance also reduces inflammation, which can reduce the appearance of acne. Glycolic acid is another natural ingredient that sloughs away dead skin cells and keeps pores free of acne-causing oils.

Natural treatments can be used to reduce mild acne.  According to the "Reader's Digest: 1001 Home Remedies” you should apply ice cubes to the pimples in order to reduce inflammation. Additionally, you can use vinegar or lemon juice to kill the bacteria and clean the pores or dabbing milk on the acne. Milk contains alpha-hydroxy acids, which remove dead skin cells and oils, promoting healing and preventing new pimples.