Home skin care: easy home remedies for acne and pimples
Lessen the effects of acne or pimples with simple home skin care remedies.
Blemishes affect most of us at one time or another, usually before a big date or a job interview! Knowing how to care for and lessen the effects of acne or pimples can help diminish the discomfort felt and help us get on with our lives.
Acne and pimples form when bacteria develop in clogged pores. Pores may be clogged when a mixture of sebum (oil) and cells from the skin are trapped. The redness and inflammation associated with blemishes is due to the trapped mixture leaking into adjacent tissue.
There are many over the counter treatments for blemishes, however there are some more natural remedies and home treatment options available. Note: Most home remedies involve drying the skin of its excess oils. If your skin is sensitive, please see your doctor, or opt for an over the counter less-drying alternative.
Toothpaste: Toothpaste is one of the most common home remedies for the treatment of pimples. The ingredients in toothpaste, when dabbed on the infected area and left on overnight will dry the oil present and basically dehydrate the pimple. Make sure you are using a white paste, and not the gel form of toothpaste, and skip the whitening brands. Whitening paste may have too much peroxide and cause irritation to the skin.
Cornstarch: Mix a small amount of cornstarch with rubbing alcohol to form a paste. Leave on overnight.
Egg whites: Dab egg white onto the affected area and leave on overnight, or for a minimum of 20 minutes.
Witch Hazel: Apply Witch Hazel (available at your local drug store) with a cotton ball. This will help unclog the pores and prevent further outbreaks.
Visine®: To reduce the redness, drop Visine® eyedrops on the area.
Tea Tree Oil: Tea Tree Oil is an antifungal and antibacterial oil derived from evergreen leaves of the Australian Melaleuca alternifolia tree. Available at your local nature/health food store, dab on the infected area for relief.
Milk of Magnesia®: Apply to infected area. Leave on overnight.
Other Herbal Therapies:
The following herbals will help heal the skin and soothe the irritation. These herbals should be ingested as directed on the package.
Echinacea
Calendula
Goldenseal
Hepar sulphuris or Silica, according to homeopathy experts, in 6x potency tablets taken three times daily for up to a week may help speed healing.
As always, prevention is easier than the cure, so consider the following ways to reduce your likelihood for outbreak.
Stress: Stress often plays a part in the occurrence of pimples or blemishes. Find ways of relaxing during stressful times. Try drinking Lavender or Chamomile tea!
Nutrition: Although most doctors agree that acne is not food related, some alternative therapists believe a change in diet can help reduce the frequency of outbreaks. Including the vitamin Zinc may help as it plays a role in how the body processes hormones. Increased vitamin A may reduce sebum and keratin production. Check with your doctor or pharmacist on how you can safely implement these vitamins into your diet.
Hygiene: Washing your face 2 times a day with unscented oil-free soaps will help clear skin but don’t scrub, as that will only aggravate current blemishes. Also, resist the urge to “pop the zit” as that will only increase the redness and damage the skin, possibly creating scars.
Some acne is best treated with a consultation with your doctor or dermatologist. However, for occasional break outs and mild acne, home remedies may be the way to go. Take control of your blemish issues through prevention and treatment and move on to a brighter day!