Natural Acne Remedies

Natural approaches to treating acne is really a very broad topic. One must be able to recognize effective options and separate them from myth and urban legend.

For many centuries people would rely almost exclusively on herbal and natural cures to treat most every sickness. There were no prescriptions or handy drugstores just around the corner. Nature provided the medicines and herbs needed. Generally people used herbs that were locally available to them and could be gathered from near by forests.

Early physicians and healers were nothing more than herbalist. They learned which herbs and mixtures were effective in treating various illnesses. Often times these same herbs would form the basis for modern day medications. One famous example is Asprin which is extracted from the bark of Willow trees.

Common Natural Remedies for Treating Acne

Drinking Water - This is a simple natural remedy that recommends someone drink 6 or 7 glasses of water per day. The idea is to consume sufficient water each day to cleanse your body of toxins. Some natural approaches not only recommend you drink plain water, but actually add herbal ingredients by boiling fenugreek seeds and corn into the water.

Hot/Cold Compresses - This natural remedy is recommended quite often to open clogged pores and to reduce swelling. Clogged pores are major contributors to acne. A hot compress before washing one’s face will open pores for cleansing.

Fenugreek leaves - This remedy is said to provide great prevention from acne breakouts. This involves crushing fenugreek leaves and creating a paste from them. The paste is applies to infected areas nightly and then washed away in the morning with warm water.

Honey Mask - Honey has naturally occurring anti-bacterial properties. It is typically applied to the face as a mask, killing surface bacteria. This is normally done once or twice a week depending on results.

Neem - This is a substance derived from the tree of the same name in India that has been used both as toothpaste and as soap for a long time in that country. It has amazing hygienic properties and one of the things that it can do for some people is reduce their acne problems. Apply either the paste or alternatively a warm water solution of the soap over the affected area at least twice a day for best results.

Make-up or Cosmetic Usage - This is a common sense remedy for acne. Reduce or avoid the use of these products because often times the chemicals and oils used to manufacture them will clog pores and that can contribute to acne breakouts

Citric fruit juices - These types of juices, such as lemon juice, serve as a natural exfoliate, removing dead skin cells which might cause clogging of the pores. You should allow it to dry on the face for approximately 10 minutes before rinsing it away with cool water.

Vitamin supplements and Diet - Maintaining a proper and balanced diet and taking a good multi-vitamin can go a long way towards preventing certain bio-chemical conditions that provide fertile ground for acne.  Make sure that you put lots of fruits and vegetables in your diet as they tend to help suppress incidents of acne and other health problems if they are eaten enough. They will also give you an energy boost and in general make you feel better, something that is a positive side effect of this particular natural method of acne prevention.

Echinacea and Oregon Grape- These herbs are said to be useful in boosting the body’s immune system and combating many forms of acne-causing bacteria.  

Alway consult your doctor before starting any treatment plan.

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