What is Acne?
Acne is a very common skin disorder that is caused when tiny holes in the skin, commonly known as hair follicles, get clogged with excess oil produced by the sebaceous gland of the skin. This blockage causes pimples, whiteheads, and blackheads, which are all forms of acne. They are usually seen on the forehead, cheeks, jawline and chin, apart from appearing on the chest, back, and thighs. There are many reasons why acne can appear on your skin, ranging from hormonal changes, a diet heavy on refined sugar, salt and carbohydrates, certain medications, unclean skin, to cosmetics that don’t suit you.DIY Acne Remedies
We have the perfect DIY acne remedies that can help lessen this skin condition and decrease the size of the bumps on your skin with repeated application over a period of time. Let’s look at some of these home remedies for acne in detail below.
Aloe vera
Aloe vera is the most effective DIY acne remedy or solutions for pimples and other forms of skin issue. If you are looking for a gentle remedy for this skin condition, then you may get effective results by applying aloe vera all by itself on the affected area. A succulent plant species, aloe vera is known for its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that not only help prevent and get rid of acne, but also help cleanse wounds, heal burns and scars and alleviate pain. Applying it topically on acne is useful unless you are allergic to it. Using the aloe vera sap generously on your skin in place of your cleanser, will also help boost the blood flow in the body and kill off harmful bacteria. Additionally, you can apply it on your acne affected areas and leave it overnight only to wash it off in the morning after, which helps reduce irritation and redness.
Tea Tree Oil
If you are someone who is prone to acne because of oily skin, then tea tree oil is definitely something you should use. Tea tree oil is one of the best DIY acne remedies. It regulates your overall sebum production and lowers the size of the pores so that they do not get clogged due to excess oil deposition. It enters these pores easily by mixing with the natural oils produced by the sebaceous glands and cleanses them effectively and further lessens the risk of developing acne due to clogged pores. You can mix two drops of tea tree oil with a carrier oil like coconut oil or castor oil and dab it on the acne in question. Allow it to sit that way for a few hours before washing it off with water.
Papaya
Papaya is one of the most commonly eaten fruits and is the perfect solution to all your acne problems. Rich in antioxidants and vitamin A and C, applying papaya to the affected area will help get rid of the acne and its scars over time. When applied topically, it acts as a natural exfoliator that isn’t harsh on the skin unlike the creams available in the market. You can blend or mash the fruit to apply it on your skin for 10 minutes before washing it off completely with water. This will not only heal the existing acne and their scars, but also prevent more breakouts. Studies show that the gel of papaya leaves contain ethanol extract, which is known for its antimicrobial properties and help prevent acne.
Yogurt
Rich in lactic acid, yogurt can remove dead skin cells and is one of the best home remedies for pimples in particular. The live cultures that are present in the yogurt are known for their antibacterial properties, which help reduce and prevent acne breakouts. You can apply plain organic yogurt to your face using a brush. Once applied, you can leave it on for ten minutes or until it completely dries off and then wash it off with water. Furthermore, a healthy gut also results in healthy skin and thus by adding yogurt or other forms of probiotics to your daily diet, you will be able to gain healthy-looking skin.
Turmeric and honey
While turmeric is known for its anti-inflammatory properties, honey is known to kill bacteria and stop its growth, eventually preventing diseases and health conditions. Likewise, when it comes to skin, turmeric and honey is the perfect blend to soothe your skin and prevent any kind of breakout or wound. All you need to do is combine half a teaspoon of turmeric to a tablespoon of honey and mix it well. Apply on wet skin and leave it for five minutes till you rinse it off with water. It is the form of pimple treatment you can give yourself.
Apart from these, chickpea flour or a mix of multani mitti and rose water are also great DIY applications for acne. You can also add more fresh fruits and vegetables along with high-fiber grains and dry fruits to your diet to enhance your overall skin health.
If you don't have the time to try out any of the above DIY remedies, you can try out Wellbeing Nutrition's Skin Fuel - India's First US Dermatologist Formulated Drinkable Skincare. Made using naturally derived, widely researched ingredients - L–glutathione, hyaluronic acid, Japanese collagen, and other essential vitamins, this delicious blueberry mint skin elixir will keep your skin youthful, supple and acne-free.
So the next time you find yourself irked with acne issues, we hope you don’t touch, squeeze or pop them. Instead, follow the aforementioned DIY acne remedies to get smooth and clear skin.
References
- Kraft J, Freiman A. Management of acne. CMAJ. 2011;183(7):E430-E435. doi:10.1503/cmaj.090374, (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3080563/)
- Surjushe A, Vasani R, Saple DG. Aloe vera: a short review. Indian J Dermatol. 2008;53(4):163-166. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.44785. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2763764/)
- L.O Orafidiya, E.O Agbani, A.O Oyedele, O.O Babalola, O Onayemi, F.F Aiyedun,
The effect of aloe vera gel on the anti-acne properties of the essential oil of Ocimum gratissimum Linn leaf – a preliminary clinical investigation,
International Journal of Aromatherapy, Volume 14, Issue 1, 2004,
Pages 15-21, ISSN 0962-4562, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijat.2003.12.005.
(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0962456203001413) - Ahmad S, Afsana , Popli H. A review on efficacy and tolerability of tea tree oil for acne. JDDT [Internet]. 15May2019 [cited 16Jul.2021];9(3):609-12. Available from: http://jddtonline.info/index.php/jddt/article/view/2838
- Journal of Medicinal Plants Studies Traditional and Medicinal Uses of Carica papaya, Bhowmik, Debjit, PY - 2013/01/01, Journal of Medicinal Plants Studies Traditional and Medicinal Uses of Carica papaya. (https://www.researchgate.net/publication/326089823_Journal_of_Medicinal_Plants_Studies_Traditional_and_Medicinal_Uses_of_Carica_papaya)
- Kober MM, Bowe WP. The effect of probiotics on immune regulation, acne, and photoaging. Int J Womens Dermatol. 2015;1(2):85-89. Published 2015 Apr 6. doi:10.1016/j.ijwd.2015.02.001. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/artices/PMC5418745/)
- Acharya AM, Sunkara SB, Panda BB. Turmeric mixed honey topical application enhances healing, is safe and economical in chronic wounds. J. Evid. Based Med. Healthc. 2020; 7(28),1342-1347. DOI: 10.18410/jebmh/2020/285. (https://jebmh.com/assets/data_pdf/Amulya_Acharya_--_FINAL.pdf)
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