5 Natural Treatments For Acne You Should Be Using

Acne is a condition that afflicts just about everyone at some point in their lives. Clinically speaking, its an inflammation of subcutaneous tissues, brought on by clogged skin pores. The inflammation is a result of simple skin irritation, but the reality is so much more.

Acne affects our self-esteem, the way our peers interact with us, and for adults, even our professional lives. Unfortunately, most medical treatments are ineffectual at best, and downright harmful at worst. Fortunately, looking backward at home remedies and naturopathic medicine gives us insight into how controlling acne can be done in straightforward, innocuous ways.

Avocado Oil Wash

Avocado oil, which is the oil extracted from the avocado fruit, is one of the mildest naturally occurring oils around. It’s a rich source of monounsaturated fat, and by virtue of being extracted by a cold-pressed process, has a very low acid content. This makes it an ideal moisturizing skin cleanser, which helps remove oil from the surface of your skin before pores are clogged. Since its generally sold in a very natural state, it retains the antioxidants and vitamin E found in the parent fruit. These help aid in keeping skin supple and smooth.

Tea Tree Oil

A staple of many households before the advent of modern pharmaceuticals, tea tree oil is an essential oil with a number of health benefits. It’s been shown to have mild antiseptic, antifungal, and antibacterial properties, and has been specifically shown to be more effective at treating acne than the modern day synthetic benozyl peroxide.

Citrus Peel

Synthetic acid cleansers are common ingredients in topical acne treatments sold over the counter. However, those synthetic compounds are harsh, and often cause skin to turn dry and flaky. Instead, turn to the gentler citrus acid found in orange and lemon peels. Applying the peels directly to affected areas. For a more effective treatment, toss the rinds in a food processor and apply the resulting paste directly to the acne.

Cucumber Wash

Cucumbers are used worldwide as a skin wash, and to reduce puffiness around the eyes. A good source of silica, which restores connective tissue in skin, cucumbers masks are commonly used in high-end spas. Cucumbers are also contain moderate levels of caffeic acid and ascorbic acid, which aid in the removal of dead tissue.

Glycolic Acid

Glycolic acid is a component of sugar cane that has also gained notoriety for its skin restorative effects. Made at home from pureed sugar cane, glycolic acid has been recommended by world helath experts as one of the most effective mild skin cleansers. As a bonus, blend honey into your homemade glycolic peel for its regenerative effects.

Despite its reputation for being a hard-to-treat malady, treating acne doesn’t require expensive, harsh, synthetic chemicals. In fact, as shown above, some of the most popular and expensive treatments available today are simply rediscoveries of what was known by our grandparents. So apply a little of their knowledge to reduce the effect acne can have on your life.

Greg Hayes is the author of Live Fit Blog, where he provides tips for living a balanced lifestyle. For more tea tree oil benefits, check it out!

Posted in Home Remedies