Although acne is not a serious threat to a person’s health it can however cause both physical and mental scars to those who suffer from it. Unfortunately the problem with acne is it is not solely an adolescent problem (although it certainly is more common in this age group), but many older men and women can also be affected by it later on in life as well. Although it is difficult to determine what actually causes acne and it is not curable it can be effectively managed once gotten.
There are many natural remedies available which are just as effective as normal medications for treating acne and they come in the form of lotions, creams, herbal formulations and home made products.
During this article we will look at some of the natural remedies that can either be brought from a herbalist or made from ingredients you already have in your kitchen cupboard.
Firstly we will look at Echinacea and Tea Tree oil, both of which are widely available and two of the most common natural remedies used for treating acne.
Echinacea or even Oregon Grape help to boost a person’s immune system, whilst Tea Tree oil contains a product called terpenoids which is both an antiseptic and antifungal treatment.
Next we have Green Tea and Almond Oil. Green Tea is an ideal natural remedy for treating acne as it helps to decrease a person’s hormone activity and certainly acne is partly caused by a hormone imbalance. Green Tea is also great as an antibacterial defense. As for Almond Oil this contains a natural product which can actually help to remove the scars that are often associated with acne.
Also there are a number of juices such as apricot and citrus which can be used in the treatment of acne and this you may find you already have at home. Apricot juice is ideal for helping to alleviate the problem of the cysts that can appear, whilst lemon juice is a great natural exfoliating agent and will remove dead skin cells which can cause pores of the skin to become clogged. Plus another great natural treatment and which you may find you have in the kitchen cupboard already is white vinegar, which placed on the affected areas, can help to cleanse the pores of the skin also.
Why not try applying a face mask made from honey, not only does it contain naturally occurring anti bacterial qualities but will also help in the healing process.
Finally it is worth mentioning that deficiencies in a diet can also be linked to people getting acne and there are a variety of vitamin and mineral supplements you can obtain from your local health food store, chemists and even some supermarkets which will help to alleviate or prevent acne occurring. However it is important to remember that any supplements taken should be done so carefully and only the recommended daily dosage (Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA)) should be taken for each particular one.
Certainly Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) is essential as a deficiency of pyridoxine in any adult can affect the peripheral nerves, skin, mucous membrane and blood cell system.
Then there is Zinc which can help to support and maintain a person’s immune system whilst supporting normal growth through both child and adulthood.
It is important that you try to make sure that you drink plenty of water as this helps cleanse the body of toxins which can contribute towards the development and spread of acne. The recommended daily allowance of water that should be drunk by any person is between 7 to 8 glasses (about 2 litres).
Although acne is one of the most common skin disorders now seen by doctors and although there are many ways in which it can be treated, the effectiveness of any treatment provided depends on the actual patient being treated and how badly affected they are by the acne and the scarring. Luckily, in this day and age because there is so much advice available and access to getting natural remedies for treating acne is easy, the help to those suffering from it help is never very far away.