Acne is not a rare skin condition, so you are expected to experience it at least once in your lifetime. It is an extremely common skin problem, which almost 85 percent of the total population of the world faces. There are conventional treatments that you can avail for treating acne, but they are often very costly.
Sometimes these treatments may even contribute to undesirable adverse effects such as irritation and dryness of your skin, redness, and inflammation. Such occurrences prompt the idea of going for remedial measures through home care. These will not cost you much but give you the best of benefits. Moreover, home remedies will come with least or no side effects!
What are the causes of acne?
To understand the mode of treatment for acne, you need to first know what it is and how it affects your skin. The skin has multiple layers, starting from the topmost layer of the epidermis to the inner dermis layer. Acne is caused in the epidermal layer of your skin. There are pores on the topmost layer of your skin that should be open for easy ventilation of oxygen to permit cell growth.
When these pores get jammed or clogged the epidermal cells find it hard to respire or breathe freely. This congestion of skin pores can result from deposition of oil, dead cells, and in some cases cosmetic ingredients that cause acne.
. Acne starts to form on your skin when the epidermal pores get blocked due to such deposits.
Where does the oil come from on your skin layer?
The sebaceous glands lining each pore secrete ‘sebum’, which is a naturally produced oily substance. When there is an overproduction of sebum on your skin, extra sebum can contribute to congestion of the pores. This, in turn, will give rise to the growth of bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes), the cause of acne.
White blood corpuscles (WBC) in your body, fight the bacteria as a part of the immune response. This leads to swelling and acne and you become more prone to acne if you have oily skin.
Sometimes, acne can become extremely severe than other milder forms. However, the common forms of acne that you might come across are characteristic of pimples, blackheads, and whiteheads. The most common reasons why you might have mild acne issues are:
- unhealthy lifestyle
- improper skin care routine
- diet
- hormonal changes
- stress
- genetic
- infections
If you search on the internet, it will give you a handful of suggestions on how effective home remedies are. But do you really rely on these facts? Go for the amazing remedial home care on acne treatment and see the changes for yourself.
Home remedies for acne treatment
Check out the best kitchen goodies that can help you treat acne in a short time:
1. Apple cider vinegar
It is considered to be an agile fighter of various kinds of bacterial and viral infections. Apple cider vinegar contains a lot of organic acids, with the potential of killing the acne-causing bacteria P. acnes.
Succinic acid present in fermented apple cider contributes to suppression of inflammation, which may, in turn, prevent acne scars. Finally, apple cider vinegar helps in drying up the pores by absorbing oil clogging them.
How to use?
Mix three portions of water with one portion of apple cider vinegar. You should use more parts of water to dilute the cider agent if your skin is sensitive. After cleansing your skin, apply the mixture gently using cotton. Let the mixture rest for 5 to 20 seconds, and then rinse your face with water and pat it dry. Repeat the entire procedure once or twice a day for better results.
2. Honey and cinnamon mask
Both are wonderful sources of antioxidants. Cinnamon and honey can fight bacterial infections and reduce swelling. Both these substances showcase excellent anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antioxidant properties to benefit your skin if it is acne-prone.
How to use?
Make a paste by blending one teaspoon of cinnamon with two tablespoons of honey. After cleansing your face, add the paste gently on your face and let it rest for ten to fifteen minutes. Wash off the mask with water and pat it dry.
3. Green tea
This particular category of tea is now well recognized for its bountiful of benefits. Green tea serves as an excellent source of powerful antioxidants. It is important for removing dirt and impurities from your skin.
Drinking green tea on a regular basis promotes good health. If you directly apply green tea infusion bags on your skin, it can prove to be equally beneficial. Tannins and flavonoids present in green tea are efficient in fighting harmful bacteria and bring down inflammation on your skin.
The main antioxidant abundantly present is epigallocatechin-3-gallate or EGCG, which reduces the rate of sebum production and inhibits bacterial growth (P.acnes) on your skin. In this way, it not only reduces swelling but is even anti-cancerous.
Studies have shown that if you apply 2 to 3 percent of green tea extract on your skin, it reduces problems like pimples and acne.
How to use?
Soak a bag of green tea in boiling water for about 5 minutes. Allow the tea infusion to cool down. Use cotton balls to gently apply the tea extract on the face. Leave for a few minutes to dry. Rinse and pat dry your face.
4. Aloe vera
It is a tropical plant that produces gel in its leaves. When you apply aloe vera on your skin, it helps in rejuvenating your skin cells, heals wounds, fights inflammation and even treats skin burns.
Aloe vera has a huge source of sulfur and salicylic acid, and both work like wonders when you treat acne with the gel.
How to use?
To apply the aloe vera gel on your skin, you need to first scrape it out of the leaves with a spoon. Apply the gel directly on your skin like a moisturizer after cleansing your face. Repeat it for twice or thrice a day and see results in a month.
5. Garlic
Garlic includes antiseptic properties that fight bacteria invading the skin. Along with that, it contains natural components like sulfur that heals acne quickly.
How to use?
To use this home remedy, you need to slice a clove of garlic into two pieces. Rub them on your pimples directly and let it sit for five minutes before you rinse it off with warm water.
Final thoughts
Use these home remedies for treating acne in the most harmless ways and see the results for yourself! These are not only cheap but also effective and will offer you lasting results.
