Whether you are dealing with a case of adult acne or you want to help your teenage son or daughter to eliminate his or her breakouts, here is some encouraging news: there are a number of natural, at home “hacks” and skincare products that may provide you with blessed relief.
Check Out these Anti-Acne Tips:
1. Try Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil contains naturally occurring anti-inflammatories that can be effective against acne. The chemicals in tea tree oil can also kill bacteria and fungus. Try adding a few drops of tea tree oil to a small amount of warm water and dabbing it into your acne, and then rinse it off after about 20 minutes.
2. Wash Your Pillowcase Regularly
Not to give you a case of the heebie jeebies, but pretty much everything on your face will be found on your pillowcase. This includes dirt, germs and bacteria that can irritate your skin and make your acne worse. Since you probably go for days at a time without washing your pillowcase, all of that grime and bacteria is coming in contact again with your face during the night. To prevent this from happening, wash your pillowcases frequently. This way, germs from the pillowcase will not re-adhere themselves to your face as you dream.
3. Use Anti-Acne Skincare Treatments
To successfully fight acne, you may also want to use a skincare product that is specifically formulated to battle this skin issue. Rather than some generic anti-zit cream you pick up at the drug store, look for treatments that will specifically target why and how acne shows up in the first place. For example, genetics, stress and hormones can all trigger a breakout. To find the best acne treatment for you, look for a product that matches your skin type and reason for acne.
4. Apply a Paste of Cucumber, Oatmeal and Yogurt
Many classic spa photos feature a woman with cucumber slices on her eyes—and for good reason. Cucumbers can have a very soothing effect on the skin by reducing irritation, pain and swelling. Acne has an inflammatory component—essentially, the oil glands and follicles in the face become inflamed, which causes red bumps on the skin—so if you can calm down this response, you may see and feel some improvement.
Try blending one small cucumber with one cup of oatmeal. Then mix one teaspoon of the paste with one teaspoon of plain yogurt and apply it to your face. Wash it off after 30 minutes. If you don’t have oatmeal or yogurt handy, mash a cucumber, strain out the juice and mix in one tablespoon of sugar. Apply this liquid to your face and leave it on for 10 minutes before washing it off with cold water.
5. Dab on Some Crushed Aspirin
The main active ingredient in aspirin is called salicylic acid, which is also effective in acne treatments. To access the power of salicylic acid, crush up some aspirin and mix it with a very small amount of water to make a paste, and then apply it to your acne. Resist the urge to do a full facial mask of this remedy; aspirin can actually dry out your skin if used too often or for too long. But for a short amount of time in small quantities that target especially severe spots, this at-home treatment may be helpful.
You Can Win the Battle Against Acne
No matter how long you or someone you love has been dealing with acne, there is definitely hope and help. By trying these at-home hacks and investing in some high quality skin care products that are designed to target acne, those painful red breakouts will hopefully be eliminated for good.