Natural Acne Treatments | Skin Health Blog

Say Goodbye to Acne Naturally

Natural Acne Treatments

Article Summary:

  • Acne breakouts affect between 40 and 55 percent of adults over the age of 18.
  • Prescription acne drugs can increase sun sensitivity, dizziness, and depression.
  • Check out the top six natural acne remedies such as apple cider vinegar, tea tree oil, zinc, and cutting back on dairy.

What Is Adult Acne?

Not all of us, unfortunately, were lucky enough to leave acne behind as we grew out of our teenage years. We would all like to have clear, blemish-free skin daily, and especially not have to worry on the day of an important meeting or a big date.

But sadly, breakouts are a fact of life for many people, affecting between 40 and 55 percent of adults over the age of 18. Acne is a result of excess sebum and dead skin cells plugging up hair follicles and creating an ideal environment for bacteria to thrive. And let’s face it, over-the-counter medications are hardly a desirable option, often failing to work and instead causing your skin to become red and irritated. Even worse are prescription acne drugs, which can result in side effects such as increased sun sensitivity, dizziness, and depression.

Instead, we have a range of natural acne treatments to recommend, all of which are safe to use and many of which will address the cause of acne to prevent further breakouts. So, read on and start picturing yourself with clearer skin.

1. Apply an Apple Cider Vinegar Toner

Apple cider vinegar contains acidic compounds that can kill harmful bacteria on your skin. However, it is essential to use it sparingly since it can also burn sensitive skin. Introduce it slowly and always dilute your formula using one part apple cider vinegar to four parts water. Apply the mixture to clean skin with a cotton ball, and wait 10 to 15 seconds before thoroughly rinsing it off.

2. Use Immune Boosters and Pathogen Destroyers

Taking natural immune boosters and pathogen destroyers can help your body fight bacteria from the inside out. A good immune booster is formulated to strengthen your immune system and its ability to fight germs. And a good pathogen destroying formula helps control the population of harmful germs both within the body and on its surface.

3. Balance Your Hormones

Just as it is not only adolescents who develop acne, adults also can experience hormonal fluctuations and imbalances that contribute to the formation of pimples. In fact, excess testosterone or a drop in estrogen levels may be among the main causes of acne. Taking an all-natural progesterone crème designed specifically for men or women can regulate the hormones in your system and help clear up your skin.

4. Cut Out Dairy Consumption

Adult acne can be triggered by an allergic reaction to dairy foods. Dairy is known to influence our hormones and our inflammatory response, both of which are known to be important factors in the development of acne. Eliminate all dairy products from your diet for three weeks and see if your complexion clears up without changing anything else in your routine. If your acne improves, cut dairy out of your diet for good.

5. Try Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil comes from a tree indigenous to Australia. This essential oil has both antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, so it is effective in fighting the germs on the skin as well as relieving the swelling that arises with acne. A 2017 study at the University of Western Australia in Perth showed that use of tea tree oil significantly improved mild to moderate acne.1Malhi Harsimran Kaur; et al. “Tea tree oil gel for mild to moderate acne: a 12 week uncontrolled, open-label phase II pilot study.” Australasian Journal of Dermatology. 2017. Accessed 31 July 2019. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/ajd.12465. Tea tree oil needs dilution, so mix one part of tea tree oil to nine parts of water and apply it with a cotton ball.

6. Supplement with Zinc and Vitamin A

Zinc is helpful in boosting our resistance to infection and reducing inflammation. It is an important nutrient for our health in general and has been found in multiple studies to be an effective acne treatment. Vitamin A offers similar benefits, and research has shown that vitamin A deficiencies are common in people with acne.

And for a more detailed look at what causes acne and what you can do about it, check out Jon Barron’s article on Skin Health and Skin Physiology.

References

References
1 Malhi Harsimran Kaur; et al. “Tea tree oil gel for mild to moderate acne: a 12 week uncontrolled, open-label phase II pilot study.” Australasian Journal of Dermatology. 2017. Accessed 31 July 2019. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/ajd.12465.