These natural fixes will help diminish acne and other blemishes

If you have acne, you know how difficult it can be to try to find a good remedy that isn't too harsh on your skin, or full of unknown, unpronounceable chemicals that might do more harm than good. Finding the best foundation for acne-prone skin can be one option, but natural skin care remedies will also help get your skin blemish-free. But before we delve into the natural acne-fighting ingredients and DIY treatments you can try, it's first useful to know what exactly is the cause of your acne.

What Can Cause Acne?

If you have oily skin, then you may be prone to acne, whether it’s on your face underneath your makeup, on your back, or on your chest. It can flare up when you’re experiencing higher levels of stress or hormones, could be tied to your genetics, or can simply signal that you might need a change in your diet. Either way, an overproduction of oil, called sebum, is a usual cause for most people’s acne.

Physically, acne happens when your pores become clogged with dead skin cells and sebum. Sebum is a natural oil meant to lubricate hair and skin, but when it clogs pores, it can cause blackheads, whiteheads, and other pimples.

To help minimize that sebum production and properly remove dead skin cells, here are some natural remedies to treat acne.

Natural Ways To Treat Your Acne

Tea Tree Oil: This is one of the most well-known and reputable treatments for acne-prone skin, as it packs a punch with its ability to attack bacteria and reduce inflammation. This is better to use as a long-term product in your skincare routine, as 5 percent tea tree oil is found to dramatically improve skin in three months with regular use, as opposed to being a faster-working solution the way 5 percent benzoyl peroxide (another acne-fighting ingredient mainly found in over-the-counter acne products) can be found to do. It's also not as drying or likely to cause irritation as much as benzoyl peroxide can after regular use. So although it may take a minute for tea tree oil to work its magic, it is still a very powerful and useful tool in natural acne treatment.

For use, make sure to dilute pure tea tree oil with 9 parts water (1:9 ratio) for topical application/spot-treatment.

Apple Cider Vinegar: Another well-known product for its great benefits, apple cider vinegar works well to treat acne because of its strength in battling various types of bacteria, as it contains many acids like succinic acid that reduces inflammation caused by the main bacteria that contributes to acne. It can also help to dry up excess oil, like lingering sebum that builds up on the face and would otherwise contribute to more problems.

To use, dilute your apple cider vinegar with 3 parts water (1:3 ratio), and apply the mixture to your problem areas with a cotton ball. After letting it sit for a few seconds, wash off the mixture, dry, and apply your regular moisturizer.

Eucalyptus Oil: Similar to tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil helps to significantly reduce redness and inflammation. It also contains useful antiseptic properties that can fight off the main bacteria that causes acne. Direct application for spot treatment can be very helpful in soothing unruly acne.

Witch Hazel: Witch hazel is known as a great astringent for those with oily skin. This means it works best to tighten the pores and reduce the overproduction of sebum, as well as fighting off bacteria and inflammation that come with acne. The bottle you may already have at home is also gentle enough for direct use for those with sensitive skin, and can be used regularly. You can use it as a toner right after washing, before applying your moisturizer.

Aloe Vera Gel: Aloe vera is one of the greatest gifts that Mother Nature has to offer. It is known to help heal wounds, burns, inflammation, and additionally contains salicylic acid which is another great ingredient to help battle acne. Since it is so moisturizing, it is also great for those with drier skin.

If you have an aloe plant to use, cut off the skin, scrape the gel out of the leaf and apply directly to the skin. You can also buy aloe gel from the store, but be sure it is pure aloe with no additives.

DIY Remedies To Try

Make a Honey and Cinnamon Mask: As well as being delicious, honey and cinnamon are great for treating acne due to their antibacterial properties. You can pamper yourself with these ingredients combined in an acne mask by mixing two tablespoons of honey with one teaspoon of cinnamon in a bowl. Apply after cleansing your skin and leave on for ten minutes before washing and drying for a refreshed face.

Make a Green Tea Toner and Treatment: Another wonderful helper is green tea. It works to reduce inflammation and fight bacteria, while being soothing and gentle on the skin. To use as a toner, boil water, steep your tea leaves in it, and let cool. Pour the mixture into a bottle for storage, and dab it onto a cotton pad to apply to the skin. For a mask treatment, you can add the tea leaves to some honey for a good paste.

Make an Acne Scrub: The last important thing for acne-prone skin is to regularly exfoliate. To do this naturally, you can use any other natural acne-fighting ingredient as mentioned above, and use either sugar or salt to mix with coconut oil for a nice scrub to get rid of those dead skin cells to properly banish that acne.

Resources— Healthline, NCBI, News Medical

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