Acne is a very common skin condition during puberty, although it may continue into later life for some people. Increasing levels of hormones during adolescence lead to greater activity of skin's sebaceous glands, and if this becomes too great, excessive amounts of sebum, our natural oily skin lubricant are produced which leads to Acne. Acne can cause the glands and hair follicles to become blocked and infected. This skin disorder can be naturally treated at home.
Home Remedies for Acne
Acne Treatment using Aromatherapy and Essential Oils
Many essential oils are not only antiseptic but also promote healing or generation of new healthy skin cells. Some of the best are Bergamot, Geranium, Lavender and Lemon; these may need to be used in varying combinations depending on the state or the skin and the person as a whole.
Acne Cure using Bergamot
Bergamot is an effective antidepressant and this emotional quality may be helpful at times as acne can understandably make the sufferer reel low (adolescence is a time of fluctuating self-esteem at the best of times), and as an astringent, antiseptic oil it is excellent for greasy, infected skin. Do not, however, overuse this oil as it increases the skin's sensitivity to the sun; moderate amounts of sunlight are generally good for drying and healing the skin too.
These oils may be used in a light carrier vegetable oil such as Grape seed, which has a slight astringency of its own, or Coconut, or else mixed into gentle cleansing creams for regular use on the affected areas. Another base might be a toning lotion such as triple- distilled Rosewater, Orange Blossom water or perhaps distilled Witch Hazel for extra astringency. Use 1-2 per cent of essential oils in any of these base carriers.
If there is much evidence of acne scarring after the condition has improved, use the essential oils in a carrier which includes 10 per cent Wheat germ oil to promote skin elasticity and healing.
SELF-HELP or Home Treatment FOR ACNE
The most common reaction of most people is to squeeze the spots; this almost always serves to spread the infection into surrounding tissues, and if done repeatedly can damage the local skin areas, producing scarring. Any program of treatment therefore needs to include a lot of self-help to be successful. The natural therapies offer the most successful and safest ways to improve the condition and re balance or the skin.
The best approach is to combine local, external cleansing with internal treatment. All therapies are likely to emphasis the importance of diet in treating acne.
Herbalism - Herbal Remedies for Acne
Initial treatment should be firmly geared towards cleansing of the skin and of the whole system. Locally, any of the essential oils described above may be used, or else cleanse the skin with an infusion of herbs such as Elderflower (Sambucus nigra), Lavender (Lavandula vera) or Marigold (Calendula officinalis); adding 5 ml (1 tsp) of distilled Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) to 500 ml of the infusion will gently increase the astringency if needed.
The main use of herbal home remedies though will be internally: choose a mixture of the following herbs:
BURDOCK (Arctium lappa): a powerful tissue cleanser, encouraging the removal of waste matter from the skin via the blood supply, and equally helping the transport of nutrients to the skin. The root is more powerful, and a decoction should be used, the leaf is made into an infusion.
Start by taking small amounts of this herb (about 45 ml (3 tbsp), 3 times a day) as it can initially stir things up and the skin seems to get worse.
CONE FLOWER (Echinacea angustifolia or E. purpurea): the best all-purpose immune stimulant, aiding resistance and speeding up our reactions to infection. Used together with the above herbs, this creates a strong detoxification process.
DANDELION (Taraxacum officinale): the root in particular is helpful in improving the detoxifying action of the liver, and also as a gentle laxative, taking pressure away from the skin as an organ of elimination.
RED CLOVER (Trifolium pratense): another excellent blood and tissue cleanser, the infusion can also be used externally to carefully bathe inflamed spots and is gentle enough to use on children in this way. REMEMBER: if using more than one herb in an infusion or a decoction, the amount of each herb included is reduced to maintain the given overall maximum amounts.
Homeopathy Acne Treatment
In the short term try one of these home remedies for acne (also refer to the remedy suggestions for Abscesses and Boils.
CALC SULPH: for spots that never come to a real head, but get tender and inflamed and then seem to subside after a while (suitable for "blind boils").
HEPAR SULPH: for lots of pus-filled spots, which feel hot and tender to the touch, and generally unhealthy- looking skin.
SILICA: for slow-healing of the skin, spots that develop pus which is slow to clear; this remedy is particularly good for helping the healing of scarring.
Naturopathy - Natural home cures for Acne
The first basic principle or the naturopathic approach in acne (as with all the other natural therapies) is to overhaul the diet, as far as is possible given teenage fads! A reduction of sugary, fatty foods is essential, shifting the balance towards fresh fruit and vegetables, whole grains and lean forms of protein. It is often desirable to reduce dairy products for a while, especially milk or strong cheeses. Taking plenty of fluids regularly is important, not fizzy drinks or tea and coffee, but water or fruit juices. Alcohol should also be reduced.
Stimulating the circulation, either by self-massage or using hydrotherapy - for instance, by briskly rubbing the trunk and limbs with a loofah dipped in cool water - is a helpful aid to cleansing of the skin. Allow the skin to breathe by wearing cool clothes, and pay strict attention to hygiene. Sunshine is usually helpful, although be careful not to stay in the sun too long, and take adequate sun-protection measures.
Supplementation of the diet can speed up the Cleansing or healing processes initially; important vitamins are A (around 2,500 iu daily), B complex and C (up to 300 mg daily) while one of the most useful S minerals is zinc (up to 15 mg daily). Evening Primrose oil has been found to be of benefit in some cases; take up to 1,500 mg daily.
Treatment for Acne By Natural Home Remedy
Try this easy home remedies for acne - Boil several sprigs of fresh thyme in 2 cups of water for two minutes and leave to infuse for five. Strain and add the juice of 1/2 lemon, Use this to rinse the face at least twice a day.
Another effective acne remedy is to use nettle tea to wash with and to drink. Parsley juice and the expressed juice of comfrey leaves are also invaluable lotions.
Use Witch hazel either by itself or mixed with rose water or cider apple vinegar. It is a very old-fashioned acne remedy to use it in equal quantities with cabbage juice.
Wash with a soapwort solution if the skin feels very greasy and oily.
Lady's mantle, yarrow, marigold, lavender and camomile may all be useful in removing and reducing acne as any healing herbal vinegar diluted with water.
