One of the skin conditions that affect nearly 85% of young adults is acne. Most outdated treatments might have proven efficient solutions, but they might also lead to a few effects and be expensive. Dryness, irritation, and redness are a few side effects an individual might experience from using those solutions.
Be cautious. For that reason, people have always been looking for natural remedies to cure acne. One study revealed that 75% of affected adults had already tried using a few outdated acne treatments. That’s because natural remedies still lack further research and scientific evidence to support their claims.
But don’t let that discourage you from trying out the natural remedies that help address your acne problems. Below is your guide that will teach you about naturally curing acne.
What Are the Causes of Acne?
Dirty pores filled with dead skin cells and oil can cause acne, where each pore has a connection to the sebaceous glands. That allows them to produce sebum. Excessive amounts of sebum can result in clogged pores, increasing the number of P. acnes. Your white blood cells will lead the attack against that bacteria.
But that can only inflame the affected area, leading to acne. Other people might suffer from more severe acne problems, but common symptoms include pimples, blackheads, and whiteheads. Many factors can also stimulate the growth of acne, including:
- Infections
- Hormonal imbalance
- Stress
- Diet
- Genetics.
Make sure to consult a dermatologist about the standard clinical treatment options for your acne problems. If none of those work, you can also try natural remedies, including herbal soap for acne. Though, they still need more evidence for their effectiveness. Here are five of the natural acne treatments.
5 Natural Remedies for Acne
1. Apple Cider Vinegar
Fermented apple cider or unfiltered juices from pressed apples are the main ingredients of this product. Like other vinegary products, it’s increasingly becoming popular since it can kill different kinds of fungi and bacteria. Young adults use apple cider vinegar since it’s rich in organic acids, like lactic, citric, and succinic acid.
Many believe that lactic acid lessens the scars caused by acne. Furthermore, succinic acid minimizes the inflammation caused by the bacteria, preventing scarring. Lastly, the citric acid from apple cider vinegar helps in battling P. acnes.
Despite the claims about apple cider vinegar, no study can support that it’s an effective solution. Dermatologists don’t advise using this product since it might irritate your skin.
2. Cinnamon and Honey
Both cinnamon and honey can fight off bacteria, reducing inflammation that can lead to the growth of acne. One research shows that mixing cinnamon bark and honey extracts can help battle P. acnes. Honey also has its component that helps stop the growth of that bacteria; however, that doesn’t support its effectiveness for acne.
Both have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, but more studies are needed to support that claim.
3. Green Tea
Green tea is full of antioxidants, so drinking the right amount can help you keep your body in good shape. Many also claim that green tea helps minimize acne. That’s due to the polyphenols in the tea that helps reduce inflammation and battle bacteria, which are the primary causes of acne growth. But like the other remedies, researchers should still explore how green tea helps with acne.
Many studies claim that applying green tea directly to the affected skin will help with acne growth, reduce pimples, and produce sebum. Now, you can find a wide range of green tea-infused creams, but you can make your own at home.
4. Aloe Vera
If you need a cheaper, organic alternative, try using aloe vera. It’s one of the popular ingredients you can find soaps, ointments, creams, or lotions. Most use aloe vera to treat burns, rashes, abrasions, and other conditions. If you apply it to your skin, the gel can fight inflammation, treat burns, or heal wounds.
In addition, this tropical plant is rich in sulfur and salicylic acid that you can use to treat acne naturally. You can also use the aloe vera gel with other components to reduce acne. Despite the promising results from many studies, the anti-acne benefits still need more support.
5. Exfoliating Products
Exfoliation helps in removing dead skin cells. It helps to remove the skin cells that block pores, allowing the treatment to enter deeper into your skin if you remove the dead skin cells. You can use chemically infused products or scrub with salt or sugar to get rid of the cells. New studies show that microdermabrasion can help you improve your skin’s appearance, including severe cases of acne scarring.
Now, you can find different exfoliation products, but you can always use a scrub or brush applied with salt and sugar.
Young adults are more susceptible to acne due to different reasons. Dermatologists think that modern, natural remedies are still effective against this problem, but you still have to be cautious about how your skin reacts to these components. Most modern treatments don’t have clinically supported evidence, but they can still be an alternative.