Acne Herbal Remedies -- What You Can Use Topically For Your Acne

Topical treatment for your acne using acne herbal remedies are not only effective, but also safe and gentle on the skin.

Considering how delicate one's skin can be, especially the sensitivity of the skin on your face, you might want to think twice about using over-the-counter skin products in dealing with your acne. Often filled with harsh chemicals, these products are not only often costly, they usually bring only temporary relief, if not make your problem worse.

On the contrary, herbal remedies provide a more natural alternative for those suffering from acne problems. Not only are these natural topical treatments for acne safer to use, they are relatively cheaper and can be very effective when coupled with dietary changes.

What to use topically on your acne

Since the acne herbal remedies below are all natural, they are safe to use anywhere on the body where acne may be a problem. While acne is most common on the face, you can also get it on other parts of the body, such as the back, shoulders, chest, and buttocks. The treatment remedies can be applied to these areas in the same manner safely and easily.

Facial cleanser

The following may be useful as a cleanser for your acne:

• a soap made of the herb Calendula officinalis (marigold flowers) -- recommended by Eric Jones, N.D., instructor of dermatology at Bastyr University, in Kenmore, Washington, to help keep your face clean and minimize cyst-forming infections [1, 4]
• an infusion of calendula mixed with equal parts of distilled witch hazel (an antibacterial and astringent that stops oozing [4]) [1]
• alternatives to soap also include milk or diluted lemon juice (high in vitamin C for immunity boosting [2]) [1]

Facial wipes

You can also use the following as facial wipes when you have acne problems:

• a mixture of vitamin A-E emulsion, liquid chlorophyll and aloe vera gel, or with apple cider vinegar and a dash of cayenne pepper (for vitamin C, to improve circulation, kill bacteria and burn off toxins [2]) [1]
• tea made from alfafa, burdock root (for detoxification, has antibacterial and antifungal properties [2]), echinacea (reduces inflammation and speeds up healing [4]), a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar, and a dash of cayenne pepper [1]
• vitamin A (reduce sebum production [3]) and tea tree oil (for antiseptic properties [3]) -- to reduce skin outbreaks [1]

Facial masks

You can use the following as facial masks (to be rinsed off) for your acne after cleansing your face:

• benonite clay mask -- used for 15-20 mins to extract inflammatory by-products from the acne [1]
• oil from a vitamin E capsule (left for 30mins) and whisked egg whites (on top of the vitamin E layer, for another 30min) [1]
• a mixture of cooked and mashed carrots, grated or sliced cucumber soaked in rum, whisked egg yolk and oatmeal cooked in milk (mixture left on for 30min) [1]
• a poultice made from chaparral (reduces inflammation and pain, promotes healing [5]), dandelion (rich in vitamins and is considered a blood cleanser [5]) and yellowdock root (often used to treat skin conditions attributed to toxic metabolites from poor digestion and poor liver functions [5]) [1]
• a compress of goldenseal (has anti-microbial properties [5]) tea [1]
• a steam sauna using red clover (often used for conditions afflicting the skin [5]), lavender and strawberry leaves or chamomile flowers [1].

What not to use on your acne

Avoid cosmetic products that contain lanolin, isopropyl myristate, sodium laurel sulfate, laureth-4, D and C red dyes [1].

Also, do not squeeze your pimples. Doing so increases the risk of infection and making your problem worse. Always make sure that your hands are clean before touching the areas of your skin affected by acne.

Beyond topical treatment for your acne

It cannot be over-emphasized that topical treatments for acne, natural or not, are alone usually not enough. By their very nature, they usually due with the problem symptomatically.

Especially if your acne problem is a serious one, you will need to introduce dietary changes (including avoiding acne-triggering foods) and lifestyle tips in order to achieve greater effectiveness when dealing with your acne problem. This is because acne, a form of unhealthy skin, is basically a manifestation of an unhealthy body trying to expel toxins which it is unable to remove in other ways.

To support strengthen the effectiveness of your healthy lifestyle and dietary efforts, you could also consider taking acne-relieving herbs.

And since stress can trigger or prolong acne breakouts, effective stress management is also an important means of dealing with your acne problem.

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References

[1] Trivieri, Jr., Larry, and Anderson, John W. Alternative Medicine: The Definitive Guide. 2nd ed. New York, USA: Celestial Arts, 2002. Print.

[2] Collins, Elise Marie. An A-Z Guide to Healing Foods: A Shopper's Companion. San Francisco, California: Conari Press, 2009. Print.

[3] Murray, Michael, ND, and Pizzorno, Joseph, ND. Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Three Rivers Press, 1998. Print.

[4] Balch, Phyllis A., CNC. Prescription for Herbal Healing: An Easy-to-Use A-to-Z Reference to Hundreds of Common Disorders and Their Herbal Remedies. New York, NY: Avery, 2002. Print.

[5] Gaby, Alan R., MD. The Natural Pharmacy: Complete A-Z Reference to Natural Treatments for Common Health Conditions. 3rd ed. New York, NY: Three Rivers Press, 2006. Print.

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