Acne. Pimples. Zits. No matter what you call them, the feelings that you experience when you have an outbreak are the same. Discomfort. Embarrassment. Frustration. But you’re not alone. Nearly 85% of people get acne at some point in their lives, usually their teen years, though it doesn’t always end there. As such, there seems to be a never-ending quest to find out how to get rid of acne. Some even run to their doctor to get prescriptions for treatments like benzoyl peroxide, according to Dr. Josh Axe. Fortunately, many natural remedies exist that often work just as well.
If you want to learn how to get rid of acne the natural way, here’s a look at eight remedies that many turn to get rid of acne for good.
1. Change Your Diet
Fighting acne starts with changing your body’s internal environment. Oftentimes, the foods that we eat trigger acne for a variety of reasons. You can’t get rid of acne without addressing the nutritional aspect of it.
For one thing, many of the foods we eat, like processed foods and sugar, cause inflammation in the body. Many types of acne come from the body being in an inflamed state, according to the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology. Sticking to a more plant-based diet will reduce inflammation in the body.
The other reason is that some of the foods we eat inherently have extra hormones in them. For example, cow’s milk has a number of hormones in it because it naturally has the growth hormones baby cows need to grow. Those hormones can cause hormonal imbalances in the human system, leading to acne, according to Mind/ Body/ Green. As these two statistics demonstrate, it’s nearly impossible to learn how to get rid of acne, without acknowledging the food side of the issue.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar
In order to rid yourself of your acne, you need to address the pH levels in your skin. Dr. Axe recommends using apple cider vinegar as your toner. It has a variety of helpful things in it, including enzymes, magnesium, and potassium. This combination kills the bacteria and fungi on the skin that can cause acne breakouts. Just dab a cotton ball soaked in apple cider vinegar on the affected areas.
3. Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil contains some important properties that fight two of the types of bacteria that can cause acne, S. epidermidis and P. acnes. This natural remedy comes from the Outback, that is to say, Australia. Five percent tea tree oil applied to acne has been shown to be as effective at treating acne as the same amount of benzoyl peroxide.
To make an anti-acne potion, combine one part tea tree oil, with nine parts water. Apply to a cotton ball and dab on your zits. You can do this a couple of times a day.
4. Honey and Oatmeal
Don’t be fooled by honey’s sweetness. It has numerous antibiotic properties that fight conditions like acne. To make an acne-fighting paste for your skin, Reader’s Digest suggests making a mixture consisting of 1/2 cup of the sweet stuff, combined with 1 cup of plain oatmeal. Apply it for half an hour.
It’s also important to note that honey can get rid of acne scars, so if you’re particularly plagued with acne scars, definitely try honey.
5. Honey and Cinnamon Mask
This facial mask brings another potent acne-fighting ingredient into the mix, cinnamon. Honey and cinnamon together have some very strong antioxidants and antibacterials, as well as being anti-inflammatory. To make this mask, combine 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon, with coconut oil and raw honey.
Apply to the face for about 10 minutes. Wipe the mixture off with a damp washcloth, taking care to be gentle in the process. You don’t want to damage the skin further. Be aware as well that cinnamon can irritate the eyes, so be sure to keep this mask away from the eye area.
6. Green Tea Wash
Green tea’s antimicrobial and antioxidant compounds do more than keep your insides healthy. They help you get rid of acne. To make the most of this remedy, steep your green tea as usual and allow to cool. Once it is, use it as a face wash.
7. Aloe Vera
Don’t let aloe vera’s gentle healing properties fool you. Aloe can not only help you get rid of acne, it can get rid of acne scars, too. It’s so healing, you definitely don’t want to overlook it as a remedy as you learn how to get rid of acne. Just apply some of the plant’s gel directly on your face, either at the pimple site or as an overall moisturizer. And side note, aloe is also an excellent way to get rid of acne scars.
8. Take a Probiotic
Here’s the final recommendation in your quest to learn how to get rid of acne, and it’s from Dr. Axe again. Taking a probiotic supplement helps you to fight acne naturally by keeping your immune system and your digestion healthy. It also improves the skin from the inside out.
Final Thoughts on How to Get Rid of Acne
In this post, you’ve learned much about how to get rid of acne naturally. Natural remedies like tea tree oil have been proven to be just as effective as some prescription medications like benzoyl peroxide. Others, like honey and aloe, not only fight acne but do away with of acne scars as well. One thing is for certain, all the remedies on this list are effective natural treatments for your acne.
Learning how to get rid of acne naturally is a process, one that requires you to learn a bit about nutrition, as well as skin health. But when you do, you’ll see that fighting and beating acne is well within your grasp.
