Last updated on November 10, 2024
Question:
What are the best natural ways to get rid of acne?
Answer:
Three factors cause acne:
- Your growing skin produces oils to keep the surface flexible.
- Your skin also sheds dead cells, so your skin is constantly renewing itself.
- Bacteria love free food. Oils and skin cells tend to plug the oil glands, which then swell and look ugly. Bacteria get trapped under the plug and have a free-for-all, which causes your skin to swell and redden as your body tries to battle the bacteria.
There are four basic products to help the situation. I’m going to list both natural and commonly found over-the-counter products.
- Soap is the first line of defense. It removes excess oil and skin cells and kills off many bacteria, so keeping your skin washed will help a lot. The problem is that it is hard to control how much oil you are removing, and it can cause the skin to become overly dry.
- A very effective and cheap product is hydrogen peroxide. Soak a cotton ball and swab any red areas you see. It stings a slight bit, but it kills bacteria, and it dries quickly. It does dry the skin a bit, so limiting its use to affected areas is generally considered best. It will also lighten the red regions so they are not as noticeable. Some people use hydrogen peroxide to even out their skin tones. It can bleach hair, so avoid getting it on your eyebrows or hair.
- Cleansing products with alpha hydroxy acids, salicylic acid, or glycolic acid soften and help remove excess skin cells. Fewer free skin cells mean fewer clogs. Many people, however, find these mild acids to be irritating. Instead of using it everywhere, use it in spots with worse acne.
- Products containing tea tree oils or benzoyl peroxide kill bacteria on the surface of your skin. While it can’t stop the plugs, it can keep them from getting red and swollen. You can find benzoyl peroxide in a 2.5% and a 10% solution. The 2.5% is adequate. Many people find the 10% solution irritating to their skin. For tea tree oil, look for 5% solutions. Benzoyl peroxide should be used carefully as it will bleach out many dyes in various types of fabrics. Most people find a benzoyl peroxide wash better than a cream that sits on the skin.
Generally, it would be best to experiment to determine how much, how often, and where you need various products to get good results. Start with daily washing first. If that doesn’t work, try another product for a week or two to see how it goes. If you still aren’t getting good results, switch to a different product.
An interesting way to reduce breakouts is to place a clean towel on your pillow every night. This prevents re-infections from the bacteria from the prior day, and the towel will help absorb some of the excess oils from the face.
If none of these work, the next step would be to see a dermatologist. A dermatologist specializes in the skin and can recommend treatments targeting your problems.