10 Easy and Effective Home Remedies for Acne

Are you constantly cancelling your plans due to inopportune zits? Is acne plaguing your life, despite your every attempt to keep them at bay?

Pimples are a very common skin problem experienced by people of all ages. They are usually caused when the pores of your skin get clogged with impurities or due to hormonal changes in your body. While over-the-counter medications can help treat and stop new breakouts but can cause side effects too like dryness, redness or discolouration of the skin.
Thereby, try these 10 simple home remedies for pimples concocted with natural ingredients easily found in your kitchen.

1. Apple Cider Vinegar:

Apple cider vinegar is known to cure many skin ailments and acne is no exception. The organic acids present in apple cider vinegar kills acne-causing bacteria and reduce the appearance of scars thereby, leaving you with clear spotless skin.

What You Will Need –

• Apple cider vinegar
• Water

What to do –

1. Mix one part of apple cider vinegar with 3 parts of water. (If you have sensitive skin, then take more amount of water).
2. Take a cotton ball dab it into the mixture and apply to the affected area. (Make sure you apply on cleansed skin.)
3. Leave it on for 20 seconds and then rinse off with cold water.

How Often to Use –

Repeat this once a day.

Note: Applying ACV may cause skin irritation so use in small quantities and dilute in water.

2. Honey and Cinnamon Mask:

Honey and cinnamon is the best combination for acne treatment at home because they both are rich sources of anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antibacterial properties. Both honey and cinnamon help in reducing inflammation and fighting bacteria, which are the two most common factors that trigger acne on the skin.

What You Will Need –

• 2 Tbsp of honey
• 1 tsp of cinnamon powder
  

What to do –

1. Mix 2 tablespoons of honey and a teaspoon of cinnamon powder and make a smooth paste.
2. Dab a cotton ball or simply use your fingers to apply the paste on acne spots.
3. Leave it on for 15 minutes and then wash off with lukewarm water.

How Often to Use –

Repeat this twice a week.

3. Aloe Vera:

Aloe Vera is a tropical plant and has been widely used for its therapeutic effect on skin disorders. It contains sulfur and salicylic acid, which both are extensively useful in treating acne. It has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that help control and reduces acne-causing bacteria.

What You Will Need –

An aloe vera leaf

What to do –

1. Scrape the gel from aloe vera leaf.
2. Apply it on the affected areas with your clean fingers.
3. Leave it on overnight and rinse off with cold water the next morning.

How Often to Use –

Repeat this once every day.

4. Green Tea:

Green tea is loaded with antioxidants, tannins and flavonoids; it naturally reduces pimple-inducing blood sugar and insulin levels. Its major antioxidant – EGCG (epigallocatechin-3-gallate), can help reduce the production of sebum, inflammation and inhibit the growth of P. acnes.

What You Will Need –

• 2 Tbsp of green tea leaves
• A cup of water
• Cotton ball
  

What to do –

1. Add 2 tablespoons of green tea leaves to a cup of boiling water and stir for 10 minutes.
2. Let it cool down, then dip a cotton ball and apply on the acne-affected areas.
3. Leave it on for 10-15 minutes and then wash off with water.

How Often to Use –

Repeat this twice a week.

5. Garlic:

Garlic contains allicin that exhibits antibacterial, antifungal, antimicrobial and antiseptic properties which helps in killing acne-causing bacteria and prevent frequent breakouts.

What You Will Need –

• 2-3 garlic cloves
• Water

What to do –

1. Grind 2-3 garlic cloves and add water (as required) to form a smooth paste.
2. Apply the paste to the affected areas and leave it on for 10 minutes.
3. Wash it off with cold water.

How Often to Use –

Repeat this once every day.

6. Epsom Salt:

Epsom salt is also known as magnesium sulfate exfoliates dead skin cells and kills acne-causing bacteria thereby leaving your skin cleansed and free of breakouts and acne. It also balances pH levels and reduces swelling around acne and its appearance.

What You Will Need –

• 1 Tbsp of Epsom salt
• 1 cup of warm water
• Cotton ball

What to do –

1. Add a tablespoon of Epsom salt to a cup of warm water.
2. Dip a cotton ball in the solution and apply to the pimples.
3. Leave it on for 5-10 minutes and wash it off with warm water.
4. Again rinse off with cold water.

How Often to Use –

Repeat this twice a week.

Note: Epsom salt may cause an allergic reaction in some people. You must seek medical attention immediately if you experience skin irritation, swelling of lips or shortness of breath.

7. Tea Tree Oil:

Tea tree oil has strong anti-bacterial, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties. It kills pimple-causing bacteria and reduces acne and inflamed lesions on your skin.

What You Will Need –

• Tea Tree Oil
• Water
• Cotton ball

What to do –

1. Add 1 part of tea tree oil to 9 parts of water.
2. Dip a cotton ball in the solution and apply it to the affected areas.
3. Leave it on for 20 minutes and rinse off with water.

How Often to Use –

Repeat this once daily.

8. Lemon Juice:

Lemon juice is one of the most effective and inexpensive at-home remedies for pimples. Lemon is an exfoliant, astringent, and antibacterial agent, and thereby helps to unclog the pores, remove dead skin cells and dry out active acne.

What You Will Need –

• 1 tsp of lemon juice
• 1 tsp of honey
• Cotton ball/swab

What to do –

1. Mix a teaspoon of lemon juice with honey.
2. Dip a cotton ball/swab in the mixture and apply to the affected areas.
3. Leave it on for 5 minutes and rinse off with cool water.

How Often to Use –

Repeat this twice daily.

Note: Lemon juice may cause skin irritation. Hence, do a patch test on your skin before trying this remedy. Also, lemon juice can make your skin photosensitive. So, ensure you apply sunscreen before you step out.

9. Turmeric:

Turmeric contains curcumin that exhibits antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that help to reduce the occurrence of acne.

What You Will Need –

• 1 tablespoon of turmeric powder
• Water

What to do –

1. Mix a tablespoon of turmeric powder with water (as required) and make a smooth paste.
2. Apply the paste on the pimples and leave it on till it dries.
3. Rinse off with water.

How Often to Use –

Repeat this twice daily.

10. Coconut Oil:

Coconut oil contains lauric acid in a high proportion which exhibits antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties that help to destroy acne-causing bacteria and reduce redness and swelling of pimples.

What You Will Need –

1 tsp of virgin coconut oil

What to do –

1. Take a teaspoon of virgin coconut oil and apply it to the acne.
2. You can leave it for an hour and wash off or use it as a moisturizer.

How Often to Use –

Repeat this twice daily.

Note: Avoid applying coconut oil if you have oily skin as it can clog the pores.

The natural remedies for acne mentioned in the article may not work for everyone but are worth trying out. If at-home treatment for acne doesn’t work for two-four weeks you might have some underlying issues, consult your dermatologist immediately. Delays in clinical treatment may increase the risk of developing permanent stains or scars on the skin.