Natural Acne Remedies You Can Make at Home

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Almost 85 percent of people face acne as some point in their life, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Many of these people look for cheap alternatives to the pricey acne medications available on the market. As with any treatment, some may or may not work for you. You will have to use trial and error to determine the best homemade natural remedy for your acne.

Cucumbers and Tomatoes

Cucumbers and tomatoes help to remove excess oil from the skin, advises the Acne Resource Center Online. Using a juicer, extract the juice from a cucumber and a tomato and mix them together. Apply this juice mixture to your face twice a day. Leave on for five minutes, and then rinse your skin with warm water. This remedy may take three to four weeks to produce results.You can also apply a cucumber and tomato mask by blending one-fourth cup cucumber with one-fourth cup tomato in your blender and applying it to your face, advises Dr. William Jaremko, a New York dermatologist. Leave the mask on for 15 to 20 minutes before rinsing it off with warm water. The coolness of this mask will help reduce the inflammation of your acne, while the antioxidants in the tomatoes will promote healing.

Oatmeal Mask

A mask made from oatmeal, apple and honey helps many people with acne, says Jenny Hwozdek, who practices homeopathic medicine at Nittany Mountain Homeopathy. The oatmeal helps remove excess oils and dirt from your skin; works to reduce redness and inflammation caused by acne; and helps protect the skin against environmental triggers. The apples contain salicylic and malic acids, which promote cell renewal and unclog pores. Honey works to exfoliate and moisturize the skin while providing antibacterial benefits. Making the mask requires several steps. Cook an apple until soft and puree it in a food processor. Then, mix the apple with 1 tsp. of honey. In a small bowl, add one-eighth cup of warm water to one-half cup of oatmeal to make a thick paste. Finally, mix the oatmeal paste with your apple and honey. You can apply the paste to your face using your fingertips. Rinse the mask off after 15 to 20 minutes, using warm water.

Spot Treatment

Many times acne only affects a small area of your face or skin. Spot treatments work to eliminate even the smallest breakout. Hwozdek advises applying a slice of potato to an acne blemish for approximately 10 minutes. Potatoes will help eliminate redness and inflammation while promoting healing. She also advises mixing apple cider vinegar with an equal part of water and then applying it to a blemish. This gives your blemish a does of salicylic acid and malic acid. These acids help to exfoliate the skin and promote oil absorption, as they did in the mask discussed above. Another spot treatment Hwozdek advises using involves applying honey directly to a blemish. This will have the same antibacterial effect as it did in the mask mentioned above, while moisturizing your skin and soothing irritation.