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Natural remedies: acne
Categories: Mind and body
If you've never had acne, consider yourself lucky. Around 80 percent of teenagers are affected by it, and many adults too (20 percent of women get spots well into their 30s and 40s).You can get spot medication from your GP, including antibiotics and antibacterial creams. But there are natural remedies you can try too:
Acupuncture It could be worth giving acupuncture a go as some studies suggest it may relieve hormone-related problems such as acne by regulating glands that control hormone production.
Herbs Herbal medicine practitioners believe acne may be a sign of a sluggish liver, which they treat with bitter herbs such as dandelion, nettle and milk thistle. Echinacea, a herb with antibacterial properties, may also help.
Make a herbal infusion and use it as a face wash. Pour boiling water over a handful of dried lavender, sage, basil, chamomile or calendula, steep for 10 minutes, strain and cool. Then wash your skin with it twice a day.
Homeopathy Over-the-counter remedies for acne include Kali bichonicum 6c (for itchy spots and blackheads), Hepar sulph 6c (big, boil-like spots) and Pulsatilla 6c (hormonal spots).
Essential oils Australian scientists claim tea tree oil kills 27 out of 32 strains of the bacterium that causes acne. Dab it neat on your zits using a cotton wool bud. Lavender oil is also antiseptic and healing, and like tea tree can be used undiluted.
Nutrition It's a myth that eating chocolate and fatty foods causes acne, but some supplements may help including zinc, chromium, omega-3 oils, MSM (organic sulphur) and vitamins A, B and E. For best results see a nutritionist for a diet MOT.
• If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or taking any medicines, always inform your GP before taking any herbs or supplements as some may not be suitable (vitamin A, for instance, should be avoided by pregnant women).
Do you have a home remedy for acne that always works for you? Share your knowledge with other That's Fit users.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jen 27-7-2010
I am currently trying to set up my own internet business for selling herbal creams, soaps , and essential oils.
If anyone is interested the creams are good for many things like, acne,antiseptic,anxiety, arthritis, barrier cream, bruises, dry skin, ezcema, foot care, joint pain ,moisteriser are only a few.
feel free to contact me on hothouseflowers@aol.com
Reply
Ben 27-7-2010
Not sure anything like this would help real acne sufferers.In my experience diet and creams make little difference to most people and I think its something that is pretty much untreatable.A lot of people say they have a cure but their just after your money,otherwise they'd tell you their secret without charging.People who make a quick buck out of others problems by giving a nonsense treatment are scum.The best bet is to use plain soap with no added colors or perfume as these irritate skin.Simple is a good brand.Don't use abrasive things like commercial spot soaps and gels as these tend to inflame the skin and make things worse.Dalacin is a lotion you can get off your dr and it helps kill them off quicker but ignore herbal treatment,it wont work.The thing is acne isn't because your skin isn't clean or your not healthy and getting the right vitamins its just something some get and some don't.
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HelenB 31-7-2010
Yes Ben, unfortunately I think that you are right, sad to say that it would seem some are more prone than others with no real reason why. A small plus though is that after having carried out research on this topic, I have found those that suffer with acne have skin that tends to age well, that is skin that doesn't wrinkle so much with the onset of years. Like I said it's a very small plus.
As it would seem nothing really outside of biological warfare improves the situation likewise little makes it worse so I'd recommend getting in touch with the British Red Cross who can supply you with a cover up cream matched to your skin tone or certainly will forward you onto someone who can. Believe me it works, I have unsightly veins in my legs and it works on them and they do a facial quality too.
TrickyD 27-7-2010
A good mix of tetrion usually smoothes things over.
Reply
Natures Solutions 27-7-2010
Since being introduced to Aloe Vera products made by Forever Living Products my other halves Acne has disappeared. This amazing plant contains essential amino acids, vitamins and fibroblasts which help to renew and heal the body from the inside out balancing it back to 100% performance. These amazing products help with many ailments such as Acne, eczema, psoriosis, IBS, Crones disease, ulcers, some cancers, joint pain/arthritis etc.
These products are completely safe, totally organic, not tested on animals, and considered the best nutritional supplements available today, recommended by Doctors, MacMillan Nurses, Beauty Therapists/Nutritionists, and Vets alike.
Visit my Facebook page for more information on these amazing products that are kind to your skin and actually work!
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Natures-Solutions/482630945292?ref=ts
Reply
Barry Carroll 27-7-2010
Now in my sixties, having battled greasy skin and in my teens
dreadful acne, I have clear skin. After 30 it does greatly improve.
I look much younger than my age, as I have always had greasy skin
there are some advantages.
Acne is hormonal an inbalance in the hormones.
today's teenagers are lucky as much can be done
see a doctor or skin specialist, a medical one, not some
beauty treatment. Keep skin as dry as possible.
It amazes me, that they can send men to the moon but not
really find a True cure for Acne. But much can be done nowadays.
Reply
Barry Carroll 27-7-2010
Now in my sixties, having battled greasy skin and in my teens
dreadful acne, I have clear skin. After 30 it does greatly improve.
I look much younger than my age, as I have always had greasy skin
there are some advantages.
Acne is hormonal an inbalance in the hormones.
today's teenagers are lucky as much can be done
see a doctor or skin specialist, a medical one, not some
beauty treatment. Keep skin as dry as possible. My life would
have been happy had it not been for this scourge. Those
who do not get it , are truly blessed by the Gods.
It amazes me, that they can send men to the moon but not
really find a True cure for Acne. But much can be done nowadays.
Reply
Becci 27-7-2010
I suffered from severe acne from the ages of 7 to 14 and then minor acne from 14+. I am now 22. For years I suffered from bullying, as a child there was nothing worse than being so 'ugly' and 'different' and getting picked on because of it. Certain people made my school years hell, but during the time I broke down because of stress and anxiety of being at school and we tried everything from behind the counter supplements and creams to chinese pills from herbal doctors. Nothing was working and my doctor recommended Oxytetracycline. Big yellow pills that you had to take about 4 of a day, with a few side effects. No extreme difference but a slight difference between 14 and 16. I was also using Panoxyl gel which is absolutely brilliant- I still use it now for those spotty days! It is a gel for the skin, and can go under moisterisers and make up after a wash- put it on the areas affected. Dramatic difference on the skin.
When I was 16 I went on the Marvelon contraceptive pill, which absolutely worked wonders and I am still on now. (You can stay on this for 10 years) so I am going to stay on it until I am 26.
My skin looks completely normal now, happy and healthy most of the time- only the odd spot occassionally once a month when coming off the Marvelon for a week, so the cream still is needed now, perhaps just out of vanity and being used to it. People tell me I have lovely skin now, and it does look completely normal most of the time.
If you have any problems or your child does please persist with the doctor, it really does make people's lives horrible with the bullying and name calling. Good luck!
Reply
Billy Wildi 27-7-2010
This is truly an awful article for anyone who is actually trying to do something about their acne. Acupuncture is just sticking needles in people, they only way it makes you feel better is through placebo, and the endorphins you get from sticking needles, you could get the same effect yourself, no consistent evidence in trials has proved otherwise, and herbs are just as useless, honestly basil and sage are not going to unclog your pores and kill the bacteria that cause acne. And HOMEOPATHY, the idea that a poison diluted in water will cure it, well they are so diluted in fact that all the remedies ARE WATER, so how could this be recommended to the public I don't know. THE only useful one here is the tea tree oil, but it's hard to have faith in mankind when people are trying to treat us like a witch-doctor still.
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cleverpolly 27-7-2010
Hi there
At 38 I have battled with acne since I was 14 years old. I have taken every antibiotic on the market, tried most topical preparations, been on ro-accutane for 18 months (great results whilst I was on it,) and taken various contraceptive pills over the years in a bid to control it. The only things i found helpful were regular zinc supplements (high dose for one month and then I lowered it as I started to feel nausea from it,) and recently I invested £95 in allergy testing. I was miserable for a few weeks whilst I detoxed, but then my skin cleared up completely, I went from a size 14 back down to my pre kids size 8 - 10 again. No more other allergy symptoms either and I feel amazing. My endometriosis seems to have righted itself too.....I'm not trying to sell anything but it's definately worth looking into....
Reply
Sarah 27-7-2010
I suffered from acne from my teenage years and now in my 30's still had acne it is very depressing and knocks your confidence. I have tried everything you can think of tablets, creams, herbals stuff, even the acne laser it did not work and is a waste of money. I do not know why I didnt use if before but evening primrose oil tablets are the best think ever as acne is to do with your hormones and evening primrose oil tablets balances out your hormones its brillant and I am now clear of my acne I recommend it to anyone it is truely the best thing ever it does take about 2 months for your system to build it up but please do not get depressed buy the tablets!!!! For those that suffer from PMS this helps with that too. No more down and irritable days! All the best!
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BeautySkin 27-7-2010
I can't believe the article did not refer to red and blue light therapy for treating acne. There has been so much proven research on this and such positive feedback from users of the light therapy. These light boxes are available to rent in the UK for £36 per month at www.lamp-for-acne.com, the link is:
http://www.lamp-for-acne.com/
Reply
Anthony 27-7-2010
I am 50 and have sufferd with Acne since my early teens, I have recently cut out cheese from my diet and reduced the amount of all dairy products i eat, My skin condition has improved vastly I wish i had been given this advice many years ago.
Reply