No one wants to deal with acne, but for many men and women, adult acne is still a looming problem. Sure, there are serums and creams that claim to eliminate spots lining the shelves of most drug stores, but do they really work? Or could a home remedy actually work at reducing or clearing up those ugly blemishes?
There are as many home remedies out there for acne as there are over the counter pharmaceutical products for the same problem. But only a few of these home remedies actually work. Here they are.
1. Lemon juice
Lemons are actually a great exfoliant, and they also act as a natural bleach or skin lightener for skin. Finally, they can disinfect the area when you get a blemish and help to prevent the formation of new spots. Simply soak a Q-tip or cotton ball into some freshly squeezed lemon juice and dab onto the affected area.
2. Crushed aspirin
One of the main ingredients found in many over the counter anti-acne products is called salicylic acid. This ingredient is also in aspirin. To use this method of treatment, simply crush an aspirin and add a few drops of water to the powder in order to make a paste. Apple the paste to the affected area and leave it on over night or for a few hours before rinsing.
3. Echinacea tea
Generally speaking, echinacea is used to prevent illness and also to help speed up the healing of wounds. But did you know that you can use this product topically as well? Make an echinacea tea and let it cool. Use the cooled tea as a face wash twice a day for several days to clear up acne.
4. Witch hazel
Many of the acne clearing astringents simply act to dry out the skin and subsequently dry out pimples and zits. But these products often have large amounts of synthetic chemicals in them. You can get the same effect with witch hazel, but witch hazel does not contain those nasty chemicals. Simply soak a cotton ball with witch hazel and apply it to the oiliest parts of the face in the morning and before you go to bed. Witch hazel is also very inexpensive.
5. Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil is also great at drying out pimples and blemishes, and it smells excellent. It is also a wonderful inflammation fighter and acts as a natural disinfectant too. Tea tree oil in its purest form is very strong, so you should dilute it before using. Add about 2 to 3 drops of tea tree oil to about 20 to 40 drops of witch hazel and mix. Apply this mixture to the affected area once per day.