All of us have struggled with acne at some point in our lives. Whether you suffer from painful cystic acne or the occasional small breakout, these annoying little bumps can ruin our self-esteem, make us very uncomfortable and generally make life more difficult. There is an ample supply of companies out there trying to take advantage of our insecurities by pressuring us to buy expensive lotions and potions that rarely work to the extent that we would like.
You may have begun to realize that acne is one of those problems that isn’t easily solved by throwing money at it. Many over-the-counter products found at supermarkets and sometimes even prescription medicines can dry and irritate the skin, bring about new skin problems that you didn’t have before, and cause harmful side-effects.
Although we know we can’t make this problem go away completely, we can certainly improve it without trading away our hard-earned cash for a temporary fix. You probably have the materials necessary to improve your complexion in your home right now. These home remedies are proven to be just as effective (if not more effective) than damaging store-bought cremes, and are certainly cheaper.
#1 – Salt Water Compress
This is an excellent tip for those of you who need to get rid of a problem pimple fast. This is especially effective for painful lesions deep under the skin that wont come to a head. It is generally better to resist the urge to squeeze pimples, but if it is done without force and with in a sanitary environment, it can significantly speed up the healing process.
Preferably, do this right before bed so your skin can rest and heal during the night. First, wash your face with a gentle cleanser and your hands with antibacterial soap. Boil some water and put about 1/2 cup in a mug. Pour in salt (non-iodized works best) and stir until it completely dissolves.
Continue to pour in salt and stir until no more will dissolve away. Soak a clean washcloth or cotton ball in the salt water and press it gently against the skin. Don’t force yourself to hold it there if it’s too hot, but try to keep it as hot as you can bear. Tilt your head back so the solution stays on the skin. After about five minutes the compress should cool. Re-wet it and repeat the process at least 5 or 6 times.
Due to osmotic pressure, the pimple will surface. Use a needle sterilized with rubbing alcohol to very gently pierce it, wrap your index fingers in clean tissue paper, and apply gentle pressure. Do not force it. If it doesn’t give with very little pressure, you need to either apply the compress again or try another day. Rinse your hands and face in clean, cool water and apply moisturizer liberally before going to bed.
#2 Aspirin Mask
The active ingredient in Aspirin is acetylsalicylic acid, which occurs naturally in the bark of a willow tree. Acetylsalicylic acid is closely related to salicylic acid, which is the active ingredient in many highly effective prescription acne medications. Many acne sufferers are amazed at the effectiveness of aspirin and wish they had known about it earlier. Aspirin owes its effectiveness at treating acne to both its anti-inflammatory properties and its acidity. With just one use you may notice reduced redness, reduced swelling, smaller pimples and pores and softer skin.
You can buy a bottle of 300 or more uncoated tablets for less than two dollars. To prepare the mask, dissolve 5 – 15 tablets in warm water. The white powder will settle at the bottom. Slowly pour the water off the powder, and crush any undissolved chunks with a spoon or fork. You can apply this powder directly to the skin, or you can combine it with lotion, honey or mashed avocado. Some people with sensitive skin may find the mask irritating, in which case they might only want to leave it on for 2-5 minutes once or twice a week. Others can leave it on for up to 20 minutes every other day.
# 3 Apple cider vinegar/lemon juice toner
Our skin is naturally acidic. This acidity is brought about largely by sebum, and is one of our primary defense mechanisms against infection. When you get an infected pore, your skin responds by producing more sebum to combat the bacteria, causing a pimple. The vast majority of soaps and cleansers on the market today are alkaline. Using them on a regular basis compromises the natural acidity of your skin, causing it to produce more oil to make up the difference, and making it more prone to infection in the meantime.
In order to combat acne and reduce oiliness, we must make up for the acidity lost to soaps and cleansers. If you have oily skin, simply apply apple cider vinegar or lemon juice to your face every night. You may leave it on for as long as you like, and apply a gentle moisturizer after washing it off.
#4 Egg White Facial
Egg white is rich in proteins and amino acids that work wonders on skin. Egg white masks are known to shrink pores, soften and clear skin, and even reduce the appearance of wrinkles. To prepare one, simply separate the yolk of an egg from the white by breaking the shell in half and passing the yolk back and fourth between the two cup-shaped halves, allowing the white to pour into a bowl or cup below. Use a fork or an electric whisk to stir the egg white until it turns into a stiff foam. Apply the foam thickly to your skin and leave on until it dries. Your skin should feel very tight. Wash it off with cool water, and don’t forget to use moisturizer.
Seeing an improvement in the condition of your skin is especially satisfying and rewarding when you know you did it yourself. Natural acne solutions are cheaper, easier, more convenient and often more effective than the store-bought or prescription treatments, which can be caustic and irritating. Try one or more of these treatments and see if they work for you – you might just find that the answer has been sitting in your pantry all along.
Sources:
“Lemon Juice Acne Cure.” My Acne Treatment Guide. 2011. Web. Accessed 9 Jan 2011.
“Acne.” Health 101. 2011. Web. Accessed 9 Jan 2011.
Aspirin Facial.” Skin Care Resource Center. 2010. Web. Accessed 9 Jan 2011.
