Bye-bye, breakouts! Natural remedies to keep pimples away
Nothing puts a dampener on your day like an unexpected new pimple. You wake up bright and early, ready to take on the world, and there it is—another nasty, itchy, painful, new breakout. Why do they even happen? And how do you make them go away?
Sometimes, excess oil and dead skin cells accumulate at the pores of your skin. The pores get clogged, creating an environment where acne-causing bacteria thrive. When this happens, your white blood cells attack the bacteria, leading to pimples and other forms of skin inflammation.
While everyone gets the occasional breakout, pimples are an everyday struggle for some. If either of your parents had acne, then maybe your genes are to blame. Other common culprits include hormone fluctuations, and stress.
Candy, fizzy drinks, white bread, and other foods containing processed sugar are frequently cited as acne triggers. However, dermatologists remain divided on whether such foods aggravate acne.
Understanding the link between dietary intake and acne will require a lot more research. Meanwhile, do yourself a favour by adding more fresh fruits, veggies, and whole grains to your diet. While you’re at it, drink more water to keep the skin hydrated, take steps to reduce stress, and make sure to get enough sleep.
Also, keep in mind that sometimes the irritants are things you don’t even notice. For example, hair products and laundry detergents could aggravate your acne problem. Switch these up to see if the issue persists. Another quick tip is to change your pillowcases more frequently. They collect dust and dirt which could clog up your pores.
Lose pimples naturally
The trouble with pimples is that they are stubborn. As one pimple goes away, another one turns up. How can you eliminate them? Harsh chemicals are not the answer. Here are some common natural ingredients which have the power to clear out those blemishes.
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Green tea: When
brewing tea for your morning cuppa, save some in a jar and store it in the fridge for up to two weeks. Once the tea has cooled, apply it to your skin using a cotton pad or spritz it on via a spray bottle. Leave on for several minutes before rinsing off with water. Do this once or twice a day to fight acne inflammation, reduce oil production, and stem the growth of acne bacteria. Looking for an over-the-counter (OTC) option? Green tea-infused cleanser sand Clearica Anti-Acne Cream could be just what you need.
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Tea tree oil: Tea tree oil is excellent for spot-treating those
pimples. It reduces the size of your acne lesions, reduces inflammation, and gradually clears up your skin. However, you should never use tea tree oil without first diluting it in a carrier oil such as coconut oil or sweet almond oil. Simply combine one to three drops of tea tree oil in a half a teaspoon of the carrier oil. This is not only safer for your skin but also improves absorption. Just make sure to do a patch test on the back of your palm or the inside of the elbow first, as some people may be sensitive to tea tree oil.
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Eucalyptus oil: This essential oil has anti-inflammatory
and anti-microbial properties. As with tea tree oil, it is best to dilute eucalyptus oil in a carrier oil first—if used in concentrated form, it could irritate the skin. To be on the safe side, it’s best to also run a patch test before use. If eucalyptus oil suits your skin type, it can be a handy weapon that helps to dry out the lesions, reduce the pain and redness of active pimples, and inhibit the spread of acne bacteria. Follow up with a moisturizer if the essential oil leaves your skin feeling dry.
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Aloe vera: Put that aloe vera plant from the garden to good use.
Collect fresh aloe vera gel from a leaf and apply it on the acne-affected areas to fight acne bacteria, deal with inflammation, and speed up wound healing. Leave the gel on for a few minutes before washing it off. Aloe vera will soothe your skin and leave it feeling hydrated. Besides, it doesn’t have to be your first line of treatment for acne. You could even use it as a gentle follow-up to other acne care methods or combine it with other acne remedies such as tea tree oil.
- Neem: A high-performing ingredient with antiseptic, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory powers, neem is effective in drying out active acne and minimizing scars. This hard-working ingredient also balances the skin’s oil levels, acts as an antioxidant, and has cooling properties. You could prepare a face pack by grinding neem leaves into a paste and combining it with turmeric powder. Wash off the pack after about 20 minutes. You could also boil the leaves and use this water to wash your face.
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Honey: If you are tired of dealing with the redness and swelling
of zits, turn to the jar of raw honey in your kitchen pantry. Honey not only soothes the inflammation that’s caused by pimples but also fights against acne bacteria that may have accumulated in the pores of your skin. Its natural moisturizing properties are a bonus, for honey will leave your skin feeling supple and hydrated while your pimples dry up and start to peel. You could directly dab honey onto the affected areas or apply a face mask made of honey and cinnamon powder. Rinse off with warm water after about half an hour to reveal glowing skin.
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Lemon Juice: You’ve probably purchased many a skincare
product that’s infused with Vitamin C. Well, lemons happen to be packed with Vitamin C. That is what makes freshly squeezed lemon juice (not the bottled variety) such a potent remedy in pimple care—though it could be a little harsh on sensitive skin. Lemon juice helps kill acne-causing bacteria, minimizes the redness of zits, and reduces sebum levels. Simply use a cotton pad to dab on some lemon juice that has been diluted in water, leave it on for 20 minutes, and then rinse off with warm water.
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Turmeric: If your pimples are red and painful, turmeric
could ease the inflammation. This common kitchen ingredient has antibacterial properties to help drive out bacteria that may be living in your pores. Its antiseptic powers help promote the healing of acne lesions. While turmeric and neem make for a great face pack combo, you could also combine this spice with other ingredients like honey or lemon juice as an effective spot treatment. Apply the mix to the affected areas, allow it to dry for a few minutes, and then rinse off.
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Tulsi: Tulsi can work wonders for pimple-prone skin
thanks to its clarifying properties and antibacterial powers. A paste made of crushed tulsi leaves and water can be applied like a face pack to eliminate dirt and debris from your pores as well as balance the sebum levels. You could also combine tulsi with sandalwood powder and rose water to create an acne-fighting pack that removes bacteria and dries up those angry-looking blemishes. Let the mix sit on your skin till it dries and then rinse it off thoroughly with cool water.
Commit to a skincare routine
Pimple-prone skin tends to get greasy and sticky over the day. It may be tempting to wash your face several times a day, but that could prove counterintuitive. Over-washing dries out your skin excessively. And dry skin leads to increased oil production, which could aggravate your acne.
There is no easy way to get rid of acne permanently. However, a good skincare regime can help greatly to reduce the occurrence of pimples. So, what should you do?
Start by washing your face twice a day with a mild cleanser that suits your skin type. After cleansing, use a toner to refresh your skin, remove excess build-up and residue, and prepare your skin to absorb the goodness of any post-cleanse products. Now is the time to apply any targeted skincare treatments. For example, you could massage in a small amount of Clearica Anti-Acne Cream to combat pimples and rejuvenate your skin. Remember to swipe on moisturiser at the end.
Some lucky people will see improvement in their skin right away. But this does not mean your pimples have disappeared forever. To keep those breakouts at bay, select a daily skincare regimen that you can continue over the long term. Cleanse, tone, repair, moisturise—do it twice a day, every day. Your skin will thank you for it.
Disclaimer: This page is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a recommendation or for diagnostic purposes. Please consult your dermatologist or doctor before acting on any of the information provided here.