Home Remedies for Adult Acne
So, you survived your teens, right? That dreaded time when your body goes through impossible changes; crazy hormones, growth spurts, breast development and deepening voices. Yes, your skin at that time closely resembled a pizza…or the surface of the moon, and you rushed embarrassed past the taunting skin-blessed few who yelled, “Hey, crater face!”
Well, you’re an adult now, and your skin has behaved quite well over the years. You can walk with your shoulders back, head held high and your pride intact. You are no longer ‘crater face.’ You are simply you.
Until one morning, you wake up and…it’s back.
Well never fear, acne is a part of life, folks. Even the most unblemished amongst us suffer from the occasional bout; just not always on the face where you can see it. It’s all about hormones, see. Hormones cause an overproduction of oil which mixes with dead skin cells and clogs your pores. It’s nothing you can help; it’s like a full bladder-you wake up in the morning and it’s there.
So what can you do about it? There are many over-the-counter and prescription treatments out there, but they are both expensive, and can cause nasty side effects such as skin peeling, redness and irritation, mood swings, nose bleeds and hair loss. Yikes. But before go out and buy your Proactiv Solution, why not take a gentler, more natural (and affordable) approach? Let’s look at some ideas on how to safely treat your acne before it psychologically turns you back into ‘Grossie Josie.’
Tea Tree Oil-it’s a little smelly, but is a wonderful natural antiseptic and antifungal, and the topical application may reduce the frequency of your acne breakouts, as well as heal your skin. Before bed, use a cotton swab and dab straight onto infected areas, leaving overnight. MayoClinic.com recommends 5% tea tree oil on mild to moderate acne. Make sure you dilute it (two parts tea tree oil to one part antiseptic alcohol.) Undiluted it’s very strong and can be more of an irritant than a help. You don’t want to anger your acne anymore than it already is!
Crushed Peppermint: not only soothing on the digestive system, peppermint leaves can be crushed and applied directly onto acne. Leave on for 10 minutes and rinse. Peppermint has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic qualities. You’ll find it in health food stores, or you can grow your own with ease. It may be irritating to those with super sensitive skin.
Apple Cider Vinegar:it seems weird, but apparently apple cider vinegar works in several different ways; it cleans excess oil, has antibacterial qualities, and normalizes the skin’s natural skin balance. If you have minor acne, this could be the product for you, and it’s so inexpensive! Simply apply directly to acne prone areas with a cotton ball. You can also use it as a facial steam to open and cleanse pores. Add a cup of apple cider to a pot of boiling water and lean over the steam for approximately 10 minutes.
Honey and Oatmeal Paste: oatmeal has long been used as a calming agent for irritated skin. It can also absorb excess oil from the skin. Honey has toning and antiseptic properties. To make a paste, mix ½ cup of cooked oatmeal with 1/8 cup of honey, and let it cool. Apply it like a mask, and leave for 15 minutes. Wash off with warm water. Use once or twice a week to decrease oiliness and breakouts. Good enough to eat!
Other Remedies: Mayo clinic recommends zinc for hormonal regulation and balance. Remember, you don’t want to simply treat what’s going on externally; you need to try to get to the crux of the problem, your hormones. Also, applying witch hazel topically each morning and night may dry out your pimples and stop new ones from forming. Witch Hazel is super cheap and effective!
A caution to all you ‘adult teenagers’ out there-your skin is sore and irritable. Always ‘spot’ test (pardon the pun) by using a remedy on a small patch of skin to see how it reacts before applying to the entire area. If your acne is severe, you may have to consult your physician, but why not try the gentle approach first? And remember, YOU ARE GREAT…even if your skin is behaving badly. Good luck!