Home remedies for acne, like a chamomile tea tonic, a honey and cornmeal scrub, and an aloe vera mask, generally contain antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effects. These help reduce inflammation, dry-out pimples and manage oily skin.
However, home remedies for pimples do not have an immediate effect, and should be included in a regular skin routine. You are encouraged to also maintain a healthy diet with anti-inflammatory foods, like whole grains, sardines and Brazilian nuts.
Furthermore, you are advised to consult a dermatologist to thoroughly assess your skin and to recommend the most appropriate treatment. This may involve home treatments as well as medication, particularly in cases of inflamed, swollen pimples.
Home remedies
Some natural options to help to improve the appearance of acne include:
1. Chamomile tea tonic
Chamomile tea tonic is rich in phenolic compounds and essential oils with anti-inflammatory, healing, antimicrobial and calming properties. These help help to reduce pimple inflammation. Although it is used topically in this case, chamomile tea can also offer many health benefits when ingested.
Ingredients:
- 20 to 30 g of dried or fresh chamomile flowers
- 500 ml of water
How to prepare:
Boil the water in a pot. Then remove from heat and add the chamomile flowers. Cover the pot and soak for 10 minutes. Then, strain the tea, and soak a gauze, cotton or clean cloth in it. Lightly wipe it over clean, dry skin. This tonic can be used once a day.
2. Honey and cornmeal scrub
Honey has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, making it a great option for reducing inflammation associated with acne. Cornmeal has a gentle exfoliating action, which can cleanse the skin and remove dead skin cells.
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon of cornmeal
- 2 tablespoons of honey
How to prepare:
Place the ingredients in a pot, and mix well. Apply the mixture to your clean, dry face and rub it in with circular movements using your fingertips. Then wash your face with cold or lukewarm water and dry your face. This exfoliation can be done once a week.
3. Saline compress
Saline solution is a great option for complementing acne treatment. It helps to cleanse the skin and reduces the size of large pores, reducing inflammation and oiliness.
Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons of saline
- 1 disc of cotton or gauze
How to prepare:
Wash and dry your face. Soak the cotton pad, or gauze, in the saline solution and gently rub it over your face. Let the solution dry naturally on the face so that it can be well absorbed into the skin. You can use this solution once a day.
4. Green tea tonic
Green tea is rich in catechins and tannins, which are bioactive compounds that contain antioxidant, astringent, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Green tea can reduce inflammation from acne and manage oily skin.
Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon of green tea leaves
- 1 cup of water
How to prepare:
Boil the water and remove from heat. Add the green tea leaves. Cover the pot and allow to soak for 10 minutes, then strain. After cleaning and drying your face well, goak gauze, a cotton pad or a clean cloth in the green tea and lightly wipe it over the skin. You can use this tonic once a day.
5. Aloe vera and jojoba mask
Aloe vera contains healing, bactericidal, fungicidal and anti-inflammatory properties which help to reduce pimple inflammation. The jojoba oil helps to regulate the function of the skin's sebaceous glands to control oiliness.
Ingredients:
- 2 teaspoons of aloe vera gel
- 4 drops of jojoba oil
How to prepare:
Place the ingredients in a container and mix well. After cleaning and drying your face, apply the mask, massaging it into your skin using your fingertips. Leave the mask on for 20 minutes and then rinse off with cold water. This mask can be done 1 or 2 times a week.
6. Oat and rosemary scrub
Oats are rich in phenolic compounds with anti-inflammatory, healing and toning effects. They are a great option for complementing the treatment of pimples. Rosemary essential oil contains antiseptic and antimicrobial properties, which also reduces swelling from acne.
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons of oat flour
- 3 drops of rosemary essential oil
- 4 tablespoons of jojoba oil
How to prepare:
Place all the ingredients in a container, and mix well, until you obtain a homogeneous mixture. Cleanse and dry your face and then apply the mixture to your skin, Massage it into your skin with light circular movements for 5 minutes. Rinse it off with cold water. This scrub can be done once a week.
7. Green clay and lavender mask
Green clay has astringent, toning and healing action which help to remove impurities from the skin. It can also reduce skin inflammation and oiliness. Lavender tea contains natural healing and anti-inflammatory properties.
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons of green clay
- 1 cup of cold lavender tea
How to prepare:
Place the ingredients in a pot and mix well until you obtain a homogeneous mixture. After cleaning and drying your face, apply the mask and leave it on for 20 minutes. Then, rinse off with cold water. This mask can be done once a week.
