Home Remedies to Get Rid of Acne

Before I start talking about the solution for Acne, You should know What Is Acne and What Causes It?

Acne or so called Bumps can be of following types:

1. blackheads
2. whiteheads
3. pimples
4. cysts

What causes it: The hair follicles or pores, in our skin contain sebaceous glands.  These glands produce sebum, an oil which lubricates skin and hair.Most of the time, the sebaceous glands make the right amount of sebum. But In case of teens turning mature,  hormones stimulate the sebaceous glands to make more sebum. this can also happen with some people with hormonal imbalance.

Pores become clogged if there is too much sebum and too many dead skin cells. Bacteria (commonly Propionibacterium acnes) can then get trapped inside the pores and multiply. which causes swelling and redness — the start of acne.

If a pore gets clogged up and closes but bulges out from the skin, you're left with a whitehead. If a pore gets clogged up but stays open, the top surface can darken and you're left with a blackhead. Sometimes the wall of the pore opens, allowing sebum, bacteria, and dead skin cells to make their way under the skin — and you're left with a small, red bump called a pimple (sometimes pimples have a pus-filled top from the body's reaction to the bacterial infection).

Clogged pores that open up very deep in the skin can cause nodules, which are infected lumps or cysts that are bigger than pimples and can be painful. Occasionally, large cysts that seem like acne may be boils caused by a staph infection.

What should be done to get rid of them or how to prevent :

• Wash your face once or twice a day with a mild soap and warm water, Don't scrub your face hard with a washcloth
• If you wear makeup or sunscreen, make sure it's labeled "noncomedogenic" or "nonacnegenic."
• Sun Light,  Can kill some of bacteria, but for some people, oils produced after being in the sun make their pimples worse.
• Keep your face away from hair sprays or gels.
• Don't touch it, squeeze it, or pick at it. Which can cause even more inflammation and permanent scars on skin.
• Some girls may find that acne comes out a few days before they get their period. This is called premenstrual acne, and about 7 out of 10 women get it from changes in hormones in the body.

Home Remedies : - 

Alkaline solutions (Kills bacteria and reduces irritation) : -

• Mint - Eliminate pimples by killing bacteria and reduces irritation. It helps loosen dead skin cells to make them easier to shed. Crushed leaves can be applied to the affected areas, you can also mix it with honey to make a paste. apply moisturiser after rinsing the face with warm water.
• Baking Soda - Stops irritation. As bacteria can not live in alkaline environment and baking soda being strong alkalizer it can kill all bacteria. But it can leave the skin dry, so should apply moisturiser (Tea tree oil or castor oil can also be applied) after rinsing the face with it.
• Cucumber contains Vitamins A, C, and E. When used regularly, cucumber can prevent the development of oily skin and eventually, acne breakouts.

1. can be applied grated or sliced for 15-20 minutes.
2. Sliced cucumber can be soaked in water for one hour and strained solution can be used to drink or to wash the face.
3. Grated cucumber can be mixed with oatmeal and yoghurt and mask can be applied on face for 30 minutes and rinse with water later.

• Aloe Vera - When applied to the skin, aloe vera gel can help heal wounds, treat burns and fight inflammation.
• Toothpaste - help in drying up the pimples and absorbing excess oil. very helpful for whiteheads or blackheads. Don't use gel based toothpaste. You can apply small amount on affected area for 30 min.
• Green tea - has antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. simply lay a cooled bag on the affected area or use the tea to wash the face. adding lemon in green tea enhances the benefit. Should also include one cup of green tea with lemon in our daily diet routine and should be consumed empty stomach or with a gap of 2 hour from meal.

Oil based solution (help skin to get rid of scars fast): - 

• Tea Tree Oil - has ability to reduce redness and dry out pimples. Its antibacterial properties help eliminate acne-causing bacteria from your skin. Use cotton ball to apply it on acne prone area and rinse after 15-20 minutes.  Yu can also mix it with aloe vera gel to get enhanced benefit.
• Castor Oil - It has similar properties as of tea tree oil along with some essential fatty acid which our body need. It helps to get rid of scars / marks from skin. It is very helpful to get rid of fungal infections also.

Acidic Solution (Kills bacteria and cleanse the skin) : - 

• Apple Cider Vinegar - restores PH level of skin. do not apply for long time. 
• Lemon Juice - Causes the pimples to shrink.
• Honey - it can act as an amazing antimicrobial and wound-healing remedy. 
• Garlic - Sulfur content in it makes the pimples heal faster.

Normal Routine (Hormonal Balance and internal cleansing): - 

• Steaming - Help to get rid od dirt deposited oils.
• Reduce Stress - stress may increase sebum production and skin inflammation, making acne worse
• Exercise Regularly - Exercise plays a big role in Hormone regulation, blood circulation and lymph node cleansing. Must do it 30 min 3-4 times a week.