Natural Cures for Teenage Acne

The teenage years bring with them a host of changes. It is a time of self-discovery, both mentally and emotionally. One of the hardest aspects of these years is the physical changes that take place. Bodies begin changing due to the onset of hormone production, and it is this hormonal change that causes excess oil to be deposited in glands and pores on the face and other parts of the body. This excess oil, along with bacteria, clogs the pores, resulting in acne.

The teenage years are difficult enough, but dealing with acne along with the other issues can lead to self-esteem issues. Before you seek expensive medical treatments, know there are some natural methods that can be performed at home to both treat and prevent acne. Try these treatments at least 24 hours apart, to avoid irritating the skin.

Things You'll Need

• Lemon
• Cotton swabs
• Cucumber
• Eggs
• Nutmeg
• Milk
• Cinnamon
• Honey
• Tomato
• Garlic
• Potato

Instructions

1. 

   Rinse your face with warm water and pat it dry. Squeeze the juice out of a fresh lemon into a container. Dip a cotton swab into the lemon juice and apply it directly to the acne. (If you are covering a large area, rather than just a few separate pimples, use a cotton ball.) Leave it on the affected area for 15 minutes. Rinse with warm water. Pat dry. Do not apply any moisturizers or any other topical ointments for at least 2 hours.

2. 

   Wash a cucumber well, to remove any pesticides and wax that may still be on the skin. With the skin on, chop into pieces and put in a blender. You can use the "chop" or "puree" settings. (If you do not have a blender, you can grate the cucumber into fine shreds.) Rinse your face with warm water and pat dry. Cover your face with the cucumber mixture and leave on for 25 minutes. Cucumber is often used in spas to soothe skin inflammation on the skin and in the eye area.

3. 

   Take one egg, and separate the white from the yolk. (The yolk has high fat content and can clog pores.) Whip up the white and apply it to the entire face as a mask. Leave it on for 1 hour, then rinse with lukewarm water. If you wish, once the egg has dried on your face, you can leave it on overnight. Just remember to change your pillowcase the next morning.

4. 

   Mix 1/4 cup of nutmeg and 1/2 cup of milk into a paste. (Let the milk sit for a while first, so it is at room temperature.) Apply this paste to the affected area for 1 hour. Rinse with warm water. Pat your face dry.

5. 

   In the evening before going to bed, add 1 tbsp. of cinnamon to 3 tbsp. of honey. Mix into a paste. Apply the mixture to your face and let it sit for 1 hour. Leave it on overnight while sleeping (place a towel over your pillowcase, and if your hair is long, keep it pulled back). Try to sleep only on your back if possible. Wash it off the next morning, with warm water only. Do this every night for 14 days.

6. 

   Wash a fresh tomato and put in a blender. Set the blender to "chop." (If you chop it too fine, it will be too juicy to stick to the face.) Apply the chopped tomato to your face and leave it on for 45 minutes. Rinse with warm water. For another option, add half a cucumber to the tomato before chopping. Tomatoes can also be put on the face as slices instead of as a paste.

7. 

   Cut a fresh clove of garlic in half, or crush it. Rub the garlic on affected areas several times a day. Do this on a day when you don't have to go out for a long stretch of time, to allow the garlic juice to remain on your face. After several applications over the course of a few hours, rinse your face with lukewarm water and pat dry.

8. 

   Wash a fresh potato. Grate it into fine shreds and place them on your face. Leave them on for 30 minutes. Potatoes relieve the pain and inflammation of the skin that are caused by acne.

Lifestyle Changes

1. Get plenty of exercise, which is one of the best cures for acne. While it does stimulate the sweat glands, it keeps them working to remain unclogged, preventing acne flareups. Be sure to rinse face after heavy exercise.

2. Cut back on caffeinated drinks, such as soda, lattes and coffees. Caffeine stimulates the glands to produce sebum, and it is the overproduction of sebum that clogs pores and hair follicles.

3. Avoid sugary and highly processed foods that raise blood-sugar levels. According to a study published by Dr. Loren Cordain, increased blood-sugar levels cause skin to regenerate faster, thus causing dead skin cells to stick together and clog pores. They also cause an increase in sebum production, which clogs pores and hair follicles.

4. 

   Drink lots of water. Water hydrates the skin and prevents inflammation, keeping it healthy and smooth.

5. Don't wash your face too much. Once in the morning and once before bed is enough. Too many soaps and chemicals on the face can trigger acne flareups.

Tips & Warnings

• Always pat your face dry after cleansing, as harsh rubbing can irritate the skin and inflame acne.

• Avoid using a lot of different products on your skin, especially moisturizers and lotions, as they can clog pores and trigger flareups. Give natural acne treatments time to work. Try a treatment a few times before moving on to another one. Always wait at least 24 hours before trying a different acne treatment.

Resources

• A study showing the role of diet in acne
• How lifestyle and diet affect acne