How to Treat Acne Without Prescription Medications
Many sufferers of acne assume that the only answer to their condition is shelling out money for dermatology visits and for harsh prescription medications. It may seem that the more severe an acne case appears, the more severe a treatment is required to alleviate the symptoms and to prevent future flare-ups from occurring; however, the skin is a delicate organ and deserves gentle care. Many natural treatments are available to effectively treat people of all ages who endure the discomfort and embarrassment of serious break-outs.
Things You'll Need
- Mild facial cleanser
- Wash cloth
- Facial toner containing salicylic acid
- Facial cream with over-the-counter wrinkle-reducing/preventing properties
- Foods, vitamins and herbal supplements
Instructions
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Keep Your Face Clean
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Wash your face with a mild facial cleanser, and use a wash cloth to wipe off any dampness remaining on your skin. Washing your face at least twice a day (once when you wake up and again before you go to sleep) will keep the excess oil off of your skin and will help prevent your pores from getting unnecessarily clogged by the dirt and pollution you encounter during the day. If you have extremely oily skin, consider washing your face a third time during the day, perhaps at lunch or before dinner. You can use the fanciest acne lotions available, but if your face doesn't stay clean, then your expensive treatments will be counter-productive.
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Moisten a cotton ball with a facial toner that contains salicylic acid (which helps to slough off dead skill cells, similar to what sand paper does to wood). This ingredient is an excellent alternative for people who are allergic to benzoyl peroxide. You will know you are allergic to benzoyl peroxide if your face turns red, burns and peels when you use it. The toner allows you to physically see if you have any lingering dirt on your face. Sweep the cotton ball over your face, making sure to get into the nooks and crannies of your hair line, nose crease, and lower jaw line. Look at the cotton ball; if you see dirt or make-up residue, moisten another clean cotton ball with the toner and sweep it across your face again. Repeat until no more dirt appears on the cotton ball.
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Apply to your face a facial cream with over-the-counter wrinkle reducing/preventing properties. Glycolic acid, a type of alpha hydroxy, is a common ingredient in these types of creams to help speed up cell turnover. Your skin will benefit from the assistance of gentle products that help the skin renew itself. Many times, acne forms because the skin is having a hard time getting rid of the old skin cells. Add excess oil and lingering dirt to old skin cells that get trapped inside your pores, and you get a pimple. Your skin tries to fight the intruders and may bring to the rescue white blood cells, which turn into the white pus you might see inside a pimple.
Adjust What Your Body Ingests
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Follow some basic food and nutrition guidelines. Eat foods high in beta carotene, such as carrots, pumpkin and cantaloupe, and eat fiber-rich foods like whole grains, root vegetables, lentils and beans. In addition, limit your intake of sugar, hydrogenated oils (trans fats) and fried foods.
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Consider some liquid suggestions. Drinking a greater amount of filtered water each day will help the skin to flush out acne-aggravating impurities. Furthermore, limiting the intake of stimulants, such as alcohol and caffeine, may help acne-prone skin.
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Try vitamin therapy. Certain vitamins aid the body in keeping balanced and may assist the skin in keeping pores clear, too. Zinc; chromium supplements and vitamins A, E and B-6 all contribute to a healthy-looking complexion.
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Take into account some herbal recommendations. Black currant seed oil, evening primrose oil and tea tree oil help the skin to deal with impurities, as well as echinacea, calendula and goldenseal. Additionally, Chinese herbs, such as cnidium seed and honeysuckle flower, may help acne symptoms to subside.
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Try internal cleansing. Acne sufferers may also benefit from bowel cleansing, kidney purification and liver flushing. These measures will help to free the body from toxins and other waste materials that often keep the body clogged.
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