- Use glycolic acid on your skin to help clear up acne quickly. Found in sugar cane, it's an ingredient used in application methods such as cleansers and as face peels. Glycolic acid can cause irritation, redness and a stinging sensation when first applied to the skin, but provides results within days of application, reducing blemishes and preventing new pimples.
- Use glycolic acid in conjunction with tea tree oil, a yellowish-green essential oil from the leaves of an Australian tree, Melaleuca alternifoliat. Pour a few drops onto a cotton ball and apply directly to pimples, or purchase an acne cleanser that has tea tree oil as the main active ingredient. It is considered a fast, natural acne treatment because of its claimed antiseptic properties, as it kills bacteria on the skin's surface, which can cause breakouts (see Resource 2). Treating the skin with tea tree oil can cause dry skin, irritation and redness, but it is considered a quick way to get rid of acne pimples.
- Remember that most natural acne remedies are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use as treatments. Look out for any side effects. Discontinue use of the product if it results in hives, skin damage or rash, and seek medical treatment. Do not use glycolic acid or tea tree oil more than twice a day -- the skin will dry out, and more oil will be produced, leading to more acne breakouts.
