Alternative Remedies for Acne

If you are plagued with troublesome breakouts of acne, you have probably tried every remedy under the sun, including over the counter remedies, and maybe even prescription therapies. While some of these may work for a while, simple home remedies can often treat your acne just as well, and for a lot less money.

One of the biggest culprits for developing acne in adult women is the use of makeup. Most makeup formulations have large levels of oil in them to help them smooth onto the skin. The oils are usually derivatives of fatty acids that are more potent than your own fatty acids, and this can lead to break outs. Switch to oil-free makeup products and see if this helps to clear up your skin.

Check the labels on cosmetic products. Many cosmetics contain things like lanolin, sodium lauryl sufate, laureth-4 and D & C red dyes that can irritate the skin. Just like oil, these ingredients can trigger a breakout.

Thoroughly wash your face every single night. This is extremely important especially if you wear makeup. Use a mild soap, and make sure you rinse off all residue. This may mean rinsing your skin with fresh water 7 or 8 times, but this process will completely clean your skin.

Make an oatmeal mask. Oatmeal is soothing to troubled skin and will help to clear up blemishes. Mix about one half cup of regular, dry oatmeal with just enough water to form a paste. Apply with your fingers to trouble spots on your face and allow to dry. Once dry, rinse thoroughly with warm water. Apply a light moisturizer if desired or a gentle water-based acne cream.

Avoid consuming excess amounts of iodine. Foods that contain high levels of iodine can trigger an acne attack. Avoid foods such as kelp and seafood, asparagus and broccoli also contain high levels of iodine. Keep a food diary to track what foods may be contributing to your acne outbreaks.

Avoid picking at your skin or breakouts. Picking at the skin will cause further irritation and increase inflammation, actually causing the breakout to last even longer.

Some unusual treatments for acne include: honey, which has strong antibacterial properties. Apply a layer of honey to your skin as a mask, allow to sit for 10 minutes. Rinse with warm water. Another home remedy is the application of dandruff shampoo. Most dandruff shampoos contain zinc, which is thought to be helpful for acne. Simply wash your skin with the dandruff shampoo and rinse as usual. This is especially helpful for back acne.

While many things can be done to ease the severity of acne, if you continue to be bothered with continuous breakouts, contact your physician for other treatment options.