How to Get Rid of Acne Naturally At Home

Acne and pimples are two of life’s most annoying and prevalent skin curses. Most of us have been in a situation where an ugly red spot has appeared the day before an important event or date. The question is: can you do anything about it without having to indulge in expensive medication? The answer is yes! Try some of these simple and natural home remedies to fight off those pesky pimples.

1. Aspirin

Aspirin is an anti-inflammatory so it can be a quick and cheap way to help reduce a pimple. The other plus is that most of us always have aspirin lying around at home. The simplest way to use it is to make a paste with 3 parts water to 1 part aspirin. Once the mixture had thickened take a Q-tip and apply to the aggravated area. The paste will take roughly half an hour to harden and begin to flake off, which will be your cue to wipe the paste off with a west tissue or face cloth.

2. Take a dip

If you have a pool readily available, try going for a swim. Chlorine is known to dry out your skin, which is good news for getting rid of pimples. Just be sure to properly moisturize the rest of your skin and condition your hair to prevent damage.

3. Aloe Vera

This bad boy is a triple threat. Not only does it cool your skin down, which feels great, it reduces the inflammation and redness of pimples as well as removes the oiliness from your skin.

4. Toothpaste

Toothpaste is a good option if you have a mammoth pimple that you want to take care of quickly. It is effective because it contains silica, which is the same substance that can be found in bags of beef jerky to keep moisture out. As such, toothpaste has been know to dry out and reduce the size of pimples over night. Simply apply some to the affected area before sleep and wash it off in the morning.

5. Honey

Honey honey, how you thrill me, ah-hah, honey honey.
In addition to being delicious, honey is a natural antibiotic which makes it perfect for healing and reducing pimples. As an added bonus its stickiness helps to remove excess dirt and impurities from your skin. You can utilize honey by making a simple mask. To do this, mix two tablespoons of the golden elixir with a teaspoon of cinnamon and apply it to your face. Yes, it may get messy. Allow the mixture to set for roughly ten minutes before rinsing it off with warm water.

6. Garlic

I’m one of those crazy people who grows her own garlic, so you don’t need to give me an excuse to use it even more than usual.
Garlic is fantastic for fighting acne due to its high levels of antioxidants, as well as its’ anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral properties. There are two ways you can use garlic to clear up acne. The first is a preventative measure, which is simply by adding more garlic to your diet. This helps your general health as well as purifies your blood, which can help to stop future break outs. For more immediate results, take a peeled clove of garlic and rub it on the troubled area several times a day. If your skin is sensitive, try crushing the garlic and mixing it with some water.

7. Steam

No, not the software. Although I do recommend that also.
Steam can be helpful for treating acne because it helps to open up your pores, which prevents them from being clogged. Steam also moisturizes and detoxifies your skin.

8. Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is renowned for being good for your skin. In addition to this, it also contains anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties, which makes it highly beneficial for acne treatment. In fact, studies that compare tea tree oil to the acne medication benzoyl peroxide shows it to be just as effective. Simply apply the oil to the pimple or affected area with a cotton wool ball or Q-tip.

9. Cucumber

Cucumber works as an anti-inflammatory, which is why people use cucumber slices to combat puffy eyes! They work just as well for pimples and will help to reduce the angry redness of them. You can make a paste by by combining finely grated cucumber with two to three teaspoons of lemon juice and applying it to your skin. Leave for ten to fifteen minutes before washing off.

10. No Popping!

I’ll admit that I’m guilty of popping a pimple or ten in my time, but you need to try and fight the urge! As tempting and gratifying as it may be at the time, it’s the worst possible thing you could do. Firstly, it further inflames the area which means that it can result in scarring. Secondly, popping causes the bacteria living in the pimple to spread to other pores, thus infecting them too. Ironically, this can easily result in even more pimples. Just don’t do it!

11. Ready your face for steam cleaning

  If your hair falls into your face, pull it back and secure it with a hair tie, head band, or bobby pins. Wash your face with a gentle cleanser, either a non-oil-based product or a plant-oil-based product. Many dermatologists recommend using glycerin, grapeseed and sunflower oils, as oils are best to absorb and dissolve other oils.

• Use your fingertips instead of a washcloth or sponge that could further aggravate your skin.
• Massage the cleanser into your skin for about a minute using a gentle, circular motion. You're not trying to scrub, just help the cleanser loosen and absorb dirt and oils.
• Rinse your face thoroughly with lukewarm water.
• Pat your skin dry using a clean, cotton towel. Never rub a towel over your face, as this could further irritate your skin.

12. Choose your essential oils

  The oils listed here all have either antibacterial or antiseptic properties, meaning they can kill the bacteria that cause acne and prevent the formation of new pimples. You can choose based on personal preference (which one smells best?) or based on your unique situation. If you tend to be anxious or depressed, use the lavender. If you have some pimples (usually bacterial), in addition to blackheads, use an herb with antibacterial properties. If you are battling an upper respiratory infection, use thyme to both treat the infection and break up the congestion with heat.

• Spearmint or peppermint oils may be irritating to some, so pre-test your skin by putting a single drop of it on your wrist and waiting for 10-15 minutes. If there is no irritation, you should be able to use the oil. Start with 1 drop per quart of water. Both peppermint and spearmint contain menthol, which has both antiseptic and immune-boosting properties.
• Thyme boosts the immune system and has antibacterial properties. It also increases circulation of the blood by opening up blood vessels.
• Calendula accelerates healing and has antimicrobial properties.
• Lavender is soothing and can help with anxiety and depression. It also has antibacterial properties.

13. Prepare your steaming water

 Fill a 1-quart pot with water and bring it to a boil for a minute or two. Once the water has been steaming for a couple minutes, add 1-2 drops of any of the listed essential oils.

• If you don’t have the essential oils, substitute with ½ teaspoon of the dried herb per quart of water.
• Once you have added the herbs or oils, let the water boil for another minute.
• After a minute, turn off the heat and move the pot to a comfortable area for steaming. Make sure you won’t have to hunch awkwardly over the pot, as you’ll have to hold that position for a while.

 14. Test for skin sensitivity

  Always be aware that you can develop sensitivity to an herbal oil. Even if you've successfully used oil in the past, retest it every time you steam your face with it. Try each oil for about a minute, then take your face away from the steam for 10 minutes. If you're not sneezing and you're skin isn't reacting poorly, reheat the water and proceed with the steaming.