7 Ways to Bust Acne for Good

Oils is produced by the body to keep it healthy, but too much of a good thing can become a burden.

Excess oil on the skin or face can lead to breakouts and acne.

Acne is a common skin condition that affects most people at some point. It causes spots, oily skin and sometimes skin that’s hot and painful to the touch.

It can come in the form of spots, blackheads, pimples, pustules and whiteheads and most commonly develops on the face, back and chest.

There are many reasons you can breakout in acne as an adult; stress, changes in your hormone level like menopause, coming on or getting off contraceptive pills.

Certain hormones cause the oil producing glands in the skin to produce larger amounts of oil. 

This abnormal sebum changes the activity of a usually harmless bacterium called P.acnes to become more aggressive which leads to inflammation and pus in the glands.

Also, some medications including lithium andanti-seizure drugs and corticosteroids can cause acne breakouts.

Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to cut down on oiliness of your skin and reduce acne breakouts. Check out these seven tips for beating acne.

1. Wash your face twice a day: 

Sometimes the best solutions are the simplest. Dermatologists recommend that acne sufferers wash their faces no more than twice a day.

This is because frequent washing will irritate your skin and make it worse. Also, wash with mildly warm water as too hot water strips your skin of oil causing it to produce more oil.

Dab, not rub, gently with a cloth and apply oil-free moisturizer containing salicylic acid to your face to keep it clear.

2. Use a good cleanser: 

A clean face is a happy face. While some people believe in using harsh chemicals, vigorous mechanical scrubbing (ouch) and even physician supervised skin peels, a good cleanser can make the difference between aggravating your skin and clearing your acne.

An effective way to manage your acne breakouts is to use Red light Therapy or clean your face morning and evening with a gentle cleanser.

If a basic cleanser doesn’t reduce oiliness and breakouts, try a product that includes an acid such as benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, glycolic acid or beta-hydroxy acid.

Some of these ingredients can be irritating so buy a small sample, apply in small amounts on the acne areas and see how your skin responds.

3. Apply a cinnamon and honey mask: 

Honey and cinnamon paste is a proven natural remedy for clearing acne.

Honey is a natural antiseptic and contains naturalantimicrobial properties. Cinnamon and honey contain antimicrobial properties that destroy bacteria present in the oil glands quickly.

To prepare your cinnamon and honey mask, take one teaspoon of cinnamon and two spoons of natural honey. Mix the cinnamon into a paste and blend in the honey.

Rinse your face and pat it dry. Then apply the cinnamon-honey paste to the acne and leave it overnight.

This is a natural way to clear acne and leave your face blemish free.

4. Use Tea-tree oil: 

Tea-tree oil is another natural remedy for clearing acne.

Unlike the natural oil produced by your skin, tea tree oil is unique in that it acts as a solvent and penetrates through the clogged skin pores, unblocking the pores and eliminating dead cells.

For acne skin repair, dilute tea tree oil in a ratio of 1:9 (oil to water) and dab the affected areas with a sterilized cotton ball after washing in warm water.

For especially sensitive skin, dilute tea tree oil with aloe vera gel.

5. Apply green tea on acne: Green tea contains an antioxidant that has a positive impact on acne.

This antioxidant reduces the inflammation of sebum producing glands and prevents bacteria growth on acne-prone skin.

For best results, place 2 teaspoons of organic tea leaves in ½ cup of fresh boiling water. Steep for 5 minutes, strain the leaves and let the mixture cool.

Use a clean cotton ball to apply it on your face. You can also put the cooled mixture in a spray bottle and spray it on the area. Leave it overnight.

6. Dab your face with lemon juice: 

Lemon juice contains citric acid and vitamin C. It is an effectiveastringent which removes dead cells.

Lemon juice causes the tissues to contract and dry out the raised pimple.

A direct result of using lemon juice frequently is that it dries out your skin which is why combining it with rosewater helps to balance the astringent nature of lemon juice.

Lemon juice and rosewater is a great soothing and skin repairing agent for acne-affected skin.

7. The Ice/steam procedure: 

Ice can be used to reduce the redness, swelling and inflammation of acne.

It helps in improving blood circulation to the affected area, and in tightening the skin pores and removing dirt and oil accumulated on the skin.

Steam has amazing benefits for the skin. It especially helps acne skin by opening  the pores and unclogging blocked pores.

For the steam procedure, fill a large pot or bowl with hot steaming water and then position your face just over the pot so it comes in contact with the steam. 

It should not come anywhere near your skin as this would cause scalding.

After steaming for thirty minutes, dab gently with a towel and apply an oil-free moisturizer.

Image Credit: Women's Health