Acne is a skin illness that afflicts millions of people around the world, both young and old. Some people battle with periodic acne outbursts while others must deal with chronic mild or severe acne throughout their lives.
Beyond causing pain and discomfort, acne is unsightly and can cause some people to feel very shy or embarrassed due to their skin condition.
Acne can be caused by any of several factors and treated in a similarly expansive number of ways, both natural and synthetic.
What Should You Know About Acne
Acne is a skin problem, manifested in small pimples or pustules and irritated skin, caused by bacterial infections in the pores of the skin.
These mini-infections are usually caused because of excessive production of the oil sebum.
This oil clogs the pores and traps oil, dirt, and bacteria under the skin, leading to inflammation and bumps. The primary causes of acne include:
- Excessive sebum secretion
- Too much bacteria on the skin surface
- Exaggerated cell division in the hair follicles
Hormonal imbalances, caused by physical changes occurring in your body or an ongoing problem, can cause you to overproduce sebum.
The most common hormonal imbalance that causes excessive oil secretion occurs when there is an over-production of testosterone and a lack of progestin.
If your skin is very oily, it may be from a hormonal imbalance. Equalizing hormonal levels to stabilize oil secretion can severely reduce if not eliminate your acne.
Some Tried and True Natural Cures for Acne
Saw Palmetto
Saw palmetto extract is rich in healthy fatty acids, immune system boosters, and plant sterols making it a popular choice for many alternative medications.
It has been used throughout history by Native Americans and other indigenous groups as an antiseptic and tonic to treat a range of medical conditions.
Treatment with saw palmetto for hormonal acne has become increasingly common because, in addition to its other positive qualities, saw palmetto is known as an anti-androgenic compound, counteracting the effects of excessive amounts of the hormone testosterone.
If you think saw palmetto may be the acne cure you have been looking for, you can take saw palmetto supplements paired with zinc to increase absorption or use a topical cream that has saw palmetto as a primary ingredient.
If you would like to avoid pills but prefer the oral form of saw palmetto, you can always mix saw palmetto into tea or water to make ingestion easier. To treat your acne, you should try to take about 150 to 160 mg of saw palmetto extract daily or apply the saw palmetto extract as directed.
You should consult your doctor before starting to treat your acne with saw palmetto. Like all treatments, saw palmetto can interact with other medications and potentially cause side effects.
Pregnant women and those about to undergo surgery or who are suffering from blood coagulation problems should avoid taking saw palmetto supplements because of the plant’s effects on blood clotting. Common minor side effects include abdominal pain and lightheadedness.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar has been used to treat mild acne for decades. It has proven to be a very effective treatment thanks to its antiseptic properties.
Try using this acne solution by mixing a single tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with three tablespoons of water.
Apply to skin and let dry.
Honey
Honey has been known to treat a range of skin conditions as well. You can make a simple skin mask with honey and cinnamon that should help balance the pH of your skin.
Mix a teaspoon of cinnamon with two teaspoons of honey to make a powerful anti-acne facial mask.
Egg Whites
A lot of people also use egg whites to make anti-acne facial masks. Egg whites are great at drawing out the oil from your skin and giving your face a refreshed and tightened look.
Just whip the egg whites from two or three eggs until foamy and apply to face, letting sit for about twenty minutes. Rinse and enjoy your freshly cleaned skin.
With so many simple and natural cures available, don’t waste any more time suffering from the pain and discomfort caused by acne.
Try out some saw palmetto or a honey and cinnamon facemask to treat your facial irritation and make your skin glow today!
IT WORKS! For the last two years I atrium with horrible cystic acne. I tried everything topical, naturally, changes my diet, antibiotics, even a blood pressure medication that acted as an androgen blocker (no thank you). After hating how I felt I looked up natural androgen blocker s and found saw palmetto. I ordered a bottle and took two pills a day with food and also used a topical cream called Tazorac. I’ve been clear from cysts for over a month and I haven’t taken anything in that time….weird I know. I’m hoping it stays gone but if it comes back I know how to treat it and quickly!