Home Acne Remedies

Acne is a skin condition that is closely associated to our adolescent years (although it often continues into adulthood in some people). It is characterized by blemishes or skin imperfections, typically, on the face, neck and shoulders.. It can also occur on the chest but this is not as common. Acne is a very noticeable condition and this can often lead to embarrassment, anxiety or low self esteem in the person afflicted by it.

Causes of Acne

There are three main reasons why a person gets acne. The first is an imbalance or increase in hormones circulating throughout the body. This generally occurs at the onset of puberty hence acne is often linked to our teenage years. To a lesser extent, poor diet and poor hygiene can also be the cause of poor skin condition and blemishes.

There are many acne medications available nowadays. They range from topical creams to oral medication. An alternative to these types of treatment are herbal acne remedies. People are often attracted to these forms of treatment because they may have less side effects and may also be cheaper. In many ways they are cheaper because they are not marketed as heavily and this cost does not have to be added to the overall cost.

Cleansing the blood as a herbal acne treatment

Probably the most commonly advocated form of acne treatment is to cleanse the blood or detoxify it. There are numerous herbal supplements that can do this. Some of the popular herbs are Burdock root, Dandelion Root tincture, Milk Thistle seed and Red Clover.

Burdock root can and should be purchased from herbal stores. It can be used in fresh food like salads or taken in a drink form. It is thought to help detoxify the blood and also as a topical remedy for acne problems.

Dandelion Root tincture can be ingested as a tea or as a supplement to your favorite beverage and is though to clear up the kidneys and make the liver stronger. As a side note the drink dandelion and burdock is a popular soft drink that hails from olden times and was seen as a drink with therapeutic benefits. It’s debatable whether the drink that is called dandelion and burdock now has the same affects as most of the ingredients will be artificial.

Red Clover is commonly taken as a tea. It can be taken daily as you would drink a normal cup of tea or green tea. Milk Thistle comes in tincture or seed form. The tincture can be taken as a medicine while the seeds can be ground up and mixed with muesli, granola or any other food.

Other herbal acne treatment forms are as oils and ointments that are applied on the skin itself. These herbal acne treatments are Tea Tree oil, Aloe Vera gel and Calendula. Tea Tree oil works as an anti bacterial solution that helps to eliminate infection in acne prone skin and lessen the irritation. Aloe Vera gel works as an astringent for your face and also as an antibacterial which can help to kill the bacteria that causes infection in acne. Calendula functions to heal the infected tissues. This herbal acne treatment is often used in creams and ointments.

These forms of herbal treatment will have differing affects as some work at the surface level to lessen the signs of swelling or blemishes. Others work on the blood and at the underlying cause of acne. You can try an of these remedies on your skin but be sure to follow the guidelines and seek advice on the use of these remedies if you are unsure.