10 Ways to Treat Acne at Home

If your acne is mild and you don't think it is necessary to see a dermatologist, you can treat your acne at home. Although there is no one best home remedy for acne, there are a number of ways you can treat it effectively and safely. Even better, each home remedy for acne described below is easy to follow.

First, keep your hands away from your face. This means refraining from picking, popping, and squeezing your pimples. If you pop a pimple, you can spread bacteria on your fingers to other parts of your face and increase the likelihood of scarring. Also, don't rest your chin on your hands.

Wash your face properly. This does not mean scrubbing your face vigorously several times a day, because washing only removes oils from the surface of your skin. It does not unclog plugged ducts. Instead, wash your face twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening before you go to bed. Use your fingertips and a mild cleanser.

Don't exfoliate, which is scrubbing to remove the top layer of skin cells. The skin on your face is very delicate, and using a rough washcloth, loofah, or cleansers with granules will only make things worse.

Use over-the-counter products with benzoyl peroxide. Benzoyl peroxide is a very good home remedy for acne because it breaks up the plugs of dead skin cells, bacteria, and oil in your pores. You may want to start out by using a lotion with a low concentration of benzoyl peroxide, such as 2.5 or 5 percent. If your acne does not improve within four to six weeks, you may want to try a 10 percent lotion or gel.

Try to reduce stress. Stress does not cause acne, but it can aggravate the acne you already have.

Avoid wearing form-fitting clothes that trap heat and moisture, and promptly change into fresh clothes if you have been sweating heavily. If possible, try to refrain from wearing sports helmets, hats, backpacks, and tight collars.

If you must use makeup, be sure to use water based, noncomedogenic (they don't promote the forming of closed pores) makeup instead of oil-based. Read the label to see if the makeup is water- or oil-based. Try to use powder blushes and loose powders instead of liquid foundation.

Limit your sun exposure. Although the sun might clear up acne in the short term, in the long run it only irritates your skin. It is not uncommon for skin to break out as it heals from sun damage,

Watch your diet. Foods with high levels of iodine, such as seafood, can encourage acne. In addition, recent studies have linked eating dairy foods such as milk, cottage cheese, and cream cheese with acne. There is no evidence that greasy foods and foods such as chocolate and nuts cause or worsen acne.

You might try natural treatments for acne. These treatments include rubbing affected areas with lemon, garlic, or cucumber, or making a mask out of cooked oatmeal.

If you wish to try a home remedy for acne, there are many remedies for you to choose from. While it may not be necessary or possible for you to try every home remedy for acne suggested here, there are a number of remedies that simply require you to break bad habits, or acquire good ones.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only, and is not meant to serve as medical advice. For medical advice, please consult your doctor.