Most people are tired of dealing with acne before they even finish high school. Unfortunately, acne continues to be a problem for many people well into their 40s and beyond. The good news is that there are several great ways to treat acne at home with natural and common household ingredients.
The Oil Cleansing Method
One of the biggest misconceptions about skin care is that all oil on the skin needs to be removed for a healthy appearance. Many of the skin care products available today contain harsh astringents and chemicals that strip skin of its natural oils. The problem is that this leaves skin dry and flaky, and your body is forced to try and repair this damage by producing even more oil than it naturally would. The end result is that your skin goes through phases of being extremely dry and then extremely oily, and you have to constantly fight to maintain balance.
The Oil Cleansing Method takes a different approach to acne treatment by using oil to gently moisturize your skin while also cleaning it. The reality is that acne is caused by bacteria and dead skin cells that get trapped in pores, not by oil itself. By keeping a healthy level of oil in your skin, there is a natural barrier against dry, flaky skin cells and bacteria.
Honey Masks
Honey provides a range of helpful characteristics for treating pimples, blackheads and other blemishes. First of all, honey is a natural antibiotic that kills bacteria. Secondly, honey’s sticky properties allow it to grip dead skin cells and bacteria and carry them away. For people concerned about using harmful chemicals in their beauty routines, honey provides an all-natural alternative with proven results. It can be mixed into a mask or used to spot treat blemishes, and then simply washed away with warm water.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is another naturally occurring ingredient that is perfect for treating your acne at home. Diluting tea tree oil in bit of warm water and using it to gently wash your face is a great way to get its antibacterial and antioxidant benefits to improve your skin. Other suggestions include placing moist tea bags directly onto the blemish for a few minutes and then rinsing.
Steam
Steam is another great way to improve the health of your skin and treat unwanted acne. Since blemishes are caused by a buildup of bacteria blocking pores, steam acts to open up pores gently and naturally without direct contact. As the pores open up, your natural sweat will rinse your skin and the process helps keep your skin moist.
Don’t Pick At It
One of the most harmful things you can do to your skin is to continually pick at blemishes and pop pimples. Not only does this increase the chances of scarring and damage to the top skin layers, you are also more likely to introduce additional bacteria to the site from your hands. Treating acne indirectly with any of the above methods and leaving blemishes alone to fade on their own is the best way to reduce the recurrence of breakouts.
Biscayne Dental & Facial Aesthetics
Dr. Julio and his skin care professionals at Biscayne Dental & Facial Aesthetics in Miami specialize in acne treatments for people of all ages. No matter what type of skin you have, they are able to help you find a solution that will reduce the appearance of blackheads, whiteheads and other blemishes while giving you healthier, softer skin.