ACNE

 

Home remedy for Acne

Acne treament (naturally at home or otherwise) is the most sough after treatment among the younger generation. Acne is a common and chronic skin disease. It is an inflammatory condition of the sebaceous glands and hair follicles. The lesions are usually found on the skin of the face, neck, chest and shoulders. Nearly six out of ten young people between the ages of twelve and twenty-four suffer from some degree of acne. The disease causes a great deal of embarrassment at an age when people tend to be sensitive about their personal appearance.

Acne Vulgaris Symptoms

Comedones, pimples, superficial sebaceous cysts

Acne Vulgaris is characterized by the presence of comedones or blackheads, pimples, small superficial sebaceous cysts, and scars. There are over half a dozen types of acne, the most common being blackheads. The areas chiefly affected are the forehead, temples, cheeks, chin, chest and back. In rare cases, almost the entire body may be covered with acne accompanied by extensive scarring.

Causes of Acne Vulgaris

Acne can be caused due to wrong eating habits and chronic constipation

All types of acne have their origin in wrong eating habits. Irregular hours of eating, excessive starch consumption, too much of sugar, fried and fatty foods are also common causes of acne. Chronic constipation is another cause of acne vulgaris. If the bowels do not move properly, the waste matter is not eliminated as quickly as it should be and the bloodstream becomes surcharged with toxic matter. The extra efforts of the skin to eliminate excess waste result in acne and other forms of skin diseases.

Devitalised condition of skin

Acne is also caused due to a devitalised condition of the skin which is a result of unhygienic living habits, excessive consumption of tea, coffee, alcohol or tobacco, and sedentary habits, which lead to indigestion and general debility.

Home remedies for Acne: Treatment and Medicine

Acne treatment using Vitamins

Two vitamins, namely, niacin and vitamin A have been used successfully to treat acne. Vitamin therapy should comprise the intake of 100 mg niacin, three times daily, and 50,000 international units of vitamin A, three times daily. Vitamin E, 400 mg, should be taken once daily. This therapy should be continued for a month.

Acne treatment using Zinc

Another effective remedy in the area of nutrition that seems to offer new promise of help for acne is zinc. It has shown dramatic results in some cases. Zinc should be taken in therapeutic doses of 50 mg three times a day. Zinc is available in tablet and in capsule form. In tablet form, it is available as Zinfet - 200 mg (Yash Pharma, Bombay ). The patient can take a quarter tablet so as to get 50 mg of zinc. In capsule form, zinc is available as Ulseal 220 mg (Tam Pharmaceuticals). One-fourth of the powder inside the capsule can be taken as a single dose. The patient can take a dose of 50 mg daily upto one month or till there is noticeable improvement and then reduce the dose to 25 mg.

Home remedy for Acne using Orange peel

Homemade Acne Treatment using Orange peel has been found very effective. Pound the orange peel with water on a piece stone and apply to acne affected areas.

Home remedies for Acne using Lemon

A simple remedy at home for acne: Lemon juice applied regulary has proved very beneficial in reducing pimples and acne.

Home Acne treatment using Garlic

Garlic has been used successfully to cure acne. Rub with raw garlic several times a day. Garlic is known to have cured the toughest of acne problem. The external use of garlic helps to clear the skin of spots, pimples and boils. Acne can further be cured by eating three seeds of raw garlic once daily for a month. This purifies the blood stream and ensures basic cleansing of blood keeping acne away.

Acne treatment using Coriander and Mint Juice

A teaspoon of coriander juice, mixed with a pinch of turmeric powder, is another effective home remedy for pimples and blackheads. The mixture should be applied to the face after thoroughly washing it every night before retiring. Mint juice can be used in a similar manner as coriander juice.

Acne treatment using Fenugreek

Fenugreek is another useful remedy for acne. A paste made of the leaves of this vegetable, applied over the face every night before going to bed and washed with warm water in the morning, prevents pimples and blackheads.

Acne treatment using Cucumber

Grated cucumber applied over the face, eyes, and neck for fifteen to twenty minutes has been found effective. It is the best tonic for the skin of the face. Its regular use prevents pimples and blackheads.

Acne diet

All-fruit Acne diet

To begin with, the patient should take only an 'all-fruit' diet for a week, taking three meals a day, of fresh juicy fruits, such as apples, pears, grapes, grapefruit, pineapples, and peaches. Only unsweetened lemon or plain water, either hot or cold, should be drunk and nothing else.

Well-balanced Acne diet

After the one-week, all-fruit diet, the patient can gradually adopt a well-balanced diet with emphasis on raw foods, especially fresh fruit and vegetables, sprouted seeds, raw nuts, and wholegrain cereals, particularly millet and brown rice. Further short periods of the 'all-fruit' diet for three days or so may be necessary at a monthly interval till the skin's condition improves.

Avoid strong tea/coffee, soft drinks and processed foods

Meats, sugar, strong tea or coffee, condiments, pickles, soft drinks, candies, ice cream, refined and processed foods should be avoided as far as possible.

Other Acne natural treatments

Warm-water enema

During the initial one week 'all-fruit' diet, a warm-water enema should be taken daily to cleanse the bowels. Hot fomentation should be applied locally to open up the pores and to bring out the waste matter. The affected parts should then be rinsed with cold water.

Exposure to sun and air baths

The patient should take sun and air

baths by exposing the whole body to the sun and air.

Hot Epsom salts bath

A hot Epsom salts bath twice a week is beneficial in all cases of acne. This bath is prepared by adding 1 ½ kg of Epsom salts to 60 litres of water having a temperature of about 37.8° C. The patient should remain in the bath tub for 25-35 minutes till he sweats freely. After the bath, the patient should cool off gradually.