Making Decisions About Home Care

2 Acne Remedies You Can Try At Home

by Mae Ferguson

Having acne can make you feel self-conscious and unattractive. Additionally, the bumps and cysts that often present with acne can be painful to the touch.

Many people suffer from acne during periods of hormonal change, such as puberty. However, acne can be controlled. Here are a few acne remedies you can use at home to help clear your breakouts:

Bentonite Clay

Bentonite clay can be used as a mask or a spot treatment to help get rid of acne. The clay, which is a fine powder, can be mixed with water or a bit of apple cider vinegar to form a paste that can be applied directly to the skin. If your skin is a bit sensitive, water may be your best option, since it is more gentle than the vinegar. 

After applying the moistened clay to your skin, you should allow it to dry before rinsing it away with water. For best results, allow the mask or spot treatments to remain in place overnight. The clay absorbs the excess oil, discourages bacterial growth and helps soothe the skin.

Cleansing with Castor Oil

Although using oil to cleanse your face may seem counterproductive if you have acne, certain oils can actually help eliminate a breakout. Castor oil, which is the thick sticky oil you may have been forced to ingest as child, has antimicrobial properties and is quite soothing to the skin.

To use the oil as a face cleanser, rub the liquid all over your face using a gentle circular motion. Next, dampen a washcloth or hand towel with hot water. Be sure that the water is hot but not so hot that it could burn your face. Cover your face with the damp cloth for about half a minute and then wipe the oil away. Repeatedly rinse the cloth with hot water and use it to wipe your face until there is no oily residue remaining.

The steam from the damp cloth helps open the pores so that the castor oil can help kill acne-causing bacteria and dissolve the excess oil that may be causing your breakouts.

If you are suffering regularly from breakouts, it is still best to have your skin evaluated by a dermatologist. He or she can review the state of your skin and prescribe effective products to help clear your acne. If you are having difficulty controlling your acne, schedule an appointment with a dermatologist in your area as soon as possible for acne treatment.

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