Home Remedies to Cure Acne - Myths and Tips

People have been using home remedies to cure acne for many, many years. A whole host of different natural ingredients have been used herbs, fruit extract and even urine! There are also many myths about the causes of acne and how to treat it. Here we have gathered together some of the popular home remedies that have been shown to help treat acne and also debunk some of the myths surrounding this painful and embarrassing condition.

Acne Myths

No 1 – eating chocolate causes acne.

There is no evidence that chocolate is a cause of acne or that it makes the condition worse. In fact studies have shown that there is no correlation at all between eating chocolate and outbreaks of acne. So you can go ahead and eat chocolate, in moderation of course, without affecting your acne.

No 2 – eating greasy foods causes acne

Although eating greasy foods is not good for you and should be kept to a minimum they will not make your acne worse. The fat in greasy foods is not going to cause your sebaceous glands to produce more sebum.

Myth no 3 – dirt is a cause of acne.

Acne is caused by fluctuating hormones which cause the sebaceous glands to produce more sebum. Vigorous washing and scrubbing to remove dirt will lead to more irritation of the skin and make the condition worse.

Myth no 4 – acne should be left alone until you 'grow out of it'

In most cases the acne will clear up as hormone levels stabilise in the early twenties. Occasionally it lasts into the thirties or even longer. Leaving acne untreated can cause enormous distress and pain and lead to permanent scarring.

Myth no 5 – stress is a cause of acne

There is no evidence at all that stress causes acne. It can however make an existing condition worse. Some medications prescribed for the relief of stress can also make the condition worse.

Home remedies to Cure Acne

Here are some remedies to try at home using natural ingredients that can have a beneficial effect on the condition and help to improve the appearance of the skin.

1. Mix together 1 teaspoon of lemon juice with 1 teaspoon of cinnamon powder and apply. Note - not suitable for sensitive skin.
2. Rub a fresh clove of garlic on the pimples.
3. Smooth fresh mint juice on the face at night. This is also good to treat other skin infection such as eczema and scabies.
4. Grind some fenugreek leaves mix into a paste with water and apply to the face every day. Leave on for about 20 minutes before washing off with warm water.
5. Mix honey and cinnamon powder with a little water to make a paste. Apply in the evening and wash off the next morning.
6. Mix and 1 tablespoon of groundnut oil and 1 tablespoon of fresh lime juice and apply to the face to prevent pimples from forming.
7. Mix ground nutmeg with milk and apply to the affected areas. Leave for two hours.
8. Blend the pulp, seeds and skin of raw papaya and apply to the affected area.
9. Grate some raw potato and spread on the skin. This is good for pimples, boils, blackheads etc.
10. Make a paste of turmeric powder with mint juice and use on affected areas. Leave on for about 20 mins.
11. Grind some Neem leaves and mix with turmeric powder and a little water to make a paste. Apply to the affected area and washed off after about 20 mins.
12. Wash the face with fresh lime juice in boiled milk.
13. Apply mashed ripe tomatoes to the face. Leave for about an hour before washing off.
14. Make a paste of ground sesame seeds and water. This will reduce skin inflammation.
15. Mix together equal parts of lime juice and rosewater. Apply to the face and leave for about 30 mins.

Using these home remedies to cure acne you should soon have a healthier skin! You can also find more help for acne by visiting acne home remedies.