Acne is a skin disease that is characterized by clogged hair follicles. This disorder of the hair follicles is associated with sebaceous glands. Scientifically, it is referred to as acne vulgaris. Usually, acne appears in the face; however it can be developed in arms, chest, back and other parts of the body.
Acne is commonly developed at puberty. Around 85% of the world’s population develops acne between 12 to 25 years of age. The exact cause of acne is not known. It can be caused due to imbalance in the body’s hormones, skin proteins, skin secretions or due to infection by bacteria. Other factors that affect acne are environment, heredity, age, gender, diet, medications, stress and allergies.
Acne can be non-inflammatory or inflammatory. Non-inflammatory is a mild type in which whiteheads and blackheads are developed due to plugging of the skin pores. In inflammatory acne, bacterial infection of the whiteheads takes place resulting into pimples and pustules. In severe cases, inflammatory type causes deep pitting scars and cystic acne. Acne scars are resulted due to excessive formation or loss of skin tissue. Removal of acne scar is done either naturally or by following specific dermatological procedures such as microdermabrasion and laser therapy.
Diagnosis of acne is done based on the symptoms, medical history, physical examination and other tests. Blood test and test for allergies are conducted depending upon the overall health condition of the patient.
How to cure acne naturally?
Acne treatment is done either by following natural remedies or medications. In fact, acne control can be achieved effectively if diagnosed in its early stages. In general, mild acne is treated naturally with certain home remedies, whereas in severe cases, treatment is done by following medications such as antibiotics, hormonal medications, retinoids and other oral medications. Let’s discuss some of the natural remedies for acne that can help in curing acne without side effects.
- Studies have found out that consuming foods with low GI helps in reducing acne to about 50%. Low GI diets include green leafy vegetables, whole-grains, fruits, carrot and foods with high fiber content.
- Grind tender neem (Azadirachta indica) leaves and mix it with turmeric (you can use turmeric root paste). Apply this mixture on the affected areas. This remedy has been proven for effective treatment of acne in many people.
- One of the most popular and simple home remedies of acne is applying toothpaste on the affected areas before going to bed and washing it the next morning. Following this for about 15 days will cure acne without leaving scars.
- Aloe vera is commonly used for acne and skin care. Apply aloe vera gel on pimples and acne for successful treatment of acne. You can cut an aloe vera leaf lengthwise and remove the pulp from the center avoiding the yellow juice near the leaf surface.
- Take 3 tablespoons of honey and 1 spoon of cinnamon powder, mix them thoroughly and prepare a paste. Apply this paste on the acne-affected areas everyday before going to bed and wash in the morning, preferably with warm water. One can follow this for two weeks for effective treatment of acne. You can prepare this paste and keep in the refrigerator for further use.
- Another effective way of curing acne is applying a mixture of lemon juice and cinnamon powder in equal amounts. One can also use groundnut oil instead of cinnamon powder and apply it on the affected areas. Applying these mixtures regularly can cure acne. It is to be noted that these remedies are not for sensitive skin.
- Other common home remedies for curing acne are applying orange peel paste, lavender oil, lemon juice, mixture of lemon juice and rose water, mixture of mint juice and turmeric, garlic paste, ripe tomato pulp, grated potato and strawberry leaf paste.
- If somebody is worried about acne scars, then it can be treated by applying a mixture of cucumber and tomato juice. In addition, both cucumber and tomato help in tightening of the skin pores.
It is advisable to wash face with a neem-based soap twice a day and use warm water, if possible. One should remove cosmetics (if applied) at the end of the day and wash off the makeup as cosmetics containing oil base are harmful to skin. Don’t squeeze acne as it can worsen the situation; there are chances that while squeezing, bacteria and oil go deep into the skin, increasing the risk for cyst development.
Effectiveness of the remedies listed above depends upon the skin type and the severity of acne. There are certain acne skin care products available in the market. Drinking plenty of water, about 8 glasses daily can help in curing acne. One should always consult and seek advice from a dermatologist for proper guidance and prevention of acne.
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