Some of the techniques in this rather long article are based on scientific research, some of the techniques are based on individual experiences and some are just ideas. Some of the treatments should be used in isolation, some of the treatments can be used together with other treatments. The techniques are outlined in no particular order.
Let’s get going…
1) Regularly consume apricot juice. It is a wonderful natural healer and has worked for many people.
2) Vitamin and nutritional supplements have been proven to work to eliminate acne. Vitamins A, C and E, plus Iron have been shown to work well to cure acne.
3) The optimal diet for preventing or improving acne breakouts is the Divide Your Plate In Four. Eat 1/4 protein, 1/4 whole grain complex carbohydrates, and 1/4 each of fruits and vegetables. I’ve written about this in more detail here
4) Avoid consuming too many oily, greasy and spicy foods.
5) Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables. Goes without saying, doesn’t it?
6) Include Aloe Vera juice in your diet.
7) Include high quantities of fibre in your diet to eliminate acne. Fibre helps to stimulate our waste disposal system and eliminate toxins which are a major cause of acne.
8) Caffeine, for some people, causes nasty acne breakouts. If you consume a lot of caffeine, try and cut it out.
9) If you consume a lot of milk or dairy products, then significantly cut down, or even completely eradicate them from your diet all together.
10) Seafood contains a high iodine content which has been shown to increase the chances of acne breakouts. Cut down your consumption of seafood.
11) Foods high in zinc have been shown to reduce the appearance of acne. Nuts, wholegrains and figs contain high quantities of zinc.
12) What acne elimination list would be complete without the age-old saying: “Eight glasses of water a day can keep acne away”.
13) Some people have experienced success by drinking Himilayan Goji Juice.
14) Almonds have been shown to reduce acne flare ups. Almonds contain an abundant supply of vitamin E and zinc which is an important mineral for reducing acne.
15) Oatmeal is another fantastic food for acne elimination. It contains zinc, vitamins A and E and a whole load of selenium. Consume oatmeal to get all the nutrients you need. Oatmeal is an ideal breakfast to get you going in the morning.
16) Broccoli is another fantastic acne buster. It contains vitamins A and E. For optimal effects, consume raw and fresh. Most leafy vegetables are good for skin.
17) The tropical fruit mango again contains healthy supplies of vitamins A and E. Consume blended as a smoothie or chopped up as a healthy snack.
18) Pumpkin seeds are loaded with zinc which is an excellent acne eliminator.
19) Whole grain bread contains vast quantities of fibre, which is essential for healthly living. It also contains high quantities of zinc and selenium which treat acne specifically.
20) Fish contains selenium and vitamin A as well as omega 3 fatty acids which is a highly important nutrient for skin.
21) Turkey is a fantastic low fat meat that is great for the skin.
22) Spinach is one of the dark, leafy greens (like broccoli) that contains a good dose of vitamins A and E, and also large quantities of zinc. Spinach can be served cooked or raw and has an endless amount of benefits for the skin, especially in eliminating acne.
23) Melon is another tropical fruit like mango that contains a large amount of vitamin A and can help to reduce or prevent flare ups of acne.
24) Red Raspberry, Black Cohosh, Marshmallow and Kelp can help to balance hormones and prevent acne breakouts, especially in women.
25) The herb Ginger helps to cleanse the kidneys and bowels, removes excess toxins from the body, and stimulates the circulatory system. This helps to reduce acne.
26) The herb Lobelia helps encourage the flow of oxygenized blood, which in turn helps remove obstructions, congestion and toxins. This again has a positive effect on acne.
27) Neem is one herbal remedy that is important for the maintenance of healthy skin and to decrease the appearance of wrinkles.
28) Burdock root helps balance hormones by cleansing the liver. It works well because it treats all the root problems of acne and eczema. It treats hormonal imbalance, poor digestion, inefficient liver function, overgrowth of candida or yeast, skin and intestinal bacteria, and overall toxicity. It even helps cleanse the blood and lymphatic system. (Extract from TransformYourBeauty.com)
29) Haemefine syrup is another herbal remedy that heals the skin by purifying the blood. It acts as a cure for eczema, pimples and acne. It also improves skin complexion and gives skin a natural glow.
30) Shudda Guggul capsules are another herb that is capable of purifying and rejuvenating the skin, and eliminating acne.
31) Kelp is an excellent herb to take for a variety of problems, especially acne, because it’s a potent source of many vitamins and minerals. It can help to restore the balance of vitamins and minerals in your body, which in turn will help clear up acne and other related health problems.
32) Drink herbal water. It is made by boiling hair of 1 corn, with 1 to 2 fenugreek seeds in a glass of water.
33) The first rule of acne elimination is to not pick, press, rub, squeeze or manipulate your pimples in any way. Doing so will simply aggravate them, increase the chances of spreading, and increasing the chances of scarring.
34) Washing the face helps, but don’t over cleanse. Over cleansing may lead to you irritating the sensitive skin.
35) Maintain a healthy, balanced diet with plenty of vitamins, minerals and fibre. Make sure you include plenty of zinc in your diet as this is a fantastic acne eliminator.
36) Use a mild soap and rub lightly with your fingertips and warm water at least twice a day.
37) Use a water based make-up.
38) Having a facial is not recommended. If you have acne, stay clear from facials.
39) Exposure to light also has proven to help in the fight against acne. Getting out in the sun is one of the best natural ways to cure acne.
40) Exercise regularly. Exercise helps in improving blood circulation and helps to eliminate toxins.
41) Keep your stress levels as low as possible. Stress worsens acne flare-ups and your overall skin condition. There many natural methods to reduce stress, such as regular exercise, relaxation techniques and herbal remedies.
42) Going on any cleansing or detoxifying diet will help clear up acne, but remember it can sometimes get worse before it gets better, because your body starts pushing toxins out faster once you start a cleanse.
43) Change your pillow sheets as often as possible. The bacteria gets on the pillow sheet and spreads when in cntact with your face, causing more acne breakouts.
44) Adequate sleep is an essential requirement for health, and especially for healthy skin. Get your full quota of rest each night to reduce acne breakouts.
45) Try to use an over the counter product at least once or twice a day. The product ideally should contain benzoyl peroxide. It helps to unclog the pore and forms an acne blemish. If you can’t get a product that contains benzoyl peroxide, then try a product with sulfur or resorcinol which unplug oil glands by irritating the skin.
46) Stay clear of iodine which can be found in many vitamins and iodized salt.
47) Antibiotics have been useful for some people when curing acne. Unfortunately, your body eventually becomes immune and the antibiotics become useless. Antibiotics also have some mild side effects. Doctors often prescribe antibiotics for acne patients.
48) For some people, acne is closely related to increased hormone levels. Some women suffer from acne at the same time each month during their menstrual cycle. Doctors sometimes prescribe birth control pills to balance the hormone levels and help to prevent the nasty breakouts of acne.
49) Honey has been used as a natural treatment for acne for many years. It has a natural antimicrobial action to help eliminate acne. Apply the honey on the skin as a mask for 10 minutes everyday.
50) One recent natural acne elimination method has been to apply toothpaste to the affected area. It works for some, it doesn’t work for many, but you could give it a go.
51) Regularly apply an ice pack to the affected area. It helps to reduce the swelling and redness and shrink the inflammation.
52) Press and hold a wet tea bag or a cotton bud with a dab of lemon juice on the affected area to reduce redness and swelling.
53) Slice a raw potatoe and rub it on the affected area. The vitamins reduce the redness and breaks down the bacteria causing the acne.
54) Apply cotton balls soaked in vinegar to the skin and then apply strawberry leaves to the pimples.
55) Apply a combination of egg white and lemon juice to the affected area and leave it on overnight.
56) Slit the pimple open and apply cotton balls soaked in salt water.
57) Apply mashed bananas blended with one tablespoon of honey and two tablespoons of sour cream.
58) Cornmeal and oatmeal pastes in water have also shown to improve the appearance of acne.
59) Apply natural oils such as lavender oil, coconut oil, tea tree oil and jojoba oil to reduce acne.
60) Almond oil is a home acne remedy that has worked for many. Grind an almond with water and apply over the face daily.
61) Apply Bengal Gram Powder mixed with curds to the face. Green Gram powder mixed in water is an excellent face wash in place of soap.
62) A good herbal face wash option is Chickweed tea. Dissolve chickweed capsules in warm water, bathe the face with it and rinse. Chickweed is also an excellent solution to use as a bath soak for other sores, rashes, boils and burns.
63) A paste of fresh Fenugreek leaves applied over the face every night and washed with warm water can rpevent blackheads, whiteheads, dryness, wrinkles and most importantly, pimples.
64) Try applying yeast and tee tree oil to the affected area. The yeast causes the dirt to rise to the surface of the skin and the tee tree oil acts as a natural antiseptic. It’s a good temporary solution to reducing the appearance of pimples.
65) To ease the removal of blackheads from your face, massage a small amount of jojoba oil into your skin before treating yourself to a facial sauna. The jojoba oil helps to soften the debris and hardened sebum, or oil, that clog up the pores. (Extract from TransformYourBeauty.com)
66) Bentonite clay works wonders for drawing impurities out of your clogged pores. It nourishes the skin with calcium and other minerals while it cleanses. It is inexpensive and you can use it as a whole body spa treatment in the comfort of your bathtub. (Extract from TransformYourBeauty.com)
67) Squeeze half a lemon into a glass of warm water and use to cleanse your face.
68) Apply crushed marigold leaves onto the acne affected area.
69) Boil a few plumbs, mash them to get 8 teaspoons of pulp, add a teaspoon of almond oil and apply on the face.
70) Make a paste of turmeric powder and apply evenly on the acne affected area.
71) Mix together neem leaves paste, a half teaspoon of turmeric powder, sandalwood paste and gram flour. Apply on the affected area and let it dry before rinsing off.
72) Grab a copy of Chris Gibson’s Acne Free in 3 Days guide. It’s worked for many, it might just work for you!
Phew, that’s a lot of methods of acne elimination. I’m not suggessting you try them all at once, but give some of them a go and see if they work for you!
If you have any other methods, herbs or recipes that have worked for you, then please leave a comment below with your suggestions.
