To eradicate zits, have you ever tried lemon juice out of the fridge? Old-timers knew how to treat acne with natural medicines before the skin care industry boomed. Now acne creams, acne jells, and acne medications line the shelves and money can be wasted finding the right product to do the job.
Used wisely, inexpensive household products may help with less serious cases of acne. Lemon juice can be used as a blackhead treatment, according to Joey Green, author of Kitchen Cures. Apply a dab on blackheads when you go to bed. The next morning wash the juice off with cool water. During the day you can dab the blemish a few times. “You should see real improvement in several days,” he says.
Shoe Polish Dries Up Pimples
The suggestion to dab a pimple with Kiwi White Liquid Shoe Polish would make you laugh if the problem was not so depressing. The problem is your clogged pores, your true enemy; they are deep under layers of dead skin and cannot be scrubbed away with soap and water. But you can draw out the bacteria clogging the pores.
“The pipe clay and zinc oxide in the shoe polish dries the pimples and brings them to a head,” says Green. The author also advocates using Preparation H to shrink pimples, or dabbing them with Philips’ Milk of Magnesia to reduce redness and speed up healing. The message board for acne sufferers at www.skincare.org indicates mixed results from using Preparation H but users were more favorable than not. Most consider it a short-term solution and not a cure all for severe acne.
Honey Kills Bacteria
Put a dab of Sue Bee Honey on your pimple overnight. Cover the spot with a band-aid to keep from getting your pillow or bed sheets gooey, suggest Green. Honey kills bacteria and brings the pimple to the surface. Native New Zealanders have used honey for centuries for its medicinal properties.
Derma Sciences, Inc. manufactures and distributes a wound dressing for burn centers made of honey derived from the Manuka Bush in New Zealand. The active ingredient in the dressing is leptospermum honey. Its antibacterial effect comes from “the production of hydrogen peroxide when bees add a certain enzyme to the nectar when they are collecting it,” explains Derma Sciences, Inc.
Cleanse Skin Naturally
After a pimple is brought to a head it is important not to pick and squeeze it. Clean the blemish with a splash of witch hazel or white vinegar or Listerine. These household products are astringents and drying agents. A facial mask will smooth the skin and reducing the swelling of blemishes. An oatmeal mask at least once or twice a week is suggested at www.AcneTeam.com where research about acne issues is found. Their formula is to “cook oatmeal, and while it is still warm (not scalding hot) apply it to your entire face. Allow the oatmeal to dry, then wash it away. You can also use dried oatmeal, dampened - but not cooked - with warm water as a facial scrub to exfoliate the skin and clean the pores.”
Baking Soda Smoothes Skin
Skin care consultants stress the importance of cleansing your face properly and keeping your skin moisturized. That is the first defense against acne. Commercial skin care products can range from $6.99 to $159.00. A box of baking soda costs about $1.59, or less. A pinch of baking soda removes dead skin cells and leaves your face smooth and glowing. Instructions from Jill’s Secret Solutions at the ARM & HAMMER website are to “Make a paste of 3 parts ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda to 1 part water. Rub in a gentle circular motion to exfoliate the skin. Rinse clean.” They say their baking soda recipe is “gentle enough for daily use.”
Warning: Know Your Enemy
Acne is a stubborn enemy. Acne develops in and around hair follicles where oil-producing glands called sebaceous glands can cause problems, according to the National Skin Centre in Singapore. The oil produced by sebaceous glands is called sebum. Some people’s oil glands produce more sebum than others. When oil glands become clogged it leads to blackheads and whiteheads. Not all acne is the same as there are many different types.
Natural remedies may not be effective. Stop use of any product that causes a rash, redness or itching. A dermatologist should be consulted for appropriate acne treatments for stubborn and severe cases.
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