Baking soda can do much more than make your cakes and cookies rise in the oven. You can also use it to brush your teeth, deodorize a smelly refrigerator and treat acne. While soap made with baking soda functions as an effective cleanser, you can also use baking soda as a mask or simple face wash to remove excess oil and help fight acne.
Identification: Baking Soda
In "Experiments in General Chemistry," Bobby Stanton, Lin Zhu and Charles Atwood define baking soda as sodium hydrogen carbonate, also called sodium bicarbonate, with a chemical formula of NaHC03. Baking soda is a naturally occurring compound that's most often used in household cleaners, especially by those who want a natural alternative to chemical-infused cleaners. They note that baking soda functions as a fire extinguisher, deodorizer and cleanser in addition to more common uses as an indigestion aid and tooth cleanser.
Acne Causes
To understand how baking soda soap can help treat acne, it helps to understand how acne forms. According to the American Academy of Dermatology's AcneNet website, when your skin produces too much of its natural oil---called sebum---the excess oil clogs pores, resulting in pimples, blackheads or whiteheads. They note that hormones are usually the cause of this excess oil production, which is why teens and pre-menopausal women are often affected.
Baking Soda Soap
Baking soda soap dissolves and removes dirt and oil from your skin. "Natural Beauty" author Laura DuPriest notes that baking soda can soften even hardened skin oils, making it ideal for an end-of-day treatment for acne-prone skin. The less dirt and oil left to clog your pores, the less your chances of seeing a pimple in your near future. While your nearest pharmacy may not stock baking soda soap, several brands are readily available online.
Baking Soda Face Wash
If you can't find a soap that includes baking soda as an ingredient, you can make a simple substitute yourself. In "Return to Beauty," author Narine Nikogosian suggests you blend ¼ cup warm water with 1 tsp. each of lemon juice and baking soda. Used in combination, the lemon juice and baking soda absorb and remove excess oil as well as close your pores. Apply the baking soda mixture to a sponge or damp washcloth, gently massage it onto your face and rinse.
Baking Soda Spot Treatment
DuPriest also notes that baking soda makes a useful spot treatment for problem areas like your chin, cheeks and nose. To clear clogged pores and zap blackheads, she recommends dissolving 1 tsp. of baking soda in 2 tsp. of water. Soak a piece of gauze in this solution, then hold the gauze over one of your skin's trouble spots for 10 minutes. Afterward, rinse your skin with water and gently pat it dry with a washcloth. The baking soda will dissolve oil, leaving your skin smoother and clearer.
