Acne breakouts commonly occur on skin that is experiencing hormonal surges, such as during puberty, pregnancy or menstruation. While there are many acne-fighting products on the market that are designed to eliminate acne, they can often be extremely irritating to the skin, leaving behind redness, peeling, itching and even mild chemical burns. Luckily, acne can be cleared quickly by using a few natural treatments that will eliminate acne without damaging the skin.
Step 1
Deep-clean your pores using a purgative, non-comedogenic oil, like castor oil. Spread 1 tsp. of castor oil into your skin, and use your fingertips to massage the oil in deeply. After three to four minutes, fill a bowl with hot, nearly boiling water. Place the bowl on a flat surface, and lean 12 to 18 inches over the bowl. Cover your head with a towel to force the steam to envelope the skin. After five minutes, lift your head and wipe off the oil with a damp washcloth. Do this once per day.
Step 2
Scrub away pore-clogging dead skin cells and bacteria using mildly abrasive or acidic exfoliants, such as baking soda, honey, oats and lemon juice. In a bowl, combine 1 tbsp. of baking soda, 1 tsp. of honey, 1 tbsp. of raw ground oats and 2 tbsp. of lemon juice. Wet your face thoroughly, and spread the mixture onto your skin with your fingers. Massage in the mixture for one to two minutes, moving your fingers in small circles. Rinse off your skin with warm water. Do this once per day.
Step 3
Dry up and treat active acne breakouts using a tea tree oil mud mask. In a bowl, combine 2 tbsp. of French green clay, which is available at any health food store, with two drops of pure tea tree oil. Mix well. Spread the mud mask onto your face, covering the affected area well. Allow the mud mask to dry completely, which takes around five minutes. Rinse off the mask with warm water. Repeat up to three times per week.
Tips and Warnings
- Castor oil binds to the sebum and bacteria in your pores better than soap can, enabling them to drain out of the pores more easily. Lemon juice is high in vitamin C, which increases the skin's ability to slough away dead skin cells. Tea tree oil is as effective in killing acne-causing bacteria as benzoyl peroxide, but without the side effects that can happen from chemical acne products, such as redness or peeling.
Things You'll Need
- Castor oil
- Bowl
- Washcloth
- Towel
- Water
- Baking soda
- Honey
- Oats
- Lemon juice
- Tea tree oil
- French green clay
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