Whenever skin care is concerned, it’s always the best option to stick with natural cures since they’re less likely to have side effects. A variety of natural acne remedies and products are available in the market today and you may choose to consider these after discussing it with your dermatologist. Unguided use of medicines, even natural remedies, may end up worsening the ailment than treating it.

What is Acne?

Acne is a skin disorder that causes eruptions and inflammations of the skin. It is a principal occurrence during the adolescent/teenage years – or known as the Pimple Phase – which is endured by 90% of the teenage population. It is also commonly present in adults.

The Impact of Acne

Though not life threatening, acne can have adverse psychological effects on the young ones. During the teenage/adolescent years, being marked out by acne is very difficult to live with, especially if you’re conscious about your looks and worried about fitting in. Teenagers with acne suffer from low self esteem problems and depression, as well as a general lack of confidence. The high population of people with acne is the reason why more and more treatments are available in the market for this skin disorder.

Natural Acne Treatments That You Can Find in the Market

A word of caution before using natural skin care products: they often contain certain chemicals for preservation purposes and these may not be advisable if you’re pregnant or have special health considerations.

These natural products have shown remarkable success in curing acne:

Tea Tree Oil

This oil can be obtained from the Melaleuca alternifoliasis tree from Australia. It is very effective against acne because of its bacteria-fighting substance called Terpenes. Acne is caused by bacteria and the Terpenes kills them or weakens them enough so they can be destroyed by the protective antibodies. There are very little side effects for this natural acne treatment.

Aloe Vera

The watery gel from the Aloe Vera plant is a very effective cure against acne. This enzyme-rich gel has anti inflammatory and anti bacterial properties. This can also be taken internally and helps clean the digestive tract, which in turn can help clear up the skin.

Zinc

Zinc is taken in capsule form and it helps strengthen and repair the immune system.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A promotes healthy skin and is taken in capsule form. It has proven to be a natural acne remedy and cure.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E counters Acne. It’s a natural antioxidant and is beneficial for the skin. They come in soft gelatin capsules that contain Vitamin E, Soybean Oil, Glycerin, and Water.

Other Natural Acne Remedies to Consider

The most important thing to consider when you have acne is to drink at least 4 pints of water daily. Increasing your water intake is beneficial to your skin. Including fruits and vegetables in your diet can also bring a marked improvement in the quality of your complexion.

A mixture of tomato pulp – real tomatoes, not packaged tomatoes – honey and rose may be applied before bathing and keep for 20 minutes before washing off.

Before going to bed, apply a mixture of cream, glycerine and lemon juice to your face and again keep it on for some time before washing it off.

Regular Yoga exercises will also improve skin and overall health.

Nothing beats a natural cure, especially when it comes to skin care. Be sure to consult with your dermatologist before jumping into a treatment to avoid skin complications.

Acne can be kept under control, with the right treatment. But many people would ask “what is the best acne treatment for me?” There are many options available, including prescription creams and antibiotics, which target the various causes of acne. But even with the wide range of products and treatment, chronic breakouts may still be harder to treat.

Promising new acne treatments –  such as diode therapy, blue light therapy or combination treatments – may be and effective remedy for acne when combined with other traditional treatments.

Acne Remedies Target Causes

Each hair follicle is connected to sebaceous glands, which secrete an oily substance called sebum which lubricates the hair and skin. Sebum travels up along the hair shaft and then out the opening of your hair follicle onto the surface of your skin.

When the skin produces an excess amount of sebum and dead skin cells, the two can accumulate in the hair follicle and form as a soft plug. As the plug grows, the follicle wall ruptures, allowing more oil and skin cells to accumulate. This is the underlying cause of acne. Bacteria can trigger additional inflammation and infection resulting in the complications of acne.

Acne remedies usually work by reducing oil production, speeding up the growth of new skin cells and the removal of dead skin cells, or fighting bacterial infection. Some acne treatments, especially the combination therapies work by doing two or three of these.

Acne Laser Treatment and Light Therapy

Laser and light based therapies reach the deeper layers of the skin without harming the skin’s surface. Some laser systems are thought to damage the oil (sebaceous) glands, causing them to produce less oil. Other laser and light therapies target Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes), the bacterium that causes acne inflammation. These therapies also have the additional benefit of improving skin texture and lessen the appearance of scars, so they may be good acne solution for people with both active acne and acne scars.

The following laser and light therapies show promise in acne treatment, including:

• Blue Light Therapy: Exposing the skin to a low intensity blue light is said to destroy the P. acnes. This painless procedure is done through a series of sessions. P. acne multiplies at a rapid rate, however, so ongoing treatment is needed for the best results. Possible side effects of the blue light therapy include temporary redness and dryness in the treated areas.
• Pulsed Light and Heat Energy Therapy: Pulsed light and heat energy, when used together, is said to destroy P. acne and shrink the sebaceous glands, which decreases oil production. The FDA approved an acne therapy that combines pulses of green-yellow light and heat to treat mild to moderate acne, including inflammatory acne. Side effects of this therapy include temporary redness in the treated areas.
• Diode Laser Treatment: Diode lasers can destroy sebaceous glands in the dermis, the thick middle layer of the skin, without harming the outer layer of the skin. Laser treatments may be painful but the pain can be controlled with analgesics to the skin before any treatment for acne. Side effects of diode laser treatment include temporary redness and swelling of the treated areas.

What is still unknown is who would benefit the most from laser and light therapies, the effectiveness of these acne treatment options, and what the long-term risks and benefits would be. Furthermore, laser and light acne treatments can be expensive and may not be covered by your insurance company.