A guide for people who dont know what to expect when searching for herbal cures to treat acne. Includes both oral and topical treatment overviews.
Acne is a pesky problem that affects over 80 percent of all teenagers. But more and more today, adults are being diagnosed with adult acne, with some studies claiming that as many as 50 percent of all adults over the age of 18 suffer from the condition. While there are literally hundreds of prescription and over-the-counter products that claim to be a remedy, millions every year still turn to alternative medicine as a way to treat the problem.
The most common alternative treatment for acne is herbal medicines and remedies. These are common and popular because natural medicine tends to have other, nourishing affects on the skin, whereas traditional medicine prescribed by a dermatologist can dry out skin and even lead to scarring in extreme situations. It is also easier and cheaper to obtain than a prescription medication.
One of the most common herbal acne treatments is tea tree oil. This oil is imported from Australia, and can be used for a variety of home remedies. Any product with tea tree oil will speed the healing of an acne pustule and makes for a nice aromatherapy treatment as well. Echinacea and goldenseal are other herbal products that can be combined or used separately from the tea tree oil. Because of the increased popularity of natural therapies, these are fairly easy to find at your local drugstore these days. But you can also make your own remedies if you don’t want to make a trip to your local drugstore. A simple paste made of equal parts chick pea flour and water will cleanse your skin and fight acne. If you want a moisturizing paste, use goat milk instead of the water. This is just one idea, and there are too many to list here! Though everything from tomatoes to lettuce can be used in some kind of home remedy, beware! If you are not used to making them on your own, then what you make may not be effective. If you are a novice at home remedies, its best to check your labels and use products containing any of these herbal cures.
Creams, ointments and pastes, while the most common, are surely not the only herbal acne treatments. There are also many pills that can be taken orally to naturally and effectively treat those flare-ups. Zinc pills or supplements will reduce the inflammation that results from acne. Either take a separate pill, or make sure your daily vitamin or mineral pills has at least 50 mg of zinc in it. Any supplement with the trace element of chromium will internally help you avoid some of the internal reactions that can cause you to break out. Vitamins A, E and B-6 serve not only to improve the overall health of your skin, but have some general antioxidant properties as well.
Many herbal medicine treatments may combine these two acne cures. There are a handful of boxed treatments that include both vitamins and creams or cleansers. These are by far the most effective, because they work internally as well as externally. The external treatments cure the breakout that has already occurred, while the herbal pill prevents you from having future breakouts. This type of treatment that starts from the inside is at the heart of several alternative and herbal practices, such as ayurveda and homeopathy. If the labels of any herbal product claim to be one of these two things, you are likely to getting everything you need to cure AND prevent your acne.
Herbal medicines and treatments are just the tip of the alternative iceberg. Some herbal practitioners claim that everything from diet, yoga, massage and aromatherapy can cure your acne woes. But in a fast-paced society where people find it hard to take time for dieting or exercise, herbal medicines, whether oral or topical are by far the fastest and easiest way to treat acne. Whether a short flare-up or a persistent problem, there is some type of herbal medicine cure for you.
By Melissa Martinez
