Monday, January 26, 2009

Acne Herbal Remedies

By Richard May

In most cases where a person has begun to suffer from acne it is because the sebaceous glands (found at the end of their hair follicles) are producing too much oil. These increased oil levels in the skin can then cause the pores to become blocked and infected and so they start to notice spots forming. Most people will often seek out their doctor's advice on how to treat the problem and they will generally prescribe some form of anti-biotic medication. However, there are others who would prefer to use more natural and safe ways of treating their condition and luckily for them there are plenty of different herbal remedies for acne that they can select from.

Below we take a look at a few of the different herbal remedies a person may want to consider trying in order to treat their acne. However it is important that before they do they actually discuss their plans with their doctor first.

1. Aloe Vera - This is one of the most effective herbs for treating acne available today. This particular plant contains both astringent and anti-bacterial properties that can help to fight the bacteria, which is causing the acne. Also it also contains anti-inflammatory properties that can help to reduce the swelling (spots).

2. Calendula - This particular herb contains properties that can help to promote healing qualities in the tissue of a person's skin as well as containing anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Normally in order to treat acne the herb is made up into a cream, which can then be applied directly to the skin, or it can be infused in water and then used as a facial wash. Another way of allowing this particular herb to be absorbed by the skin is by placing it in hot water and then placing your face above the bowl and letting the steam rise up towards the skin.

3. Lavender - This like the herbs previously mentioned also contains anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties that can help to combat the affects that the acne bacteria is having on the person's skin. In order for this remedy to be effective it is best if the essential oil is mixed with water or carrier fluid and then applied directly to the area of skin that is affected.

4. Tea Tree Essential Oil - Of all the different kinds of herbal remedies that we mention in this article this is the most popular one. Just like all the rest of the remedies we have told you about this one contain anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and antiseptic properties. But as with all of the other remedies we have mentioned here this one is applied topically to the skin. But it needs to be mixed with either water or a carrier fluid else it can cause damage to a person's skin.

Along with the herbal remedies mentioned above for treating acne there are plenty of others that you may want to try. Such as walnut leaf that has astringent properties and is best used as face or skin wash. Then there is witch hazel that just like tea tree oil contains both anti-bacterial and astringent properties, which can help to fight the bacteria causing the acne.

However, it should be noted that all the herbal remedies for acne that we have discussed above work on treating the condition from the outside. In order to really ensure that the acne does not return you need to look closely at what is the underlying cause for the condition. In many cases it is a person's diet and their lifestyle habits that have resulted in the condition occurring in the first place. So making changes to what they eat and what they do can help to improve not only their skin condition but their health overall.

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