For those who struggle with adult acne, there are days when you simply feel out of control. It seems like no matter what you do, no matter which products you try, your skin constantly breaks out in lumps, bumps, and zits anyway. The age old misconception which says that teenagers are the only people who have to battle problem skin could not be further from the truth for some unlucky people.
Whilst it can be frustrating and upsetting to have to deal with regular acne outbreaks, there are literally hundreds of different techniques which can be used to soothe the symptoms. The best of these methods are the natural ones, because the skin on the face is very sensitive and will always respond more kindly to chemical free lotions, creams, toners, and spot treatments. Plus, you will be surprised at the diversity and range of household items which can be turned into effective spot busting solutions.
Yet, topical creams and ointments are not the only way to soothe problem skin – simple things like getting enough sleep, drinking plenty of water, and exercising regularly can make a huge difference to the overall health of the complexion. This handy guide to zapping the zits will show you how to treat acne naturally in 10 easy ways.
1. Apple Cider Vinegar Makes Great Toner
The standard formulations of apple cider vinegar, which can be found in any supermarket or food store, are made up of extremely acidic solutions. Whilst this might sound like a bad thing, this high level of acidity means that apple cider vinegar is great for eradicating dead skin cells and washing the toxins out of pores. In other words, it can be used as a natural type of skin toner. It is important to use this substance in sparing amounts, because the alcohol can cause skin to dry and flake. If you find that this does happen, simply dilute the solution until you find a strength which suits your complexion.
2. Honey Can Be Used As a Spot Treatment
You might not know this, but honey has inherently antibacterial properties. This is why it tends to get used in so many commercial face scrubs and cleansing solutions. It is wonderful at getting rid of spots fast, so if you do have a pimple or a zit that you need to get rid of quickly, just cover it with a small dab of regular supermarket honey. The best way to do this is to leave the honey on overnight, so stick a band aid over the top to keep it in place. You should wake in the morning to find that the zit has either vanished completely or shrunk significantly. If you do not have any honey to hand, a similar technique can be utilized with nothing more than regular toothpaste. The method is the same, so long as you do not use a gel based paste for this.
3. Drinking Plenty of Water Will Clear Your Skin
This might sound like an obvious piece of advice to some, but you would be surprised at the amount of people who complain about problem skin, but drink only a minimum amount of water during the day. There is simply nothing more nurturing for the complexion than plenty of fresh clean water. You can use all of the expensive toners and creams that you like, but if you are not properly hydrated, your skin will continue to be prone to acne breakouts. You should be drinking eight glasses of water every day, if you want to keep your complexion as spotless as possible – fruit juice does not count, because the water has to be fresh and pure.
4. Getting Enough Sleep Will Decrease Breakouts
In precisely the same way that staying hydrated is essential for healthy skin and will help you battle adult acne with much greater ease, getting enough sleep is similarly vital. In fact, dramatic changes to routine and lifestyle can provoke furious outbreaks, particularly if there has been a lot of stress or negative emotion associated with them. For example, if you are working too hard, feeling under a lot of pressure, are currently battling insomnia, or are experience a lot of stress, you will likely find that your outbreaks get worse. If you do have trouble sleeping, stay away from caffeinated drinks, take a hot bath or shower before bed, and remove any clutter from the room in which you sleep.
5. Brown Sugar Can Be Used To Make Skin Scrub
There is a good reason why so many exfoliating lotions and face creams contain brown sugar these days. This simple and easy to find ingredient works wonders for skin, because it has the ability to act as a natural scrub. In other words, it is gentle enough to treat skin kindly, but robust enough to clear out dirt and grime from open pores. Plus, it is easy to use too – all you have to do is hop in the shower, give your pores time to respond to the heart, and then delicately rub small amounts of brown sugar over the problem areas. If done correctly, this will remove dirt, dead skin, and oil from the complexion, so that skin appears softer and smoother.
6. Egg Yolk Will Prevent Pores From Clogging
Once again, this might sound like a strange piece of advice for dealing with adult acne, but there is reason to the ‘madness.’ The yolk of an egg contains a high level of nutrients (for example, Vitamin A) which can be used to benefit the complexion. In fact, egg yolks contain a lot of retinoids like Retin-A, which can be found in Vitamin A and is used in thousands of leading beauty brands. You only have to spend a little time paying attention to skin advertisements and you will find this out for yourself. The substance (Retin-A) is particularly good for tackling breakouts, because it supports the regulation of skin cell generation and decreases the likelihood of pores becoming blocked or clogged with grime.
7. You Can Freeze Dirt From Problem Pores
It is also possible to freeze annoying zits and spots, so that the redness and any fluid inside dissipates a little more quickly. This is easy to do – just fill a plastic sandwich sack with crushed ice, wrap it securely in a hand or tea towel, and then rest it firmly against the zit that you want to get rid of fast. It is going to feel strange and maybe even a little uncomfortable for a while, but once you have ‘treated’ the problem area for ten minutes, you should find that the zit is already starting to look visibly less noticeable. Now, you need to wash your skin with cold water and use a natural toner to draw out impurities and leave the complexion looking flawless.
8. Turmeric Reduces Redness and Inflammation
You can cut adult acne down to size by doing something as simple and as easy as adding more turmeric to your diet. This bright yellow Indian spice is extremely common and can be found in any supermarket or whole food store. It is usually used to add a warm and earthy flavor to curries and stews, but its antimicrobial properties are just as handy when it comes to reducing the redness and inflammation associated with acne breakouts. If nothing else, this is a great excuse to choose Indian food the next time that you order take out. For enthusiastic cooks, turmeric makes a useful addition to rice, egg, and stir fried dishes and recipes.
9. Cutting Back on Acne Meds Can Be Helpful
Whilst there are lots of reasons why a doctor might prescribe acne medication and why they might be so convinced of its effectiveness, for some people, the natural approach will always work best. If acne meds are helpful for you when it comes to regulating breakouts, keep using them and enjoy smooth and clear skin. However, if you feel like you have been putting your faith in acne medication which has not been having a dramatic enough impact, it could be worth at least trialing some of the natural approaches outlined above. It is important that you consult your doctor before you start or stop taking any kind of medication, be it for a skin problem or something else.
10. Decrease Touching to Avoid Grimy Pores
This last step is a very simple one, but there are plenty of acne sufferers who forget to follow it. The more that you touch your face, the easier it is for dirt and grime from the wider environment to make it into your pores and cause problems. Thus, one of the easiest ways to soothe the symptoms of acne is to try and resist unnecessary picking, poking, and touching. If you need something to do with your hands whilst in a lull at work, you can always pick up an executive stress toy. In fact, these often wonderfully silly toys can be a great way to condition yourself not to pick spots without you even knowing that it is happening.
Why do I suffer with adult acne?
For those with very oily skin, adult acne tends to be a persistent problem. This is because a surplus amount of oil is indicative of a dysfunctional sebaceous gland – by dysfunctional, it is understood that the gland is for some reason creating too much sebum.
For the most part, the sebaceous gland is a very useful part of the body, because it is designed to trap moisture and draw it into the skin so that the complexion does not dry out. If the gland is dysfunctional, however, the regions around the neck, chest, back, nose, and forehead can become extremely greasy and oily.
This, in turn, results in more blackheads, clogged pores, zits, redness, and unsightly blemishes and spots. As the pores become blocked with surplus oil, they form acne and breakouts occur. For people with overly oily complexions, even something as simple and ordinary as moisturizer can set off a chain reaction which imbalances the sebum levels even further.
The list of environmental causes for this kind of adult acne are numerous. They range from the use of birth control to smog and pollution, substandard makeup products, a lack of sleep, seasonal changes in temperature and humidity, genetic characteristics, and a deficit of regular exercise. It is because the list of possible causes is so long that the list of potential solutions can be similarly lengthy.
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Article written by Kaithlyn Mann