The Green Approach in Tackling Acne

They say that acne is only reserved for teenagers – but nowadays, this doesn’t seem to be the case.

In fact, acne seems to be a problem which is affecting more and more people. Some have suggested it is related to other diets but in truth, such an argument should be reserved for another day. All we need to say for now is that approximately 85% of people in the world will experience acne at some point in their life.

One thing that cannot be argued is that nobody is going to be happy when this condition affects them. To make matters more irritating, there’s not a one-fits-all treatment option. A lot of acne treatment involves a trial-and-error approach and suffice to say, this makes the whole experience really frustrating for all concerned.

Bearing this in mind, now might be the time to consider green options. Instead of paying premium treatment prices, here are some green solutions which have been known to work for many people who are suffering from acne.

 

Apple cider vinegar

Let’s start with one solution which seems to be popping up everywhere right now – and it’s not necessarily reserved for acne.

Apple cider vinegar almost sounds delicious, but from a medical point of view its power should not be underestimated. Like most vinegars out there, it is able to fight against various types of bacteria, whilst it also contains certain acids which have been found to stop acne in its tracks. If we were to hone in on a specific one, succinic acid is able to suppress the type of inflammation caused by acne which is naturally going to benefit you.

So, from an inflammation point of view apple cider vinegar can work like a charm, but there is more to this natural ingredient. It has also been found to dry up the infamous oil that is behind acne, meaning that it can prevent the issue before it gets out of hand. In other words, ACV can attack acne from multiple angles.

Of course, this is a relatively potent substance and you should look to dilute it prior to using. Mix one part of ACV with three parts of water and gently apply to clean skin. You should look to leave it for up to 20 seconds, before rinsing away.

 

Tea tree oil

If you’ve been looking into acne treatments for a while, this is one ingredient that you may have already stumbled across. Tea tree oil is contained within a lot of commercial products and it’s for good reason – it can reduce skin inflammation drastically as well as fighting bacteria.

It’s also worth considering that this ingredient does have studies behind it – with many showing that applying a 5% solution of tea tree oil will reduce acne.

If you have found that you struggle with dryness and perhaps burning in your skin after administering a topical treatment, tea tree oil could be a really worthwhile solution for you as it rarely comes with such side effects.

Just like the previous suggestion, you should look to dilute tea tree oil prior to using it. The general rule is to mix one part with nine parts of water, before using a piece of cotton to apply it to your face.

 

Green tea

One of the latest phenomenon’s to arrive in this regard is green tea. While this may have been known for its health benefits across other conditions, in terms of acne its use has been more recent.

It’s the recent-factor which means that in comparison to some of the other ingredients we’re covering, green tea doesn’t have quite as many studies associated with it. Instead, all we have to go off is scientific principles.

We know that it is something which contains a lot of antioxidants, meaning that it is automatically going to be beneficial to our general health. However, it’s the flavonoids and tannins within this ingredient which make it popular as an acne treatment – with both of these known to fight against inflammation and bacteria.

Not only this, but there is something within green tea which can theoretically reduce the amount of sebum you produce. This is the antioxidant EGCG – so it’s clear that there are plenty of avenues for green tea to help you. Let’s not forget that excessive sebum is the prime reason why we suffer from acne in the first place.

While a lot of products have been devised which contains green tea, the general advice is to adopt a DIY approach. The best way is to boil green tea as usual, wait for it to cool, before using a cotton piece to apply it to your skin. Make sure you rinse your face after it has dried.

 

Aloe vera

This next green ingredient shouldn’t come as a surprise again. After all, Aloe vera is something which has been included in skin products for decades now – it’s been proven to work.

In relation to acne, it would be fair to say that the results aren’t quite as obvious. In other words, the benefits might not be positive for everyone, but there is science which suggests that it can help you still.

In general, Aloe vera is turned to for burns, wounds or anything else which is prompting inflammation. It’s the I-word that certainly makes a difference here and as we’ve been talking about, this is crucial in tackling acne.

It’s not just its inflammation-battling qualities that can make Aloe Vera a winner though. This also contains salicylic acid and sulfur and if you were to analyze the ingredients list of a lot of acne treatments, you would find that both feature prominently. In fact, studies have shown that both are effective – so there is comprehensive scientific backing here.

While there are umpteen Aloe vera products available, the best solution is to opt for a DIY approach again. Obtain the gel from the plant with a spoon, before immediately applying to the skin as you would with any moisturizer. If you are looking to save time and purchase a commercial product, at least ensure that it doesn’t contain any additional ingredients.

 

Honey and cinnamon

This next suggestion might raise a few eyebrows. Firstly, this isn’t like the others in our guide, in the way that we’re suggesting you utilize honey and cinnamon to devise a face mask.

While both of these substances might seem like everyday ingredients, that are quite sweet if nothing else, the beauty about them is in the amount of antioxidants that they both contain. It has been found that if you apply antioxidants to your skin, the results from an acne-fighting perspective can be much more noticeable than if you were to use the common prescription options such as benzoyl peroxide. Considering the fact that honey and cinnamon contain antioxidants in abundance – this point is crucial.

Unfortunately, all of this is theoretical and no direct studies surrounding honey and cinnamon currently exist. Nevertheless, a lot of people have experienced success and logically speaking, it’s something that should work.

To make your own honey and cinnamon mask, mix a couple of tablespoons of honey with one teaspoon of cinnamon. Apply the resulting substance to your face and leave for up to fifteen minutes. After this period of time, simply rinse of the mask and dry your face.