Holistic Acne Cures

As children move into adolescence, one of their major concerns is the onset of acne. Acne is a skin condition that is characterized by the appearance of red lesions on the skin (usually referred to as pimples). As the person ages, these lesions will tend to diminish in severity, although some people experience acne well into middle age. There are several ways to treat acne, ranging from medically to naturally. Choosing to treat acne holistically may be a good choice for people who are either allergic to some medication or wish to keep natural elements in their body.

Cleaning

• The best way to treat acne is to keep the area clean. You should wash the affected area at least twice per day with soap and warm water, but keep from scrubbing too hard as this will aggravate the acne. Make sure you shampoo regularly and keep long hair out of your face. Men should refrain from shaving the area and women should forgo the use of makeup, both of which can irritate the skin. Finally, do not pop or pick at the pimples as this can infect them and cause scarring.

Herbal Remedies

• If you are looking for an herbal remedy, you may want to try a 500 mg dose of black currant seed or evening primrose oil. Keep this up for at least 90 days or until your acne is gone. Also, Echinacea, calendula, tea tree oil and goldenseal may be effective in the treatment of acne. Oftentimes, Chinese herbalists will prescribe cnidium seed or honeysuckle flower for acne problems. Finally, if you have stress-related acne, you may want to drink a chamomile or lavender tea. These blends will help you relax, which may help the acne symptoms.

Vitamins

• Acne can also be helped with vitamins. About 30 to 50 mg of zinc per day will help heal the skin and may assist with reducing inflammation caused by pimples. Also, Vitamin E will act as an antioxidant and will help heal the skin. Finally, taking the Vitamin B group will help the cells in your body function normally. B-6 will help metabolize your hormones, which will keep them from building up and causing acne. Finally, the beta-carotene found in Vitamin A will help the skin by reducing sebum and keratin production, both of which are waxy substances and can add to the creation of pimples. Vitamin A, when taken in large doses, can cause headaches and muscle pain. See your doctor if you begin to experience these side effects.