People keep commenting on how nice my skin has looked lately, so I decided I would share my “secret.”
I don’t know if it was the stress of class and work, but when I started college I developed acne. It was usually mild, but on occasion, I would get the deep, cystic kind, which was painful and impossible to deal with. Years later I ended up being prescribed two medicated skin ointments, Differen and Aczone. One was a retinoid, which was to dry up the acne and the other was a topical antibiotic. I was always opposed to taking medications, and even read that these types of ointments could cause skin cancer.
So a year into the treatment, I tried everything in hopes to discover a natural treatment which actually worked. I know many people struggle with acne and I hope my solution works for you.
1. Tea tree essential oil based natural soap
Most soaps and shampoos have sulfates and other chemicals which can be very strong and damage your skin’s natural balance. So, I use an organic castile soap which is all natural and contains only oils, water, and natural additives.
Dr. Bronner’s tea tree liquid soap is my favorite. The ingredients include:
Water, Organic Coconut Oil*, Potassium Hydroxide**, Organic Olive Oil*, Tea Tree Extract, Organic Hemp Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Citric Acid, Tocopherol
The potassium hydroxide is used to saponify the soap, and none remains after the process has completed. Citric acid is derived from citrus fruits and acts as a preservative and tocopherol is an organic compound with vitamin E activity.
I use the soap on my hair and body and let sit for a while before washing off. The tea tree oil soap is also good for dermatitis and dandruff. The soap acts as an antiseptic which makes it great for acne.
My personal favorite tea-tree based soap:
Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps Pure-Castile Soap, 18-in-1 Hemp Tea Tree, 32-Ounce
2. Spot treatment and toner
Once or twice a day I apply an apple cider vinegar/tea tree essential oil mixture on to my face and problem areas.
Get my recipe here and read about tea tree oil dilution ratios here.
I have strong skin, so I just apply the vinegar and tea tree oil to a cotton ball, and then apply to my face. If you are a woman or have sensitive skin you should start with a dilution to test your skin for sensitivity. Also just apply to the problem areas. Avoid sensitive areas around the eyes.
Ingredients for treatment/toner:
Bragg’s Organic Apple Cider Vinegar
3. Don’t touch your face…ever! But, if you must…
The biggest challenge for acne sufferers is trying to avoid touching their face, but if you follow the above steps and don’t touch your face, you will see great improvements.
When you use your fingers to touch your acne you just irritate and inflame the infection. Acne is bacterial, so when you put your dirty fingers on the zit you do two things:
- Introduce new bacteria from your hands into the pore
- Spread the current bacteria deeper into the skin and into surround area
Furthermore, when you pop a zit you:
- Rupture the dermal layer and create a scab
- Rupture the oil sac inside the skin
- Inflame the surrounding skin,
- Prolong healing time and
- Develop acne scars
If you have a blackhead or whitehead which is on the surface of the skin and easily extractable, don’t use your fingers to pop it but instead use a stainless steel comedone/blemish extractor. These tools apply pressure to the surrounding area much better and reduce inflammation and chance for infection. Be sure to wash your face and sterilize the tool before use. It is amazing the differnce a comedone extractor makes on a post-extracted zit. One is visibly red and inflammed around the area where you were pinching vs. one extracted with a tool, which has no surrounding inflammation.
Watch this video to see a comedone extractor in action (WARNING: not for the faint of heart-this is very gross stuff!):
You can buy one very cheap ($4) on Amazon: http://amzn.to/17bSZ5v
4. Treat inflammation with Lavender Essential Oil
If you just got done with a extracting your blackheads and whiteheads and are left all red and swollen, apply some lavender oil to the inflamed areas. Lavender oil will help reduce the inflammation and redness in minutes. It also helps reduce infection, scarring, recovery time, and tenderness. So many bonuses!
Be sure to dilute the lavender if you have sensitive skin.
Get it on Amazon (free shipping with prime): http://amzn.to/12kwmF9
In Conclusion
I realize there are many ways to treat acne using essential oils, but this is the one that works for me! Please share your stories and let me know if you have any success with this treatment system. It feels great to be acne free, so give it a try!
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