The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Sandalwood and Rose Water
Posted by Jackie (Miami, Florida, US) on 03/07/2009
★★★★★
Sandalwood, Rose Water and Warm Water: I have very oily skin and big pores which leads to blackheads. My mom told me about this remedy. Take a spoon of sandalwood powder, add a little rose water to it, making it pasty and apply it to your face. Once the mask dries up, wash it with warm water. Do this once a week. Each day, get a small clean white towel, soak it with warm water and place the towel on your face. This will soften both the skin and the material blocking the pores. Wipe gently. This has help brighten my face and my pores look smaller. I also make sure to change my pillow case often (using cotton pillow cases) and I keep my hair away from my face to prevent them from coming back. I hope this can help everyone else as it did for me. Good luck!
Carrot Juice
Posted by Sarah (LA, CA) on 01/08/2009
★★★★★
I had tried everything as a teenager to get rid of acne and finally took accutane for a couple months and it totally worked and changed my life. I have since been trying to find a natural alternative to recommend to friends. Recently my facialist told me that her great grandmother in Finland or something had a cure that worked (probably for the same reason that accutane- a very strong form of vitamin A- worked). The remedy is this: Eat and drink nothing but fresh carrot juice for 3 straight days... acne will be GONE. wondering if anyone has heard of this before?
Also- this is just cosmetic... but have always used hydrocortisone and Visine to dab on a freshly-picked zit. the Visine constricts blood vessels to take away redness and the hydrocortisone cream dramatically decreases swelling almost immediately.
Turmeric
Posted by Njay (Fargo, ND) on 10/17/2008
★★★☆☆WORKED TEMPORARILY
I'm 40 years old woman. I have been having this pimples all the time on my chin about 10 years.(never had adolescent skin problem) sometimes a littel better some times a little worse, you know. But this time it was so painful that I couldn't even open my mouth and it had no sign to go away even after my period started which was usually the case before. Then while I was shearching for the "answer" I found this site. I have been having turmeric as the way I learned form this site, but divide by 4, so a little less than a teaspoon every 5 hour or so.(why take the risk while you are sleep, right?) To cure this things the taste doesn't matter a bit for me. At first I misread the direction and had one Table Spoon after the meal two times and changed to right dosage but it started to work only after a day. Painful swell was gone just after a day! You could literally see it was going down! I was amazed because I have been doing just about everything and was about to succumb to depression. After 3days or so my boil become just a.. well... pimple and disappointingly enough other small ones still coming up but it was not that painful and healed faster so I had gone on with great hope. it's been a week and a two days.
And.... this morning I was dismayed to find two potent pimples popped up around mouth over the night. Ok, I have been drinking coffee as usual which is less than 1 cup a day and didn't eat anything unusally greasy food or anything yesterday or the day before. I had 2 whisky before I went to bed last night but it couldn't have ruined everything just like that could it? Now, you might say it's just two pimples and I make such a big deal out of it but I mean, these people are saying turmeric cured their cyst and MRSA and they are problem free years since they found it, but it won't cure my stupid pimples? I'm from Korea and turmeric is known herbal medecine there too(though not so famous for healing boils)and this site is saying after a while problem might be getting worse before it gets better again because it's part of the healing process to build a harmony of the body or whatever but you see, it's my face! I can't afford to wait and see if my body's going to work it out itself as my face start to have all this ugly scars and painful boils, right? What they suggest is, against the advice of some poeple here, to lower the dosage instead of raising it. What do you think? If I stop now wouldn't it all go berserk? I am confused and hurt. It was working so well and what happend? :( Please anybody, any suggestion?
Baking Soda
Posted by Ange (Clarkston, WA) on 10/09/2008
★★★★★
The first time I tried baking soda on my face, I could see a visible difference in a couple hours. It took a lot of redness away and made the zits shrink. I'm really bad about picking at my face, and if I have one of those zits that doesn't want to pop, I'll squeeze it until it gets much bigger and redder...so this is a much better option. Not only that, but I had little bumpiness on parts of my face and those have gone down and in some cases disappeared. I've only been using it for about 4 days, and it's done better than anything I've ever used, including prescription medication.
All my zits are gone except the few that I had picked at pretty bad and those get smaller and less red every time I apply it. The first day I started using it, it also pulled the bacteria out of a lot of zits and made them form white heads right away so I could pop them and be done with it.
This is how to use it:
Mix one part baking soda to two parts water- I used 1 tsp to 2 tsp. and that'll last you at least a few days. Apply it like a toner- on days that I am able to not go anywhere, I've been applying it every few hours and have been avoiding wearing makeup to help my skin detox. If you can do that on the weekend or something, that will help speed the process. But if you have to go to work or school, apply it in the morning after you wash your face. Leave it on for 10-20 minutes, and then I put face lotion right on top of it. Make sure you use a non-greasy face lotion, like Eucerin or the generic version of it. Apply it again at night after washing your face. It'll dry your skin out a smidge (really not bad though, nothing compared to how much Salycilic acid dries your skin out) so only put it on trouble areas, not your whole face.
Also, avoid your eyebrows and if you have dark skin, you may want to start with once a day and see the results because it may have a slight skin lightening effect.
Evening Primrose Oil
Posted by Randahl (San Jose, California) on 08/17/2008
★★★★★
This remedy, unfortunately, only applies to women with acne problems--however, it worked REALLY well for me. About one year ago I suddenly got a moderate case of acne, and nothing I did would get rid of it. Putting ACV on my face and drinking it kind of worked in keeping breakouts small, but didn't prevent them from appearing.
One of my friends had been in a similar situation a while before and recommended that I try Evening Primrose Oil. I did some research on it and lo and behold, it has anti-inflammatory and hormone-regulating qualities. I started taking one 500 mg pill 3 times a day, and it helped ENORMOUSLY.
I also would like to mention that being on a birth control pill like Yasmin or Yaz, combined with Evening Primrose oil, got rid of ALL acne. I mean absolutely every little bit. While on BC, I only took EPO twice a day, but once I went off of it, I went back up to 3x a day and my acne is still very under control.
Hope this helps!
Probiotics
Posted by Yvonne Vefik (Rocklin, CA) on 07/19/2008
★★★★★
After 10 years of suffering from food allergies.. and many prayers to God, I discovered Acidolphilus quite by accident. I broke out in large boil like bumps all over my face when ever I ate any dairy products. Milk, ice cream,cheese and yogart was elimnated from my diet. I constantly had antibiotic prescriptions from doctors for whenever I broke out.I was looking for an allergy cure and started taking acidolphilus. It cured my food allergies and now I enjoy ice cream and milk again! It took about 30 days to completely clear my face and then I kept taking it for a year. And it's cheap! You can buy it at Walmart. What I discovered after doing research is that when you take too many antibiotics, it kills all of your bad and GOOD BACTERIA. SO the acidolphilus restored my good bacteria to fight infections!!! HOPE THIS HELPS EVERYONE! Oh! I sugggested this to my young teenager daughter-in-law who had pimples and she said her face cleared up right away and now she is also using it regularly!! MAY GOD BLESS ALL WHO READ THIS!
Zinc
Posted by Joyce (Joelton, Tn) on 07/02/2008 489 posts
For all of those with acne - sometimes a zinc supplement will make acne better - a clue that you might need some zinc is white spots on your fingernails.
Essential Oils
Posted by Elisabeth (Sommerset, Colorado) on 05/17/2008
★★★★★
Lavender, tea tree and rosemary essential oils: I had mild cases of acne as a teenager but as an adult nearing 35, I broke out into terrible cystic acne all of the sudden. I tried everything but accutane, nothing would get rid of it and some things made it worse (like retin-a). A friend finally suggested this remedy and I was completely clear within two weeks-no kidding. The recipe is two to three drops each of Lavender, tea tree and rosemary essential oils in a small spray bottle of distilled water(such as a trial size hairspray bottle. Be sure to wash it out well first). Shake it up each time you use it. Spray it on a clean, dry face every morning and night. Let it air dry on your face. Keep the oils and the spray bottle in a cool dark place like a drawer or medicine cabinet, away from light and heat or the oils won't stay "true" for very long. I have been doing this for over ten years- I have added other oils as I have gotten older that are good for aging skin, like frankinsense and geranium-but I look fresh and young still and my skin is like a babie's soft pink bottom. This was my little miracle and there are absolutely no side effects from this. My family all use this remedy, I have given it to our teenage daughters and thier girlfriends who have breakouts and everyone is amazed at how such simplicity works such wonders! This is also great for anyone at any age who just wants to have softer and much more radiant skin.
Aspirin Mask
Posted by K (Princeton, New Jersey) on 02/04/2008
★★★★★
Aspirin and Honey mask is slowly curing my skin!
I've always had lousy facial skin. Being of South Asian descent, in addition to acne and the scars left over from teenage pimples and acne, I've also had one huge dark circle around my mouth. I've been trying to lighten this for years with lemon juice, over the counter skin lightening creams, you name it to no avail. I generally just ended up wearing heavy makeup around that area (you can imagine how disgusting that looks, it looked worse without it!)
Fast forward to just yesterday (Sun, Feb 3rd '08). I'd been suffering from some adult acne on my cheeks and decided to try something I had been very wary of - an aspirin face mask. Yes, thats right, aspirin. I took 5 aspirin, crushed them, mixed them with about 1/2 a spoon of honey, applied it to my face (like a mask) for 15 minutes and washed it off.
WOW! The results were PHENOMENAL. I truly wish I had taken some before and after pictures for this site because the pimples had reduced by HALF THEIR SIZE. HALF! On top of that, that ever persistent dark circle had ACTUALLY lightened. On top of that, my skin was literally glowing! I STILL can't believe it. Today I had to wear hardly any make up at all. Guys, this remedy truly works for me, and I highly suggest everyone give it a shot at least once - if not for acne, then for GLOWING and BEAUTIFULLY SOFT SKIN.
Some Notes:
1. Try to buy uncoated or lightly coated aspirin.
2. Once crushed, it will be very grainy, don't worry about this. If you like, you can sprinkle a few drops of water on the pills beforehand, let it sit and then add the honey. You won't need to crush them and look like a drug addict in the process.
3. Play around with the number of aspirin you use. 5 may be too much for people with sensitive skin.
4. Aspirin dries out your skin, so use PLENTY of moisturizer after and don't plan on doing this more than once a week if your skin is dry to begin with. (I'll be doing it about 3x a week)
5. I used witch hazel as a toner after I washed the mask off. Feel free to use ACV or tomato juice *thanks Earthclinic =)*
Please try this mask and let me know what you think!
Fungus Remedies
Posted by FT (Ridgewood, NJ) on 04/17/2008
Comment to Robert: THANK YOU for posting about your "adult acne!" Beginning at 11 years old I got pilonidal cysts at the base of my spine (tailbone) which I suffered with all through my school years. The inflammation, swelling and pain was excruciating. I rode a schoolbus to school and it was pure torture. I didn't want to tell anyone I was suffering with this condition as I was embarrassed as a child. When I went off to college I finally was seen by a doctor who operated and removed the cyst. I haven't had another since in that location but beginning shortly thereafter, I started getting cysts in my armpits. These cysts, which I still get, sound exactly like your "adult acne" condition. One doctor wanted to remove all of my sweat glands under my arms. Another just used to cut them open and let them drain, only to return again after healing. In the past 10 years I have developed Lichen Simplex Chronicus in my groin area which also "flares up" frequently and is accompanied by a painful cyst in the area. And last year I developed athlete's foot accompanied by toenail fungus of my right big toe. I AM FALLING APART! I have never, ever had athlete's foot until last year. At the same time I developed a weird scale on the side of my head that I at first thought was dandruff, but is something much worse than normal dandruff. It's oily and crusty and builds up very quickly! I tell you all of this to show you how I believe all of these conditions are connected/related to fungus. Oh, I also suffer with severe sinusitis during allergy season (now) and through the summer and fall. I really think this is all related. I am otherwise a healthy person (ha!) or at least I thought I was! Now I see that this is all the doing of one culprit - FUNGUS! I am going to try your formula and will let you know how it works. I'm very glad I found this site!
Dmps Chelation
Posted by Kelly (Denton, Texas) on 01/03/2008
★★★★★
Having had moderate to slightly severe acne since puberty , I have tried it all short of Accutane. I became COMPLETELY acne free at age 40 when I started DMPS chelation for mercury poisoning. The treatments were a week apart and each time would worsen the acne right after the treatment but would then look great until my next treatment. Each treatment would make it worse then better until about the 5th or 6th treatment completely cleared it. That was 9 years ago. The doctor had no idea the Dmps would do this and I have not seen where it is mentioned to cure acne anywhere. Not sure if it is the sulphur in the medicine that did the job or the clearing of mercury from the gut. Either way this was a complete cure and the answer to many prayers.
Aloe, Coconut Oil
Posted by Jennifer (Kirkland, Washington) on 10/03/2007
★★★★★
I have been using a mixture of coconut oil and aloe vera gel (4:1 ratio) on my face for my acne for only 2 weeks and it has almost completely cleared it up. I have had moderate to severe acne since I was 13 (I am now 37), and have tried everything under the sun to diminish it. Some things have helped more than others, but this is the first time my skin has felt so good and looked so good in almost 25 years!
Supplements
Posted by Anna (Sacramento, CA) on 05/06/2007
★★★★★
My daughter had severe acne as a teenager and saw three different dermatologist giving her various medications that hardly made a difference. I read that often times acne is caused by a zinc deficiency. I took her off of all perscription meds and put her on zinc supplements 3x a day. Within a month all of her acne was gone. She had some redness and scarring but all acne was gone. I was amazed that something so simple, over the counter, could work so well. I'm not sure if I can mention this or not but if you need the exact amount it was in some book that is titled Foods that Heal.
Supplements
Posted by Corrie (Baton Rouge, La) on 04/21/2009
I have just started taking Zinc, It is 50mg for 3 times a day. I didn't get if from a book, but found it on several websites.
I think you are supposed to decrease that amount after your face has achieved the desired results.
Supplements
Posted by Selena (Chula, GA) on 04/22/2009
You shouldn't exceed 100 mgs of zinc daily through all sources, my book states 30-80mgs daily. Possible you have other mineral deficiencies as well if you also have BO issues. Try chlorophyll by drinking green drinks or eating lots of parsley and other leafy greens. Preferably raw. Be sure you are drinking lots of pure water (not tap). Most acne and other ailments will clear up from eating a mostly raw fruit and vegetable diet. Be sure your bowels are moving. Try a colon cleanse or adding lots of fiber to your diet. This should help with the BO and the acne. I never had acne as a teenager just an occasional bump here and there. I do go through phases where I will get an area that seems to keep pimples (the kind that you can feel coming 3 days before you can see it) and usually on my chin (where I tend to prop on my hands). When this happens I put oregano oil on that area and this usually puts a stop to them for a while. Oregano burns so you may want to dilute it some with olive oil and keep away from eyes. Apply it with a q-tip to keep from getting it on your fingers and later rubbing it into eyes. I don't dilute mine, but if you have never used it I suggest diluting one drop of oregano oil to 1 tsp. of olive oil, then work your way up to adding more drops if you can take it.
Pantothenic Acid
Posted by Jess (Johnson City, TN) on 02/26/2007
★★★★★
I have suffered from severe cystic acne, the most severe, painful, and deepest of acne for at least 13 years (since puberty). I've tried everything. Nothing topical worked because the acne was so deep. I finally found the cure! A form of vitamin B5, pantothenic acid, in extremely high doses cured my acne completely! I have been taking 10g of pantothenic acid a day for almost a month. Within a week I could see huge results and within two weeks I was completely clear. I'm so glad I decided to try this instead of trying Accutane like the rest of my family. If you decide to try this build up to 10g/day over the course of a week (if not, it can cause stomach upset) and continue the 10g/day regimen for 2 months. After that you can gradually decrease the dosage down to a maintenance dose of 1-2g/day. This information is supported by a study done by Dr.Leung in China. The initial 10g/day dosage is extreme-the pills mostly come in 500mg doses which ends up being 20 pills/day but if you're desperate like me then it's worth it. I split mine up into 2 doses/day and dissolve the pills in a drink. It doesn't taste good but its better than having to take so many pills. I've read that smaller doses work but it may take longer to see results.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Deonnise (Arima, Trinidad) on 02/20/2007
★★★★★
A COMBINATION OF REMEDIES, learnt from this site, is ridding acne from my face. A problem I have struggled with for years is finally saying Bye-Bye! I have introduced my body to OIL PULLING; I alternate days by eating either 1 TOMATO or 1 tbsp MOLASSES first thing in the morning. I do the BROWN-SUGAR SCRUB twice per week. I use HYDROGEN PEROXIDE after washing face; wash pillowcase regularly; apply VIT E before bed; apply a different FACE MASK once per week; apply CLEAR TAPE over troubled areas and peel away dead skin cells once per week. I also drink water regularly (spring/purified/tap). Thank you Earth Clinic for alternatives, and thank you fellow readers for sharing your tips.
Supplements
Posted by Anna (Kansas City, MS) on 12/07/2006
★★★★★
I really never have had a problem with acne so when I developed a pimple on my chin it was somewhat of a big deal. I'm not used to something on my face hurting like it did. At first I popped it and pulled out that little yellow bullet shaped thing from the middle ( what is that, the infection or dried pus?) It bled a little then a bit more pus came out - still hurt of course. I decided to try ACV which hurt and made me develop immediately a fine rash of bumps all around the blemish. I think it is because my skin is very sensitive and it just burnt it a little - or because I had the opening in my skin for it spread faster... Then I thought of crushing half of a multi vitamin and making a paste. I did so, applied the paste to the blemish, put a bandaid over it ( it did hurt for a few minutes) and Voila! in about an hour the spot had dried up and was on its way to healing and not feeling tender! I would definitely do this again!
