12 Proven Natural Remedies for Acne

I have had problems with increased dryness, increased wrinkles and rough skin on face and neck after treatment using ACV, HP and Borax plus teatree/lavender oil for breakouts of rosacea which I previously had under control for a while but now it's back- I am injesting coconut oil through cooking- I am also using aloe vera to moisturise skin and yoghurt face masks- this helps reduce roughness/dryness. I have been doing Mini beet protocol for two months to try to help skin issues- some improvement but I need to do this longer term I think. I do have a lot of energy from MBP.

Best of luck.

Skin issues take a while

Tamara and Joyce, thank you so much for your response and suggestions.

I will try avoiding Lecithin granules for a while and adding VCO to my diet. I do take 2 pills of Omega 3 and one of Flax seed oil every day. And I do use oils on my skin (Avocado, Peanut and Olive oil depending) but none of this seems to have any effect on this horrible feeling (like my skin is cracking) and look.

Another thing I've been doing for a long time now is drinking a pot of green tea every day. I tried to research and see if green tea might have this effect, but couldn't find anything that would suggest that.

I will keep you posted on any changes.

Thank you.

Juno, I remember Ted posting something recently (11/01/2009) about oil pulling that Lecithin pulls oil from the body. Maybe what you're experiencing is you're losing too much oil? For me, if I don't have enough good fats (omega-3s and coconut oil) in my system my skin loses its suppleness and starts to dry out and, especially my lips, start to crack. I even start to get pimples because my skin tries to compensate for the drying out by producing more oil. I agree with Joyce that you should start applying some soothing oils to your skin but maybe start supplementing with them as well? I read a book describing the benefits of coconut oil and remember it saying that it helps the skin cells keep water in them (instead of the water getting immediately flushed into the blood stream) and helps them to keep hydrated and plump. I eat a small amount of EVCO several times a day and my skin glows without blemishes. Hope it gets better!

Hi there,

The way you describe your neck sounds like you need help in a hurry.

My suggestion is to use Extra Virgin olive oil, coconut oil or if either of these sound unpleasant, add about l ounce of of cold pressed castor oil to your favorite lotion and use that on your neck. (Anyone who loves the smell
of castor oil as much as I do can easily identify what is probably the most effective ingredient in Avon's expensive neck oil - I have never found any product containing castor oil to completely succeed in covering up its odor, even when advertised as odorless castor oil.

BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS

This is a desperate question to Ted.,

I have been reading and loving this website for a while now. and have been using many of the remedies suggested here like ACV Molasses and OP. I have also been using Lecithin granules as per Ted's suggestion for acne. And doing urine therapy. (for at least 4 month now)

However, while my acne and melasma have somewhat improved and my energy - greatly improved, I have developed a strange side effect to which I can not find the reason or a cure.

The skin on my neck looks like lizard skin and it feels terrible, do dry as if it's about to crack. Also the skin under my eyes has worsened and I have a lot more wrinkles.

This question is for Ted, please help me find out what could be causing this, I feel so old because of this "new" look and it seems to be getting worse fast!

Recurring boils and similar large, painful pimples

After age 21 I had terrible huge pimples. When my pharmacist told me that some derms prescribed Vitamin A, I started on it immediately.. It was like a miracle, a moderate miracle. The huge deep pimples stopped and my skin improved in other ways.

I used to take 50,000 units a day but now I would limit myself to 25,000 units per day. Just be patient and don't stop the treatment.

I've been taking vitamin B5 for past five years and that has kept my face clear. I used to get really deep and big boil type of cysts on my nose and chin. The pantothenic acid helps by preventing the pores of your skin from clogging. I always have B5 on hand. I take five capsules a day and my face is clear. I occasionally skips and my acne comes back and all I have to do is double or quadruple the dose for a few days and my face is clear again. It is the best stuff I've come across for acne. I also apply benzoyl peroxide (generic drugstore brands) on my nose and chin to kill the bacteria that may get on my face. This combined with the B5 has kept my face clear of acne and I am over 40.

About a week ago, I noticed that my 14 year old son's prescription tazarotene acne face cream was no longer working. He was breaking out in large pimples everywhere on his face, neck, chest and back. He was running out of the prescription cream, which had worked pretty wel for a while, (but not great) and I had to decide if it was worth a trip to the doctor to get a new prescription. After I looked at the cost of the prescription meds without insurance, I began to research natural cures for acne. He was also using a sulpha wash and an 8% benzyol peroxide wash to try to keep the acne at bay with no success.

After doing some research here on Earth Clinic, I decided to try some of the methods others were having some luck with. First we tried diluted ACV and it seemed to smooth his skin, but since his skin is ultra sensitive, it burned quite a bit even though it was diluted far more than recommended by other posters. So while it could work well occasionally, I knew we would not be able to use this on an daily basis.

Topically applied zinc also sounded promising, but before we went out and bought zinc cream, I decided to make our own concoction out of what we had in the house. I used a Miconazole nitrate cream, (which I had read worked for some acne suffers), and zinc tablets which I ground with a mortar and pestle. We have applied the cream for two nights now and it is working so well it is hard for me to believe. He has no new pimples (some were getting large and cystic--one by the side of his nose kept coming back no matter what we treated it with) and the old ones are disappearing. I wish I had taken a picture of his face before the treatment to compare.

He says the cream tingles a little when it is applied, but that sensation goes away quickly. While it is too soon to tell if this is a viable long term solution, the immediate results are promising.

In the meantime, we have ordered some commercial zinc cream (around $8) and are looking forward to trying it to see if it will work as well as our homemade cream.

I am 75 years old, have had acne since I was 13, and while in the years of raising my children, not many problems with acne, till in my early 60's. Now there are these bumps under the skin, they sometimes get inflammed, but require a needle to get them, and their little roots out. so it leaves scars. I tried the ACV, teaspoon in cup of water, but the best way I like it, is from Dill Pickle juice, and it also works for coughs, and colds. I am not consistant with it, but going to try it now diluted to 1/2 teaspoon to cup of water, for sinus by spraying it into them.

Try smelling some of the stuff that comes from pimples, think you will be surprised!

Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda) for Acne

My son is 12 years old and has bad acne for about 1 1/2 years. I tried many of the over the counter products: cleansers, facial scrubs, toners, astringents, and moisturizers, but nothing worked. While doing some house cleaning using sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and water it occured to me to try that for a face wash for him. I made a paste and have him use it every morning and every night ~ he uses it like any other facial cleanser and it has been fantastic! The pimples have shrunk in size and many are gone. His pores are much smaller. It doesn't burn, sting, or dry out his face. And best of all, it is really inexpensive.

The most incredible supplements I have ever tried for acne are L-Glutathione (500 milligrams up to 3 times a day) and vitamin B6 (ONLY get the P5P form. The other form can cause neuropathy). Split a 50 milligram pill of vitamin B6 (P5P) up and take a few times a day. I would ask your doctor about going up to as high as 100 milligrams of P5P if you really need that much to keep your skin clear. My skin is completely clear as long as I take the B6 or the L-Glutathione. I do not need to take both of these supplements together to have clear skin, - both have worked separately equally as well to clear my skin in record time (about a week to see results) but test it out and see what works for you - both have amazing health benefits. I have noticed that L-Glutathione has the added benefit of also making my hair really shiny and healthy looking.

Both vitamin B6 and L-Glutathione are potent detoxifiers of the liver so go up to the dose you need VERY slowly! If you break out initially, bear with it - this is just a detox/cleansing reaction.

Try opening a capsule of vitamin B6 (P5P) and take a third of it - or half of it - and see how you do Same goes with the L-Glutathione pills or powder . You can take the same dosage up to 3 times a day. Definitely take the B6 with food because it can make you nauseous. Also, the B6 (P5P) could keep you up by giving you energy if you take it late at night.

Topically, Jojoba oil is great for acne. It moisturizes without clogging pores. I wear it all over my face and neck at night. It is the only moisturizer that does not break me out!

I have suffered with severe cystic acne and was on 3 courses of Accutane so I know what it's like to suffer with acne. With either of these supplements, thankfully I don't have to suffer anymore. I hope this info helps anyone out there who is struggling with acne.

Epsom Salt baths for acne treatment

Hello : ) I am 31 years old and have been dealing with moderate acne since puberty. I have tried everything from popular name brand acne cleansers, hydrogen peroxide, tea tree oil, prescription acne cream, not wearing make-up, cutting sweets out of my diet, cutting junk food out of my diet, steam bathing the face, exfoliating facial cleansers, overnight acne treatment creams and birth control. Among all of those treatments, only staying on birth control seemed to make any real difference, however, it did not make the acne disappear entirely during menstruation.

I am now 20 weeks pregnant and the hormones have been wrecking even more havoc with the skin on my face since pregnancy. I also developed a rash on my tummy. As a result of reading many different solutions on the internet, I decided to give an Epsom Salt bath a try. I have been taking these baths each night for the last 4 nights and have seen remarkable improvements, such as:

- The little white bumps (that have been on the back of my upper arms since puberty) have almost disappeared altogether
- The rash on my tummy has disappeared entirely
- The few hard "under-skin" bumps/cysts on my face (which have stubbornly been there for a couple of months) have virtually disappeared

From my readings on the internet, bacteria (that causes acne) cannot be live in a salty environment; therefore, washing with the salt water kills the bacteria.

I have simply poured 1 to 2 cups of Epsom Salts into a full bath tub of warm/hot water and stirred the salt around in order to dissolve them into the water. I bathed for 10 to 15 minutes and rinsed my face a few times. I highly recommend this treatment to anyone with acne problems.

I started using olive oil for Hidradenitis suppurativa and it worked so well, I tried it on my face for blackheads and whiteheads. Now I rarely get a bump. Put the olive oil on every morning and every night; it soaks in quickly. It is also great for keeping suntanned legs from looking dry and chalky.

I was suffering from acne and tried many different treatment such as high does of Vitamin A, E, Zinc, turmeric, apple cider vinger, coconut...I really was really desperate. My face continued to breakout and it had been going on for about two years. When I went for a facial the girl did extractions and it just really aggravated the problem and she told me to try this new onion ointment wow my skin really went from bad to worse. So I did some research on Panthothenic Acid also known as B5 and I began to take it not the super high doses that Dr Leoug suggests (I only weigh 100 pounds and I'm hypersensitive ) I would take between 4000- 5000 mg a day of Panthothenic Acid along wtih 200 mcg Selenium. My understanding with supplements is that you have one day a week where you do not take any so I rest on Sunday! My face is now completely clear it is glowing and no blemishes of any sort. I know we are all different gentically but this worked for me and hopefully it will help you

to Azg from Toronto:

Hi Azg,

Combine 2 tablespoons of baking soda with a drizzle of water until you make a soft paste. Massage the baking soda paste around the face using small circular motions. Focus on the areas of the most scarring and red spots.

After around 30 seconds rinse your face well with warm water. Repete this process once per day to help diminish red spots from acne. Baking soda can help diminish red spots and skin discolorations quickly, especially when used as a facial scrub.

Avoid wearing makeup, do not pick or squeeze pimples. Change pillow cases and sheets every other day. The pillow case absorbs oils from your skin and reapplies the dirt and oil.

Eat foods rich in Zinc. Zinc is an antibacterial agent and a necessary element in the oil- producing glands of the skin. A diet low in Zinc can actually cause acne breakouts.

I have give this to many of my friends for acne. They all said, it helped them. I hope it helps you too. Let me know!

Pauline

I finally figure out how to tell acne sufferers what to try without looking like I am advertising any company! I feel responsible for letting everyone else know what worked for me. After over 30 years suffering with acne I know how devastating this can be. Look for all the information on Pantothenic Acid that you can get. Look for Dr. Lit-Hung Leung who conducted the study! There is a lot of information, message boards on B5 for the treatment of acne. There are a lot of vitamins shops on and off line that you can get it from, but you need to learn how to take the dosages and for how long. I hope every acne victim at least take a look at this and consider. My only regret is not knowing about it 30 years ago!!!

If you can get your hands on a real aloe vera plant and put some the the gel on your face it will take care of your scars. Good Luck!

First of all, thanks very much to Earthclinic for all your help!

I've been struggling with acne for a long time, and after trying out some remedies from EC have found a combination that made a dramatic improvement in my skin. I was quite astonished at how fast it healed, compared to the turtle speed of most acne meds.

I've eliminated all soaps and medications, and am using only natural products. In the morning, I apply a baking soda mask for 5 minutes. It stings a lot, and be careful not to scrub, just leave it on. This disinfects your skin and gradually shrinks acne. At night, I apply a turmeric mask for an hour. Be careful with turmeric because it will stain - on my tanned skin it just blends in. To moisturise, I use coconut oil, less in the day and more at night.

I also take coconut oil internally, one tablespoon morning and night. I also take two tablespoons of granulated lecithin, and 3000mg of high quality fish oil. The fish oil showed me an overnight improvement, and even helped me sleep better.

Here's what didn't work: ACV is not my friend, unfortunately. Evening primrose oil did not work at all. Blackstrap molasses is incredibly helpful for my menstrual cycle, but again no difference in skin.

Hopefully this will help any acne sufferers out there, good luck!

Hi there, read the comments on Urine Therapy and thought, 'why the hell not?'. I've been using it on my face for the last 2 weeks, one to two times a day and it has really cleared up my skin and made it glow. People have been commenting, not least my girlfriend who was very amused when i told her what I had been up to.

It's not horrible, it doesn't smell when it drys and if you are worried just rinse with water. i do it in the shower first thing wash the rest of my body and then rinse it off last thing. I've stopped using soap on my face as well and my chronic mild acne (20 years and counting!) and bumpy forehead has cleared right up.

thanks for all the posters, great site.

To add to the previous post regarding washcloths: baby wipes work great for removing makeup/washing face/exfoliating and are disposable!