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.
Vitamin D
Posted by Bobbi (Virginia) on 03/11/2016
My 16 year old son had some rather large, red, hard acne bumps on his face, especially in the middle of his forehead. He went skiing for one day and came back with a sunburn on his face, but the acne was about 80% cleared up after just that one day in the sun. I'm guessing it was the Vitamin D that did it. So we'll keep giving Vitamin D until summer and see if the improvement keeps up.
Wash Only With Water
Posted by Rw (Southwest Virginia) on 03/11/2016
★★★★★
It works! I had acne and also tried all kinds of things. I finally stopped using anything but water to wash my face and don't use any other products on my face. I rarely have a problem with acne now.
Baking Soda
Posted by Kaja (Mumbai - Maharashtra ) on 06/26/2017
Is it safe to use the baking soda scrub everyday for 10 minutes?
Coffee Enema
Posted by Jacqueline (Portland, Or) on 12/29/2014
★★★★★
I think acne might have various causes because for me, it is all related to how clean my blood is. When I do several rounds of coffee enemas (not for everyone, but I have had great success with them, do a Google search for pros/cons) my skin will clear up completely. Knowing my body reacts this way I would self-diagnose as having a clogged liver and "leaky gut" which causes my skin to excrete toxins and thus get clogged and result in acne. It is much easier to use coconut oil as an ongoing treatment for cleaning liver/digestive tract (and reducing leaky gut for cleaner blood) instead of the coffee enemas (VERY messy and VERY time consuming! ). :)
Milk Thistle
Posted by R.w. (Southwest Virginia, USA) on 12/21/2014
★★★★★
Milk Thistle Extract clears teenage acne: I tried a few other things that had worked for my oldest son (thylox soap, oil pulling) and it didn't help with my youngest. So I got Milk Thistle Extract capsules and he takes 2 caps in the morning. Acne cleared up in about 10 days. Each capsule has 250 mg of Milk Thistle Extract standardized to contain at least 80% Silmaryin. The bottle says to take 1 cap 3 times a day, but 2 seemed to do it for him (he's less than 120 lbs.)
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Elsa (Wellington, Nz) on 08/27/2014
★★★★★
My two daughters used this formula For acne...you can try this If you want..Take one to two tbsp of brewers yeast, one to two tbsp lecithin granules or two caps, one tbsp cold pressed safflower oil. Take with milk, nonfat dairy milk, or apple juice.
to remove acne scar, apply a thin layer aloe Vera gel (cut the leaves close to the ground) over the skin twice a day for as long as it takes. In addition, use a natural fruit peel to continuously exfoliate and encourage new skin.
Really effective!!
Sea Salt
Posted by Cl503 (Oregon, United States) on 04/06/2014
★★★★★
I have read from other sources about the benefits of sea salt for acne. I have always had really oily skin and acne, always. Have tried everything short of accutane. About two weeks ago I made a mixture of sea salt, water, lavender and rosemary oils and a touch of vegetable glycerine, and put it into a spray bottle. I have been spraying this on my face and upper back consistently and have noticed a very significant improvement. I use the spray before I apply make up, after I apply make up after I wash my face, after the shower, whenever I can.
My face seems to look a bit "glowy", my oiliness has diminished and my back is about 90% more clear. I have experienced a few zits since using this, but just the ones that come to a head right away and go away by the next day.
The only side effect I have noticed is an increased thirst.
I am just guestimating.. but I think I used about--1 tblsp of sea salt dissolved in about 4 ounces of water, and added maybe 5 drops of each oil and a drop or two of the glycerine to bind things.
Hope this helps someone!
Saw Palmetto
Posted by Candy (Ontario, Canada) on 12/20/2013
★★★★★
Saw Palmetto has made my acne disappear in a short amount of time. I read online that saw palmetto can increase a womans breast size (it worked) and also clears acne and keeps it away. I've got three zits in the last two months!!!! Thank God!!!! My face was covered with bumps for as long as I can remember. I so happy this remedy is cheap and easy. Just 2 pills a days keeps the acne away.
Cool Water Rinse
Posted by Brittbritt101 (Little Rock, Ar) on 08/24/2013
★★★★★
I have had acne since I hit puberty at the age of 15. My mother always told me to wash my face with hot water to clean my face and open pores. Well, I still had acne as a teen and all the way to adulthood. My acne disappeared while on birthcontrol with hormones (don't recommend) as an adult, but with other side affects. Well I got off of the birth control and my acne reappeared. Especially during that time of the month. Well, anyways my mother called and told me that I need to wash my face with cold water instead of hot water to keep my face from breaking out. I thought about it and it made perfect sense. When we wash our face with hot water our skin pores are opened up allowing the release of oils and bacteria. If our pores remain open we will allow bacteria to re-enter our pores causing build-up, black heads, pimples and all of that ugly stuff. After washing my face with plain hot water, I would rinse with plain cool to cold water to close my pores. Now you can put vitamin E oil or coconut oil on your skin after the hot wash followed by the cool rinse. This will allow for the good stuff to get in there.. Gives you smooth soft skin. Well anyways, I have not broken out an any pimples, cystic acne, or knots on my face in 2 months now. I do this for the rest of my body also.. Hot shower.. Hotter than I can stand it followed by a cool rinse. No body acne.. No face acne.. all free.
Fermented Foods
Posted by Ryan (Los Angeles, Ca) on 06/28/2013
★★★★★
To clear acne, both Sauerkraut & Kimche are heavy in probiotics and fight candidia (an underlying cause in acne). Buy only unheated, unpasteurized, organic, RAW brands that are vinegar free. Start slow and work your way up to up to 4-6 tablespoons a day. If you have too much too fast, you could get stomach discomfort. You should see clearer skin in no time. The texture of my skin is smoother as well.
Fermented Foods
Posted by Penelope (Los Angeles, Ca) on 04/10/2013
★★★★★
Try introducing fermented foods like sauerkraut, kimche, and extra virgin coconut oil into your diet to clear up acne fast! Like everything, introduct these foods in small amounts first, one at a time to see what works for you and to see how much to take. For me, Kimche cleared up my acne in DAYS! Coconut oil caused me to break out initally then clear. Make sure you buy saurkraut and kimche at a korean market or health food store - not the heated, processed kinds sold elsewhere at more commercial, larger chain stores.
Lysine
Posted by Heather (San Diego, Ca) on 04/03/2013
★☆☆☆☆
Nay. I have used lysine regulalry for viral issues and don't notice any difference in my hormonal breakouts. May work for some people though.
Peppermint Tea
Posted by Heather (San Diego, California) on 03/04/2013
★★★★☆
Yeah. Better but not cured for hormonal acne.
Have used this for six months. If I drink several cups of this per week, I notice fewer breakouts. Although it did not cure my hormonal acne, I wouldn't be without it because the improvement is noticeable.
Other thing that helps is either raw carrots consumed on an empty stomach and activated charcoal caps (they both do the same thing so take either/or.)
Carrot Juice
Posted by Heather (San Diego, California) on 03/04/2013
PS: I've also tried topical antibiotics, systemic antibiotics, retin A, daily zinc lotions and zinc potions, glycolic acid peels, a and d lotion, lavendar oil, various soaps, and everything the drug store offers (benzol peroxide, salicilic acid), apple cider vinegar, and probably everything that looked promising on earthclinic.
Carrots, and avoiding the foods mentioned above, beat those things in effectiveness.
Castor Oil
Posted by Heather (San Diego, California) on 03/04/2013
★☆☆☆☆
Castor oil. Made my adult hormonal acne much worse. May be good for scars though, so I kept it for a scar on my leg.
BHA
Posted by Alex (Nyc, Usa) on 01/04/2013
From my experience, I am over 30 and suffer from adult acne occasionally I apply BHA for months and it does help from acne occurring again. Also home remedies such as banana peel, olive, avocado, and honey are a great help for making acne disappear without leaving spot and scar.
Green Tea, Olive Leaf, Nettles
Posted by Jeanne (Farmington Hills, Mi) on 11/14/2012
★★★★★
I accidentally came across some information on using Olive Leaf, Nettles and Green Tea for acne, and found it to be surprisingly effective (after trying countless other things). I Googled each of these three things individually for acne, and there were a lot of sites that showed people had immense improvement, so I just started taking all three supplements and couldn't believe the results.
It is best to use herbs that say "standardized" and/or "guaranteed potency" to ensure you're actually getting the strength and amount the label lists. I took two olive leaf capsules and two nettle leaves capsules in the morning and in the evening (although if your condition is very bad, you can take a dose at lunch, as well).
I also took Green tea extract (either the herbal liquid tincture or herbs makes a liquid cap that works better than a powdered green tea capsule-- at least in my experience) a couple times a day. Drinking the actual tea is good to do too.
Make sure you are getting adequate vitamin and mineral intake, as well. For skin, especially Vit. C, A, E, and the minerals zinc and selenium. Also, Essential Fatty Acids like fish oil (EPA/DHA).
Green Tea
Posted by Gentle (Indy, Us) on 08/11/2012
★★★★★
I've had great results with green tea. I replaced coffee with green tea and I was pretty surprised. I was more clear the very next day. BTW, I am in my 40s and dealing with hormonal acne.
