Acne herbs

Treating acne with natural remedies and herbs

woman with towel — Photo of girl with pretty skin provided by Dreamstime

Good diet is key to beautiful, healthy skin.

Acne is usually a hormone related skin problem that can be aggravated by bad diet. Eat healthier and skin will start to clear up! Adding lots of vegetables to your diet is very important for the skin.

Top 3 herbs for treating acne

Chamomile, calendula, and witch hazel are very useful in the treatment of acne.

For clearer skin, use chamomile and calendula in creams, infusions, washes, compresses, and sprays. Apply to the skin at least once per day.

Try this. Wet a chamomile tea bag with warm water and apply it to your pimples. Press it on your skin for up to an hour. Inflammation will disappear and the skin will look a lot better!

Use witch hazel as an astringent to close pores after cleansing the skin. Other plants with high tannin content such as white oak bark and walnut leaves will also work to close pores.

Read more about using chamomile in herbal medicine.

Read more about using calendula in herbal medicine.

Natural remedies for acne

Herbs work from the inside when taken internally and from the outside when applied externally. Not all herbs are to be consumed, so do your homework before ingesting a new, unfamiliar herb.

Natural acne remedies can really help, but everyone is different so keep trying until you find what works for you.

Using herbs like burdock, dandelion, and echinacea are herbs that help build immunity, which promotes healthy skin. These herbs should be taken on a regular basis to fight acne breakouts.

Use mild oatmeal soap instead of harsh products. Oatmeal is a healing herb, not just a breakfast food.

Moisturize at night with light jojoba oil. Gently apply with small round strokes to encourage blood flow to the area.

Lavender essential oil and acne

Fight bacteria, ease pain, and reduce the swelling of acne outbreaks with lavender essential oil. Apply full strength in a one-drop dose over a small area. Do not apply to large areas or you could be overwhelmed with the aroma!

Use just one drop at a time or dilute with a good carrier oil like grapeseed oil. When diluted, you can use lavender all over your body except the eyes.

I use 3 or 4 drops of lavender essential oil in a quarter cup of carrier. This makes a wonderful, moisturizing skin treatment.

Do not get rough with your skin!

Do not try to remove oil from the skin by excessive washing or using harsh astringents. This just aggravates the skin and causes worse outbreaks. Oily skin is not what causes acne.

acne breakout on the forehead — Acne can lead to low self esteem. Photo of an acne breakout provided by Wiki Media.

Is acne related to stress?

Acne around the chin is usually caused by stress. Take B complex vitamins and Beta Carotene with vitamin D for a couple of weeks and see if skin clears up. Read more about treating stress with herbs.

If stress continues to be a problem, seek out ways to relax. Get creative or read a good book. Avoiding stress can really help clear up some types of acne.

Eat fresh foods with lots of live enzymes and take 750 mg of bromelain daily. Live enzymes are important to skin health.

Using tea tree oil soap to treat acne can bring good results. Other things to try include facial steams with a few drops of lavender, eucalyptus, or thyme essential oils added to the water.

Do not squeeze pimples or other skin eruptions.

Squeezing can cause infection and blood poisoning. If you must squeeze, first use hot compresses three times a day to soften the skin and bring it to a head. Prepare your compress by wetting a clean cloth with hot water containing dissolved Epsom salts.

Learn more about making your own herbal compresses here.

Boy scrubbing his face with towel — Be gentle with your skin. Photo of boy washing his face provided by Wiki Media from an engraving by James Egan, 1840.

Many herbs can help the skin become acne free.

Many herbal concoctions give good results. Blend cabbage leaves with distilled witch hazel. Strain and add 2 drops of lavender oil. Use as a lotion.

Give lichen a try! Old Man's Beard (Usnea barbata) tea is reported to be a good remedy for getting rid of acne. Use in spray or as a wash.

Brewer's yeast, duckweed, neem, and guggul gum (Commiphora mukul) are also used in herbal medicine to treat skin problems.

Other washes cab be made from cleavers, yellow dock, viola, burdock, tea tree oil, rosewater, licorice, holy basil (Ocimum sanctum), dandelion, echinacea, rosemary, and witch hazel. Try different remedies and blends to see what works best for your skin. Please note that cleavers are known to purify the skin.

Something as simple as a green tea (Camellia sinensis) wash can also be very useful. Just brew it up in water and use in a spray bottle. It is cooling, refreshing, and healing!

Also try kanuka honey. Dab a little on your acne to heal up pimples fast.

If you have been reading my Every Green Herb blog for a while, then you know we grow and sell a variety of herbs, but we also buy a lot, too. Try our favorite herbal suppliers for quality and value.

Try a cleanse to clear up acne and other skin problems.

One way to beat acne is to go on a three day cleanse. Eat apples, carrots, pineapples, and papaya with grains and fresh salads.

Drink 6-8 glasses of water a day to flush toxins from the body. Even a 24 hour cleanse can greatly improve the skin's appearance.

Balance hormones with herbs

Hormone imbalances are often the underlying cause of skin problems. Herbs like wild yam and red clover can help to balance female hormones.

Read more about the healing properties of red clover.

Do not go to bed wearing make-up.

Wash your face every night before going to bed even if it is late. Use a gentle cleanser or mild soap with cool water.

Do not use hot water on the skin. Moisturize with quality oils like almond oil with a little rose essential oil added for extra benefits. Massage gently into skin with circular motions.

Rose is an excellent skin remedy. Read more about the herbal benefits of rose.

*Calendula belongs to the same family as daisies, chrysanthemums, and ragweed. In cases of allergic reaction, discontinue use. Calendula may affect conception when taken by either man or woman, so avoid when trying to get pregnant. Do not use calendula when pregnant or nursing.

Only use one remedy at a time and give it a chance to work. Discontinue use if irritation develops.

Always consult with a healthcare professional before using any herbal remedy especially during pregnancy, while nursing, or while taking prescription medications.