Acne affects people of all ages but is most often associated with teenage years.  The most common cause of this skin condition is when follicles become plugged with dead skin cells and sebum. The small holes in your skin, known as pores connect to the sebum glands underneath the skin. The pores connect to the glands by a canal called a follicle. Inside the follicles, oil carries dead skin cells up to the surface of the skin and will clump together around the thin hair forming a plug. The plug gathers and builds bacteria which results in swelling. Then when the plug starts to decay, acne begins. Blackheads and whiteheads (also called pimples) appear all over the face, they also can occur on other areas of the body including the chest, shoulder, and the back. For the purposes of this blog, we are focusing on skin acne, not hormonal acne.

When I was a kid, my Dad would point at my acne and always say I was drinking too much Coca-Cola or eating too much candy. (Who me? No!)  We now know that sugar can cause inflammation and this is associated more with hormonal type acne rather than follicle acne.

The following are Homeopathic treatments for acne:

1. Cleanse GENTLY – One of the MOST important factors in the Homeopathic treatment of acne is keeping the skin clean.  Removing that oily plug without disturbing the structure of the skin is the critical first step.  Lifting the dirt, oil, and sebum without irritation is the critical first step. Check out our Avocado Facial Soap.  Much gentler than benzoyl peroxide cleansers, that can actually irritate the skin.
2. Essential Oil Treatments – The most trusted essential oil for acne is Tea Tree (Melaleuca Alternafolia). Tea tree is a known anti-bacterial and anti-fungal.  Bacteria is a prime component of acne and users typically find at least some degree of improvement in their skin using a diluted tea tree topical application.   The second most effective oil for acne is Rosemary (Rosmarinus Officinalis). Rosemary works very well but is stronger than Tea Tree and the risk for skin sensitization is higher.  Mixing either essential oil with aloe vera gel or raw honey does make a wonderful skin treatment.  Essential oils are typically added at 1 % of the total solution. Tea Tree is very safe up to a 15% dilution. NEVER use Tea Tree or Rosemary undiluted on the skin.
3. Raw Apple Cider Vinegar Tincture – a truly, natural and powerful Homeopathic treatment for acne is the use of raw apple cider vinegar. Vinegar contains succinic acid which reduces inflammation.  Lactic acid and several organic acids in vinegar have shown the ability to kill the acne bacteria. Mix 1 part raw vinegar to 3 parts water and dab on skin wtih cotton ball.  Let air dry and repeat a couple of times a day. All by itself, vinegar can cause irritation…..so be sure to always dilute.
4. Vitamin B3 & C – These vitamins have been consistenly shown in numerous dermatological research studies to help fight bacteria and deliver a powerful antioxidant punch.  This is one of the reasons we chose to use Vitamin B3 (niacinamide) as the leading ingredient in our new facial serum for maximum hydration and protection.
5. Green Tea Masks – The presence of flavonoids and tannins in green tea offer the anti-inflammatory benefits. The primary antioxidant in green tea — epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) — has been shown to reduce sebum production and reduce inflammation for those with acne-prone skin.

A lot of our older generation customers grew up with Ponds Cold Cream (extremely thick and heavy-bodied) to moisturize their face at night.  Modern science has moved us away from caking on thick creams before bed and towards Homeopathic treatments for acne. The thickness has nothing to do with effectiveness. Also beware of heavy oils that can clog pores. That is opening the door to acne.  Facial formulations should have lightweight consistency and good natural absorbability.  Be sure to read ingredients, seek those with a plant origin and avoid ANYTHING that lists the following ingredients:   Formalin. Formic aldehyde. or Methanediol.  These are all alternative names for Formaldehyde. It is commonly used in anti-aging and moisturizing products.