Acne also known as acne vulgaris is
a skin problem that occurs when the hair follicles are blocked by dead cells
and oil from the skin.
About 5 million visits to the doctor every year is as a
result of acne which estimated cost of treatment is about $2.5 billion yearly. Usually,
acne appears during puberty but it can enter into adulthood. Some of the
factors that trigger acne include hormone, bacteria, medication and gene. Acne
can be mild, moderate and severe. It can appear on the face, chest, back and shoulder.
Symptoms include closed blocked pores (white heads), open blocked pores (black
heads- the black or brown colour is a result of its exposure to air), red
bumps, painful lumps beneath the skin, pimples. Acne develops on areas of the
skin with more oil. It can cause scars which can bring about low self-esteem,
depression and in some cases suicidal thoughts.
Best home remedies for acne
There are different home remedies
for acne. But we will stick to these two because they have little or no side
effects and they are very effective.
Tea tree oil:
Tea tree
oil has been known over the years for its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial
properties. It has also gained a lot popularity because of its effectiveness in
treating mild and moderate acne. Some clinical trials have attested to this
fact. A research carried out
among 124 patients with acne showed that tea tree oil had a significant effect
in treating acne by reducing the number of closed and open pores. The research
was carried out in order to compare how effective tea tree oil and benzoyl
peroxide are in treating acne. In comparison with benzoyl peroxide, tea tree
oil was slower in action but patients treated with tea tree oil experienced
fewer side effects than patients treated with benzoyl peroxide. Similarly,
another study which was carried out among 60 patients with mild to moderate acne to
ascertain the efficacy of tea tree oil reported a significant improvement in
the patients treated with tea tree oil. But in as much as tea tree oil is
effective for treating acne, it is important to note that some people are
allergic to it. So it’s best to try in small quantity first to check your body
reaction. Furthermore, it is not advisable to apply 100% pure tea tree oil on
the skin as tea tree oil can be harsh on the skin. You need to dilute it to 5%.
The clinical trials used a 5% tea tree oil gel.
How to prepare 5%
tea tree oil: You will mix 5ml of tea tree oil to 100ml of aloe vera
gel. You will need a calibrated cup or a 50 to 100ml amber plastic medicine
bottle (which you can get from a drug store) to get the accurate measurement.
Apply on a small spot first to check if your body will react
to tea tree oil. If there is no reaction, you can then apply on affected areas.
After applying, leave for about 20-30 minutes. Then wash off with warm water
(not hot). Do twice every day. If you notice any allergy, discontinue.
Aloe Vera gel:
Aloe vera gel has healing and anti-inflammatory properties
that help to treat acne and acne scars within a short period of time. This is
as a result of the combined actions of different ingredients like vitamins,
minerals and salicylic acid contained in aloe vera gel. It also has
antimicrobial property that helps to inhibit the growth of bacteria that
worsens acne.
Aloe vera gel has a
variety of ingredients that are good for the skin. And people are rarely
allergic to aloe vera. Squeeze the gel out directly from the plant leaf and
apply on the affected areas before going to bed. Rinse off in the morning with
warm water.
Note: When
treatment is commenced, it can take a few weeks before seeing results. Washing affected
areas with warm water will help when treating acne.
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