Pimple is a type of acne that results from blocked pores, which may be due to excess production of oil (sebum), dead skin cells, and bacteria, getting trapped in the pores of the skin.In this blog we will let you know what acne is and home remedies for acne pimples.
Acne is a long term condition of skin involving oil glands at the base of a hair follicle that can cause many non-inflammatory and inflammatory skin lesions, such as pimples, whiteheads, blackheads, pustules, cysts, etc.
Causes / Triggers / Risk Factors of Acne
Certain triggers are reported to cause Acne.
- Puberty is the most common trigger
- Stress
- Lack of sleep or sleep Irregularities
- Hormonal changes
- Inadequate water intake
- Genetic Susceptibility
- Certain Medications such as Steroids
- Dandruff can cause pimples on forehead
- Humidity and excessive sweating
- Harsh Environment: Pollution, Aggressive skincare products, toxins, ultraviolet rays
- Smoking and alcohol consumption
- Diet: Dark chocolates, food containing high sugar content or sweets, and excessive use of milk products may worsen acne.
Types of Acne Based on Severity
Here are some types of pimples based on their severity.
Mild Acne
Few whiteheads and blackheads or a little number of mildly irritated small pimples or pustules. No marks can be seen in this type of Acne pimples.
Moderate Acne
More blackheads, whiteheads, multiple pimples, and pustules mostly on the face. Sometimes marks can be visible or sometimes markes cannot be visible in this type of pimples.
Severe Acne
A large number of whiteheads and blackheads, a lot of papules and pustules, as well as painful nodules on their skin. Marks can be visible in this kind of Acne.
Some Home Remedies for Pimples
Many home remedies can help improve a person’s acne pimples and sores. Home remedies for acne include gentle herbal creams and gels, essential oils, natural supplements, and some simple lifestyle changes.
Acne develops when pores become clogged or infected with bacteria. Acne is the most common skin condition in the United States, affecting around 80 percent of people in their lifetimes.
People can use specific home remedies to help balance the skin’s oil levels, reduce inflammation, kill bacteria, and prevent future acne breakouts.
As yet, there is not much scientific evidence to prove the effectiveness of most home remedies. In this article, we discuss the current evidence for some of the home remedies that people may find useful.
Some of the most popular home remedies for acne involve the use of natural herbal extracts, many of which traditional medicine practitioners have used for hundreds of years.
Below, we discuss the best home remedies for acne, what the research says, and lifestyle changes that can help.
Tea Tree Oil For Acne
Tea tree oil is a natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, which means that it might kill P. acnes, the bacteria that causes acne.
Tea tree oil’s anti-inflammatory properties mean that it can also reduce the swelling and redness of pimples.
A 2015 review study looked at the existing evidence for tea tree oil and acne. The researchers found that tea tree oil products can reduce the number of acne sores in people with mild to moderate acne.
This study suggested that tea tree oil may work as well as 5 percent benzoyl peroxide, which is a common over-the-counter (OTC) acne medication.
Jojoba Oil
Jojoba oil is a natural, waxy substance extracted from the seeds of the jojoba shrub.
The waxy substances in jojoba oil may help to repair damaged skin, which means it may also help speed up wound healing, including acne lesions.
Some of the compounds in jojoba oil might help to reduce skin inflammation, which means it may reduce redness and swell around pimples, whiteheads, and other inflamed lesions.
In a 2012 study, researchers gave 133 people clay face masks that contained jojoba oil. After 6 weeks of using the masks 2 to 3 times per week, people reported a 54 percent improvement in their acne.
Aloe Vera for Acne
Aloe vera is a natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, meaning it may reduce the appearance of acne and prevent acne breakouts.
Aloe vera contains lots of water and is an excellent moisturizer, so it is especially suitable for people who get dry skin from other anti-acne products.
In a 2014 study, researchers gave people with mild to moderate acne aloe vera gel and tretinoin cream, which is a common OTC acne remedy, to use for 8 weeks.
The participants reported a significant improvement in both inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne compared to people who used just tretinoin gel.
Honey For Acne
Honey has been used to treat skin conditions, such as acne, for thousands of years. It contains many antioxidants that can help to clear waste and debris from clogged pores.
Doctors use honey in wound dressings because of its antibacterial and wound-healing properties.
Garlic In Foods
Many traditional medicine practitioners use garlic to treat infections and boost the body’s ability to fight germs and infections.
Garlic contains organosulfur compounds, which have natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. Organosulfur compounds can also help to boost the immune system, which helps the body fight infections.
Green Tea
Green tea contains high concentrations of a group of polyphenol antioxidants called catechins.
Most people with acne have too much sebum, or natural body oils, in their pores and not enough antioxidants.
Antioxidants help the body break down chemicals and waste products that can damage healthy cells. Green tea may help clear out some of the debris and waste that has built up in open acne sores.
Green tea also contains compounds that may help to:
- reduce the skin’s sebum production
- reduce P. acnes
- reduce inflammation
Rosemary
Rosemary extract, or Rosmarinus officinalis, contains chemicals and compounds that have antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties.
Few studies have looked at the effect of rosemary extract on acne, but a 2013 study on mice models and human cells suggested that rosemary extract can reduce inflammation from the acne-causing bacteria P. acnes.
Coconut Oil
Like other natural remedies, coconut oil contains anti-inflammatory and antibacterial compounds.
These properties mean that coconut oil may destroy acne-causing bacteria and reduce redness and swelling of pimples. Coconut oil may also speed up healing in open acne sores.
Avoid Touching Pimples
It can be very tempting, but touching acne sores will irritate the skin, may make the pimple worse, and can spread pimples to other areas.
Touching, rubbing, squeezing, or popping acne sores can also introduce more bacteria into the lesion, causing further infections.
Squeezing a pimple can push bacteria and debris further into the skin, so the pimple may come back worse than it was before. Talk with a doctor about large sores or those that are deep under the skin to find out how to remove them safely.
Staying Hydrated
Staying hydrated is extremely important because it makes it easier for acne sores to heal and reduces the overall risk of outbreaks. When the skin is dry, it can easily become irritated or damaged, resulting in pimples. Being hydrated also ensures new skin cells develop correctly as sores heal.
There is no standard daily recommended water intake because each person’s water needs are different, depending on age, how active they are, temperature, and any medical conditions. Many health authorities recommend drinking between six and eight 8-ounce glasses of fluid daily.
Medical Treatments for Acne Pimples
There are many medical treatment options for acne, many of which are highly effective, though they can cause some side effects and may not be right for everyone. People can speak to a doctor about whether using medicine or medicinal creams is right for them, especially if home remedies have not been working.
Popular OTC treatments for mild to moderate acne sores contain the following active ingredients:
- salicylic acid
- hydrogen peroxide
- alpha hydroxy acids
Doctors may prescribe a stronger medication to treat acne, including:
- tretinoin gels and creams
- clindamycin gels and creams
- oral antibiotics
- oral isotretinoin
- birth control medications
Choose the right cleanser
Many regular soaps have an acidity, or pH, that is too high and can irritate the skin, making acne worse. Choose cleansers, rinses, and washes with a pH closer to the skin’s natural pH of around 5.5 to reduce the risk of acne flare-ups and let sores heal.
Aspirin
Salicylic acid is the main ingredient in aspirin. It is also a go-to for acne treatments. You can harness the acne-fighting power of salicylic acid by making a zip-zapping paste of crushed aspirin and water. Apply it just to pimples. “You never want to spread something like this over your entire face,” says Dr. Jacknin. “It could be very drying and irritating.”
Echinacea
Echinacea is traditionally used to speed wound healing and prevent colds and flu. But several studies—including one published in the Journal of Dermatological Science, have shown that its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects may also improve inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema. And those same properties may help with acne as well, says Dr. Jacknin. Use echinacea tea as a daily face wash by soaking a cloth with it, or put a few drops of tincture on a cotton ball and dab it on blemishes.
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