Best Herbs for Acne Treatment
Using herbs for acne treatment can clear redness, reduce swelling, and speed up healing of damaged skin tissue.
You can use some of these herbs either as an infusion or tea or in their essential oil form. Use the dried herbs to make a tea which you can apply to the skin. If you use them in essential oil form, you may want to reduce the strength by combining the essential oil with a carrier oil that will not clog your pores such as jojoba oil or grape seed oil.
You will find some of these herbs in commercial skin creams. These can be good if the cream contains enough of the herb to make a difference.
List of Herbs for Acne
- Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is good for the skin whether you have acne or not. It has both antibacterial and antifungal properties and is often used to treat burns, bug bites, and poison ivy. It is soothing and has an anti-inflammatory effect on pimples. You can either buy aloe vera gel or use it straight from a plant leaf. The plant is easy to grow on a window ledge. When you need some gel just break off a leaf and squeeze out the gel that is inside. For acne just apply a small amount of gel to the eruption and the surrounding area twice a day. Read about the Benefits of Aloe Vera Juice. - Calendula
This is Calendula Officinalis or Pot Marigold, the plant people grow in their flower gardens. The petals of the flowers are anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory. You can make a tea using fresh or dried calendula petals by steeping them in hot water for several minutes. Strain the tea into a glass container with a lid and store it in the refrigerator for up to a week. Use the tea in your daily skin care regime by applying it topically to trouble areas. You can also get calendula cream. Calendula should not be used by pregnant women. It should not be used if you are taking certain drugs so check with your pharmacist or physician before using. - Thyme
Thyme is a strong astringent and is an ingredient in the mouthwash, Listerine. Use Thyme the same way as Calendula above by making a tea and storing it in the refrigerator. It will tighten your pores. - Lavender Oil
Lavender Oil will soothe the skin. It has anti-bacterial properties and is believed to reduce future outbreaks. It will reduce redness. Never use Lavender Oil full strength. Dilute it with one of the carrier oils mentioned above. - Tea Tree Oil
Tea Tree Oil has anti-bacterial properties which make it ideal for herbs for acne. Many people find it too strong but it can be diluted by combining it with a carrier oil. Learn bout the amazing Benefits of Tea Tree Oil. - Witch Hazel
Witch Hazel is an astrigent and an anti-inflammatory that soothes the skin. It is non-drying and can be used to clean and tone while not disturbing the pH balance of the skin. It may sting a little at first but this soon passes and it will have a numbing affect on sore pimples. Apply it to the skin with a cotton ball twice a day. - Echinacea
According to a study done by the Mayo Clinic, echinacea will reduce swelling and speed the healing of pimples. There are several Echinacea Creams on the market. Be sure to get one that contains at least 15% echinacea juice. - Evening Primrose Oil
Evening primrose oil contains GLA (gamma-linolenic acid) which is an essential fatty acid. It is believed that EFA's aid in diluting the sebum produced by the skin which is the culprit in clogged pores. Take 1,000 mgs three times a day and give it a few weeks before you decide if it is helping or not. Learn about Evening Primrose Oil Benefits.Agrimony
Agrimony is a mild astringent and known since medieval times to promote the healing of wounds. Today it is used for all kinds of skin rashes and is one of the important herbs for acne. Make a tea with the leaves or dried powder and apply to areas of the body where acne occurs. Do this in the morning before dressing and again before going to bed. Read more about Agrimony Herb. - Grape Seed Extract
A few drops of grape seed extract mixed with a small amount of water applied two or three times a day to the breakout will act as an antiseptic. Also, many find that Grape Seed Oil is lighter than jojoba oil and absorbs better as well without leaving an oily appearance. Some find that just using the oil alone helps clear eruptions. Learn more about the benefits of grape seed extract.
It is a good idea to use these herbs on a small area in the beginning to see how your skin reacts. If you do not get the results you want, try a different one.
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