Acne is an inconvenience for anybody who experiences it. It takes a toll on self-confidence, and it can be physically painful. As if that weren’t bad enough, it also can be costly to treat. If you have mild to moderate acne and are tired of spending money on over-the-counter (OTC) products, set your wallet aside and try some of these food remedies instead.
Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is an effective astringent for acne-prone skin. The citric acid in lemon juice helps fight bacteria and promotes skin elasticity. It also helps clean dirt and dead skin cells from the pores. Use a cotton ball to apply lemon juice over your entire face as you would with acne pads or other astringents. If straight lemon juice stings or is too strong for you to tolerate, you can dilute it with water according to personal preference. Reapply the lemon juice to your skin after each time you wash your face.
Honey
Honey has a few properties that are effective in treating acne-prone skin. Honey has a sticky texture that grabs onto dirt and debris and pulls it out of the pores. It also has antimicrobial properties, which means it fights bacteria, a leading cause of acne. Since organic honey undergoes less processing, it will be closer to its natural state and means that more of the antimicrobial properties in the honey will be preserved. Check your local health food or natural foods store for organic honey. To use this remedy, use clean hands to spread a layer of honey over your face. Drape a towel around your shoulders to catch any honey that drips as the honey begin to melt from the heat of your skin. Let it sit on your face for 10 to 15 minutes before rinsing. Repeat once daily or as often as you’d like.
Egg Whites and Oatmeal
Egg whites reduce redness, soak up excess oil and firm up the skin. If you have very oily skin, you can combine oatmeal and egg whites for extra oil absorption. To use egg whites alone, mix one or two egg whites in a bowl until they have a bubbly texture. Apply the egg whites directly to clean skin and leave on for about 15 to 20 minutes. As the egg whites dry, the mask will become very stiff. If you want to add oatmeal, just mix in a few spoonfuls with the egg whites and apply to your skin. Rinse the mask off with warm water. Because this mask can be quite drying, apply an oil-free moisturizer after rinsing. This will help prevent your oil glands from trying to make up for the oil that was lost.
