With more than 60 million people affected by it, acne ranks as the most common skin condition in the United States, according to the Acne Resource Center. Maintaining smooth, clear skin does not have to break the bank, however. An acne-free complexion can be cost-free when treated with a regimen of alternative home remedies.
Sugar
Although when ingested through foods, sugar’s biochemical toxins often emit impurities into the skin’s sebaceous glands, blocking pores and generating outbreaks, you can apply a topical sugar preparation to improve your complexion, according to naturopathic physician Dr. Andrew Rubman in the book “Alternative Cures.”
Prepare an exfoliating facial scrub by combining two parts of white sugar with one part of brown sugar, recommends Natural-HomeRemedies.com. Add water to form a paste-like consistency. Wash your face with the scrub and a small amount of warm water. Rinse off with cold water.
Face Fruit Smoothie
Do not throw soggy grapes and bruised apples in the trash. Instead, block blemishes with a soothing fruit smoothie. According to the book “The Herbal Drugstore,” fruit acids inhibit excess production of keratin and contain agents that help remove dead skin cells that clog the pores. Fruit acids “act like commercial salicylic acid formulas without the side effects,” notes herbalist Sunny Moore.
Moore suggests combining any fruits you have on hand, such as grapes, strawberries, kiwi or pineapple, and pureeing them in a blender. Apply the mixture as a mask all over your face. Allow it to dry for 15 to 20 minutes. Wash it off with warm water.
Lettuce
Lettuce has been used for generations to soothe sunburn and wind-burned skin. It also yields substantial results when used as a wash for pimples, says Natural-HomeRemedies.com. Tear off a handful of lettuce leaves, throw them in a cup of water and heat the water in the microwave for 30 seconds. Soak a cotton ball into the liquid and cleanse your face thoroughly.
Alternatively, you can soak a wash cloth in the lettuce water, heat it in the microwave for 30 to 40 seconds and apply the steaming cloth to your face. Relax, and allow the poultice to draw out your blackheads.
Water
Just turn on your tap water for an effective, free acne remedy. As cited by the Acne Resource Center, a Dutch research study indicated that drinking an additional 1/2 cup of water daily improves the complexion, as it helps the skin become soft and supple. “The suppleness of skin helps pores stay open.” Extra water in the summer months is particularly important to clear out excess oil secretions produced by the heat.
