Not only may acne permanently scar your skin, but it can also affect your self-image and confidence. Prescription medications and chemical-based topical creams and serums aren’t your only option for treating this skin condition. Several herbal products, available as an organic option in many health food stores, can help alleviate and treat the symptoms and appearance of acne. Not all herbal remedies are appropriate for everyone, and you should discuss your herbal treatment plans with your dermatologist before using them to combat your acne.
Witch Hazel
Witch hazel works as an herbal astringent for acne, reports the University of Chicago.The astringent solution gets distilled from the leaves and bark of the Hamamelis plant. It can help clean the skin of substances that may aggravate acne, and also helps to tighten the pores and improve surface blood flow for general skin health.
Tea Tree Oil
The foliage of the Melaleuca alternifolia tree is sent through a steam distillation process to create tea tree oil. The National Institutes of Health say this oil has antiseptic properties that may help kill the bacteria that cause acne. The institutes also report that it may help to reduce the number of pimples you experience.
Burdock
Tinctures made from burdock may help cleanse the body internally, purifying the system of toxins that may exhibit themselves externally in the form of acne, reports the University of Michigan Health System. The system says taking 2 to 4 ml of the tincture daily may help. Though such use has traditionally been viewed as effective for acne, the university warns that no clinical research has been done on burdock’s effects.
Lavender Oil
Lavender oil, from the aromatic lavender plant, possesses antiviral and antibacterial properties. It may help soothe the skin and kill the bacteria underlying the acne condition, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Flaxseed Oil
Flaxseed oil, pressed from the flax plant, has a high amount of essential fatty acids, such as omega-3 and omega-6 fats. The University of Maryland Medical Center says these essential nutritional elements can help improve skin conditions related to disorders such as acne and eczema, and can boost general skin health.
