Do you hate your face on the days when you wake up, see the mirror and have a zit glaring back at you? We show you simple home remedies that will eventually erase acne from your face and give you a face you will love every day.

Home remedies for acne

What is acne?
Acne is a temporary skin disorder. There are small pores in the skin which are connected to the oil glands present just under the skin. These oil glands are governed by a hormone called androgen. If the level of androgen increases, the oil glands produce more oil. Of course, the oil can be washed off; but, if there is a blockage in the follicle, the result is acne!
More than 75% adolescents are affected by acne but the condition is not limited to teens alone. Acne generally breaks out in the areas where most oil glands are located, such as the face, back, chest and shoulders.
Stress does not cause acne, but definitely aggravates the onset. The best way to treat acne is via home developed remedies.

Home remedies for acne

-   Cook oats, let it cool. Apply (not rub) it on the face and let the paste stand for 15 minutes. Wash it off. Repeat as often as your routine permits.
-   Gently rub the acne with one or two peeled and crushed cloves of garlic.
-   Take 1 tablespoon of either dried or fresh yeast and mix it with 2 tablespoons of lime juice. Apply it on the face, and wait till it dries completely. Try not to move the muscles of your face. When it is completely dry, peel it off and wash your face with warm water.
-   Take two eggs, separate the whites and whisk them to a smoothed mixture. Dip a ball of cotton wool in this, and apply the egg white to your face. Let it dry completely and then wash your face with warm water.
-   Mix sandalwood paste with a little neem powder. Add rose water to this to make a smooth paste. Apply this paste on your face before you go to bed, and wash it off in the morning. Alternately, if you prefer, you could do this in the afternoon when you are free.
-   Make a paste of fenugreek leaves. Apply this on your face 10 to 15 minutes before you go to bed. Wash it off with warm water.
-   Grind some orange peel with water to make a paste. Apply this on the acne, or any part of the skin that is feeling a sense of irritation. Leave it on till it dries. Wash it off with warm water.

Tackle the root cause
It is important to remember that only using these remedies will not help. The acne causers have to be killed. Therefore, look at cleansing your lifestyle and your system.

-   Keep your face clean.
-   Drink plenty of water. A minimum of 8 glasses is recommended. Drink at least 3 glasses of hot water with the juice of 1 lime and 1 teaspoon of honey, a day.
-   Sleep for at least 8 hours. Your body needs rest in order to repair general wear and tear of tissue and grow well.
-   Get into a routine that accommodates regular meal times.
-   Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. AVOID oily and fried foods, starchy food and sweets.
-   Take vitamin B5 and Zinc supplements as they help to build up the skin’s resistance to acne.
-   Daily exercise is an absolute must.
-   Keep stress levels down with meditation and yoga.
-   Don’t squeeze the pimples.
-   DO NOT use cheap make-up. Better not to use any at all, at least till the acne abates.
-   Protect your skin from the sun. Use a good sunscreen lotion.

De-Scar
In case the acne has resulted in scars, try these remedies:

-   Mix 1 tablespoon of sour cream, 1 tablespoon of yogurt, 1 tablespoon of oats, and a drop or two of lime juice. Apply it on your face. Leave it on for 10 minutes and wash it off. Repeat this as often as you can.
-   Apply some honey on your face. Leave it for about half an hour and then wash it off.
-   Make a face mask with Fuller’s earth: Take 1 heaped teaspoon of multani mitti (Fuller’s earth), add 2 drops of lemon oil, 1 drop of Cyprus or Sage oil. Add about 2 tablespoons of water carefully so that you get a paste. Apply this to your face and leave it till it dries up completely. Wash it off with warm water.

These will take time to work, but if repeated regularly, the scars will surely fade away and the acne won’t return.

Source: Femina