Finding the Best Natural Acne Treatment for You

There is no one single best natural acne treatment for every person. Each individual is slightly different, but there are enough natural methods to choose from that almost everyone can treat their acne effectively without having to resort to messy, usually expensive creams and lotions. These natural treatments are in fact often as effective or even more so than the prescription drugs used for the purpose.

Acne is a very common skin disease which is characterized by skin inflammation. The disease is caused by overactive oil glands clogging pores in the skin; this creates ideal conditions for bacterial infection – the end result is the familiar irritation and inflammation which we know as acne. Acne symptoms may range from the very mild to very severe, depending on the individual. This is a disease which almost everyone faces, usually during puberty, though adults also have problems with the condition on occasion. About 85% of people deal with acne at some point in their lives.

As you may now, the condition of our skin can be a valuable hint as to the state of our overall health. One of the very best natural acne treatment options is to switch to a healthier diet. Of course, every person is slightly different, so foods which seem to trigger breakouts in one person may not have the same effect when eaten by others. However, a healthier diet in general is good for treating acne; and any foods which have a tendency to make you break out should be avoided.

Drinking plenty of water is one important thing to do when you’re battling acne. You should drink eight to ten glasses of water every day; this is not only good for your skin, but good for your overall health.

Keeping your stress level under control and ensuring that you get enough sleep are also part of a natural acne treatment regimen. One thing you may not have thought of is keeping out of the sun. Sunlight can damage your skin and the dehydration that sunburns cause can worsen a case of acne. There is an old wives’ tale that a sunburn will improve acne, but this is absolutely wrong.

Since you’ll be avidly avoiding the sun, or using a sunscreen with a high SPF (Sun Protection Factor), make sure your diet includes foods rich with vitamin D like fruits, vegetables, and vitamin enriched dairy products.

The best natural acne treatment programs also include the avoidance of chemical cleansing and skin care products. Rather than harsh soaps, wash your face with a paste of sandalwood and fresh basil. You can also cleanse your skin with crushed strawberry leaves or witch hazel (which is good for dry skin). Make sure never to use rubbing alcohol to clean your skin if you have acne; this will irritate your skin by drying it out.

Make sure to cleanse your skin gently. Hard scrubbing irritates your skin and can even worsen the condition to the extent of causing permanent scarring. Use mild facial cleansers which include aloe vera and vitamin E and are designed for the skin type you have.

Finding the best natural acne treatment for you takes some trial and error. You won’t hit upon the right combination right off the bat, but you will soon find a acne treatment which is perfect for your skin and before you know it, your acne troubles will be a thing of the past.