5 Amazing Natural Remedies for Adult Acne

home remedies

Let’s face it, getting adult acne is no fun! However, it is a lot more common than you would think. In fact, a 2012 study published in the Journal of Women’s Health  found that nearly half of all women ages 21 to 30, a quarter of women ages 31 to 12, and 12% of women ages 41 to 50 get acne. No matter how old we are, pimples usually form in the same time- honored way: Pores—which contain oil glands—become blocked, letting dirt, bacteria, and cells build up and form a plug.

Why We Get Adult Acne?

For most women, hormonal changes, either around the monthly cycle or during a menopausal shift, are the culprit. But dietary imbalances and stress also cause flare-ups. “Acne in adults is like a whistle blow. Often it’s a sign that something else not quite right is going on,” says Michael Murray, ND, a naturopath and coauthor of The Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine.

Home Remedies For Acne

Have no fear though! There are some amazing home remedies to treat adult acne that are very inexpensive. Below I list five tried and true examples of remedies that work !

1. Tea Tree Oil For Skin

Less irritating than its chemical cousin benzoyl peroxide, tea tree oil has a long history of fighting mild to moderate acne outbreaks. The oil, which comes from the leaves of a tree native to Australia, has antiseptic properties that help reduce acne-causing bacteria on the skin and quell inflammation in skin cells. “We’ve seen it work against a wide range of organisms, including 27 of the 32 strains of acne-causing bacteria,” says Murray.

Multiple studies, including a review last year in the International Journal of Dermatology, back the plant’s power. You can find tea tree oil in a wide variety of soaps, skin washes, and topical solutions. Look for a minimum concentration of 5% of the oil (up to 15% for more severe acne). Below is the tea tree oil cream that I use. It contains vitamin E and is less potent than others, but works 10 times better (according to me). Other tea tree oil creams are soo strong and leave the skin way to dry. This formula is geared more towards adult men and women, not teens.

2. Detox Tea

This is my number one suggestion!…and I bet you are surprised to see this on the list. Why detox tea? Well, a lot of the time we get acne is because of what we have been eating. A gentle detox can help clean your kidney and liver, flushing out the “gunk” which may be contributing to your skin problems.

Some detox’s tea like Ultra Slender Tea’s 15 day detox even have rooibus and dandelion root, which do miracles for acne.

The dandelion plant has a bad reputation as a weed, but it’s actually an excellent source of vitamins A, C, D and B, as well as the minerals iron, potassium and zinc…and zinc works miracles for your skin. Ultra Slender Tea has the highest concentration of dandelion root, compared to any other detox tea on the market.

15 day detox

According to a research that was published in 2009, the dandelion root is a natural agent used for detoxification on a very common scale. It has the ability to easily remove all toxins from your liver and kidneys. Apart from that, it also helps in curing acne that is caused to an excess of bacteria, or due to a hormonal imbalance.

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When preparing a cup of Ultra Slender Tea, you should keep some tea aside for later use on your skin! Before bed try using the tea water on your face where the acne is present, allowing for a much cleaner and smoother skin. Since dandelion roots contain a number of detoxification properties, you can also be sure that very soon, it would suck out the toxins present in your skin, leaving you with smoother and clearer skin.

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3. Aloe Vera

 Aloe vera is often associated with wound healing and soothing of burns, but it is loaded with vitamins and can nourish your skin while preventing acne scars. Specifically, aloe vera will reduce the diameter of your acne boils and reduce their redness. How? Aloe Vera contains over 75 different nutrients and vitamins, minerals, enzymes, sugars, anthraquinones or phenolic compounds, lignin, saponins, sterols, amino acids and salicylic acid. Additionally, aloe Vera contains 19 of the 20 amino acids required by the human body for good health. The human body however produces only 12 of these. Then 8 outstanding amino acids (also known as “essential” amino acids) have to be consumed as food or drink.

For aloe vera to benefit the skin, one must either drink aloe vera juice or apply it topically. In a study by Dr. Davis et al. it was found that when animal drank Aloe Vera orally they experienced a 62.5% reduction in would diameter compared to animal who drank plain water for 2 months (control).  Note, the mice received 100 mg/kg/day of aloe vera.

Dr. Davis, et al. and his team also published that when aloe vera is applied topically to mice, they experienced a 50.8% reduction in wound diameter. Although this is a 11.7% reduction in improvement compared to drinking aloe vera, it is still a significant improvement in would healing.  Specifically, the scientist put a 25% w/v concentration in Eucerin cream.

4. Aspirin Face Mask

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Did you know that aspirin contains salicylic acid, which is one of the most commonly used ingredients in acne products today. Salicylic acid cleans out pores and exfoliates the skin (which is ideal for sloughing away fine lines and wrinkles too). Aspirin is so great for acne and is one of the strongest anti-inflammatory ingredients you can find in your cupboard. Hence, it will immediately reduce redness.

For it to be most effective as an “at home remedy for acne” you will need to crush it and use it as a face mask.

What You’ll Need:
5-7 Uncoated aspirin pills
Distilled Water (bottled water like Fiji or Evian)
1 tsp Organic Honey

Instructions:
In a mug, drop the aspirin in with just enough distilled water to create a paste consistency. Let the aspirin dissolve in the water (you can mix a bit if necessary). If it seems a bit too pasty, add more water. If it is too liquidy, add another aspirin. I’d advise not to use more than 8 aspirin. Once you have your paste at the consistency that you like, you can apply to skin as is. However, I find that by adding 1 teaspoon of organic honey, the mask is less drying to the skin. You also receive the added benefits of honey (and I love honey for acne-prone skin) so I have included honey in my directions. You could also sub the honey for olive oil if your skin is extra dry or irritated.

How to Use:
Apply to the face, jaw, chest, back – any area that is prone to breakouts. Leave on for 7-15 minutes. This is great for men too as aspirin is wonderful for ingrown hairs (i.e. beard acne). Use up to two times a week but make sure that you make a new batch each time you use.

*You will notice an immediate glow to the skin once you rinse off the mask. Skin will feel heavenly soft and look luminous. Blackheads should decrease after the first use as well. Enjoy!

5. Blue Light For Acne

It was found that some of the visible violet light, present in sunlight, in the range 405-420nm activates a porphyrin (Coproporphyrin III) in Propionibacterium acnes which damages and ultimately kills the bacteria by releasing singlet oxygen. A total of 320J/cm2 of light within this range renders the bacteria non viable. This part of the spectrum is just outside the ultraviolet and produces little if any tanning or sunburn.

The Caribbean Sun Box Red and Blue Light Therapy Acne Treatment Professional Model RB-PRO is a highly effective light therapy light box that uses LED lamps of a specific wavelength to treat acne. Using the Caribbean Sun Box Red and Blue Light Therapy Acne Treatment Professional Model RB-PRO a few minutes a day can lead to beautiful acne-free skin. Measuring just 5.5″ x 9″ x 1.25″, it easily fits on a desk, table, or countertop.

Application of the light for 3 consecutive days has been shown to reduce the bacteria in the pores by 99.9%. Since there are few porphyrins naturally found in the skin, the treatment is believed safe except in patients with porphyria; although eye protection is necessary due to light sensitive chemicals in the retina. The light is usually created by fluorescent lamps, bright LEDs or dichroic filament bulbs.

Treatment is often accompanied with application of red light which has been shown to activate ATP in human skin cells (essentially a photobiomodulation effect), and seems to improve response rates. Overall improvements of on average 76% for 80% of patients occurs over 3 months; most studies show that it performs better than Benzoyl peroxide but treatment is far better tolerated.

Note: if the above blue light acne treatment is too expensive for you, maybe start with the Illumamask? I included the link below:

How To Remove Plantar Warts

Plantar Wart

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A Plantar wart can be difficult to detect and is often ignored for a period of time before one will decide to treat it. When done properly, home treatment with the correct medicine (i.e. Wartol) is less of a hassle and pain-free.

While many start by suffocating a plantar wart with duct tape for six days, this isn’t recommended. Why? Well, often the roots can be embedded deep within the skin and it will be hard to know if the wart is 100% removed. Therefore, even if a wart appears to be gone, it may come back at some point. I highly recommend using a clinically proven natural product called Wartol to remove plantar warts. If you are interested in buying this product, just click on the product below.

 

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What Are Plantar Warts?

Before I get into the treatment for Plantar warts, it is important you know what they are to begin with, so you understand how important it is to treat them over-the-counter medicines like Wartol.

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Essentially, Plantar Warts are a variant of the HPV – Human Papilloma Virus – and on their own, can take years to disappear. Hence, if you don’t have a couple of years to wait it out, there are a few thing you can do to remove those unsightly plantar warts. However, before the warts are treated make sure to follow read these pointers:

  • Be careful to avoid touching, picking or scratching warts.
  • Make sure to let your partner know of your condition –always adhere to safe sex.
  • Be sure to wash your hands often with hot water and soap.
  • Warts can spread from contact – so do not touch them.

Plant Wart Treatment

Some plantar warts go away on their own, while others require treatment. Salicylic acid medications and cryotherapy (freezing the warts with liquid nitrogen) are traditional ways to get rid of plantar warts. However, now there are more safe and effective ways for you to remove unsightly warts form your legs, hands, arms and personal areas in the comfort of your own home without a prescriptions. For example covering the warts with duct tape is an alternative method of treatment that has been proven effective, but will not guarantee 100% removal. The most effective treatment we recommend is called Wartol.

How to Remove Plantar Wart

Wartrol is clinically proven and uses FDA approved ingredients to remove common and plantar warts caused by HPV. In fact, the ingredients in the product have long been used to remove warts safely and effectively. What’s amazing is that never before have these ingredients been combined in such a complete formula for wart removal. In our opinion, this is the ultimate Wart Removal Product on the Market. Wartrol is a fast acting, painless liquid that comes in a convenient drop applicator and is simple to use.

5 Green Gifts Everyone Will Love This Holiday Season

Holiday’s can be a stressful time of year, especially when trying to find that special someone or family member a gift that will add value to their life be remembered. However, it can be even harder if that person is “eco-conscious” or has everything under the stars to begin with.

green gifts

I have put together a list of top gifts which any green-minded, health-conscious person would love. We also asked 40 people and these came out on top. They range in price so can tailor to any budget.

1. Growable Gifts

If you have a foodie in the family and they live in a apartment or tight space, they will most likely really enjoy a growable gift. You can go with a plant, or perhaps get fancy with this green herb garden kit. What’s great is it fits in your kitchen.

 

2. Healthy Detox Tea

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Who doesn’t love a cup of tea now and again? If your friend is the type that cares a lot about what they put into their body, values fitness and is trying to accomplish a big goal for 2015 (i.e. complete a triathlon, lose 20 pounds), this skinny tea will be a hit! The Amazon reviews say it really works too. What we like is that it contains many natural herbs, is high-quality, well presented and is hand-blended in Canada. {I personally have tried it and highly recommend}

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3. Flip Flop’s Made From Yoga Mats

These candles are very cool and probably the most comfortable flip flops you will ever wear. If your family member or friend is going away somewhere warm this holiday, you should seriously consider buying them these flip flops. They are made from recycled yoga mats and come in many colors. Click on the picture below to see more.

3. Soy Candles

Candles are a timeless scent that everyone will enjoy from a toddler to your grandmother. They bring so much joy on a cold winter day.  These candles contain no dyes and are a great choice candle for home decor, meditation, yoga, dance, aromatherapy, general relaxation and stress relief.

4. Google’s Nest Thermostat

If you have been living in a bubble over the past year and haven’t seen the five million billboards and ads for this product, let me update you. Google recently bought “Nest” for 3.2 billion! This is a great product and all about energy savings and your gadget-minded friend/family member will go banana’s over it! Everything can be controlled from you mobile too.

 5. Gifts that Help Conserve

World Wildlife FundNational Wildlife FederationNature ConservancyThe Sierra Club and many more will allow you to adopt an animal or buy gifts that benefit the organization and its conservation work.

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Switching Things Up. Meet Homeless Dog Charlie.

We sure talk about being eco-friendly and green chemicals a lot here at eco-savy. However, something else that is dear to our heart are animals. Today we decided to switch things up and share this amazing video of a dog being rescued and given a makeover at a local shelter.

There are thousands of dogs just like Charlie who need a second chance. Share this and help them find homes.

Secret Harmful Chemical In Your Hair Products

Let’s face it, most of us choose a specific hair product because we believe what it claims to do wonders for our hair? …AND, if it’s says “natural” it will most definitely give us that extra push to purchase this magical hair potion. However, more often than not these words are just “marketing-fluff” and you will need to read the ingredient lists. This goes for natural products too, as more times that not that “green tea extract” is 100th on the ingredient list!

Harmful Chemical In Personal Care Product

I know, I know, you don’t have time to read through the 40 chemicals listed on the back on a product. This is why I am here! You really only need to scout the label for a few products and the main one is called “cyclopentasiloxane“.

Harmful Chemicals In Personal Care

 What Is “cyclo-penta-siloxane”?

Cyclopentasiloxane is part of the “siloxane” chemical family. However, this one in particular is also referred to as “D4” by health Canada. Another harmful siloxane to watch out for is called cyclotetrasiloxane (D5)..but this one isn’t found as frequently in products.

Why Avoid Buying Products With Cyclopentasiloxane?

Not only is this chemical prohibited on Health Canada’s Cosmetic Hot List, but has been found to be carcinogenic in multiple scientific studies.

The European Union also has classified cyclopentasiloxane (D4) as an endocrine disruptor, based on evidence that it interferes with human hormone function,[i] and a possible reproductive toxicant that may impair human fertility.[ii]  Additionally, Environment Canada is in the process of restricting siloxanes, but it could take years to do the screening. Best to just avoid these products all together.

Where Else This Chemical Be Found?

Personal care products are just one of many products that contain cyclopentasiloxane. The chemical can also be found in deodorant creams, cosmetics and facial moisturizers…yikes!

Reference


[i]DHI Water and Environment. Study on Enhancing the Endocrine Disrupter Priority List with a Focus on Low Production Volume Chemicals. Revised Report to DG Environment. Hersholm, Denmark: DHI, 2007. http://ec.europa.eu/environment/endocrine/documents/final_report_2007.pdf

[ii] European Commission. Regulation (EC) 1272/2008, Annex VI, Table 3.2. Sep 2009. http://ecb.jrc.ec.europa.eu/classification-labelling/