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

  face mask

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:

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

natural ingredients - Copy

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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Aloe Vera Hair Growth

Does Aloe Vera Help Hair Growth ?

Many are familiar with the incredible benefits of aloe vera for healing burns. However, did you ever think it would be good for “hair growth”? Studies are showing that it can be very useful to treat topical hair loss. This is because too often, hair loss can be a result of decreased circulation to the head (i.e. micro circulation defects), and aloe is a stimulant; meaning it promotes circulation.

Brushing Promotes Hair Growth

Often people that are experiencing hair loss/thinning are afraid to touch their hair, brush the area or stroke their hands through their hair because of the possibility that more hair will come out and make things worse. I’m sure some men don’t even scrub shampoo into their hair because they are afraid of more hair loss.

Let’s get this straight! This is false, false, false! It is actually better to brush the area where your hair is thinning/your losing hair because it will increase blood flow to that region of your head and stimulate growth.

aloe vera hair growth

Alopecia

If you have never heard of alopecia, you are probably familiar with it. It is often seen on men (and women) who have small bald spots on their head. It’s not a big deal but many are self-conscious about it. Aloe vera or Aloe barbandensis gel has shown to also improve hair growth following alopecia (3).

Why you may ask? Well, it has to do with the chemical “aloenin” in the aloe, which is the major constituent responsible for promoting hair growth without irritating the skin (4).

Best Shampoo For Hair Growth

There are many shampoos with aloe vera that are very good for (a) promoting circulation to your head (i.e. increasing hair growth) and (b) moisturizing your hair and improving it’s shine. The eco-savy staff tried a whole bunch of different shampoo’s with aloe, and concluded that this one is the best (right from Thailand too! …the aloe is of much higher quality):

 

References

(1) Grindlay D., Reynolds T. (1986) The Aloe vera phenomenom: a review of the properties and modern uses of the leaf parenchyma gel. J Ethnopharm 16: 117-151

(2) Inaoka Y., Fukushima M., Kuroda H. (1988) Hair tonics containing aloenin. Jpm Kokai Tokkyo Koho 3: JP6329528.

What To Look For On Your Shampoo Label? Phthalate Free and Sulfate Free!

Eco-Savy recently wrote about the importance of sulfate-free shampoo’s, but have you ever heard about “phthalates” in your shampoo products? More often than not, they are there, and are often partially responsible for that that lovely “orchid must” or “citrus zing” smell that has lured you into buying the particular brand in the first place. Unfortunately, chances are, you have been taking in a dose of these hormone-disrupting phthalates with every squirt,smear or slather, whether the scent aggravates your senses or not.

Phthalates are not just found in shampoo products, they are found in personal care products, makeup, fragrances and toys. Indeed they are hard to find on labels and often hidden behind the word “fragrance”. However, you can and should look for the phrase “phthalate free“.

Dibutyl phthalate (DBT) and diethylhexyl pthalate (DEHP) are two of the phthalates that have been banned from toys but are still found in cosmetics here in Canada. However, back in 2007, 72% of the deodorants, perfumes, hairsprays /mousses/gels and lotions tested in a report called “Not Too Pretty” by Health Care Without Harm and Environmental Working Group contained at least one phthalate.

Fortunately, consumers are growing wiser and becoming more self-educated in navigating themselves through the marketplace and reading labels (hopefully Eco-Savy has been helping you in this journey too!). As a result, corporations are getting the message.   A great example of a popular brand that is making it’s shampoo, conditioner and body lotion toxin-free is Crabtreee & Evelyn (refer to image below). A few years ago we would never have recommended their products to you because of the amount of parabens, sodium-lauryl sulfate (SLS) and pthalates in them. However, this new line of products by them says RIGHT ON THE LABEL that there are NO phthalates, sulfates or parabens in this particular shampoo product. We were so excited about this, we just had to share it with you. Note however to still read the label on their products to ensure they have not just done this for this one shampoo/conditioner/body lotion line.

  sulfate free shampoo

Triclosan Toothpaste

Seems like every product on the market today has an “antibacterial” claim, as if we are all trying to fight the flu (or a runny nose) like the plague.  However, did you ever think these antibacterial chemicals were being put in your toothpaste?! I sure didn’t!

What Is Triclosan?

What makes a product “antibacterial” is the active ingredient called triclosan. Triclosan can often be referred to as “Mircoban” (tradename). Considering the extent to which it is being use today (antibacterial liquid soap bars, toot pastes, deodorants and moisturizers) it can be problematic. I mean it is even in towels and hair accessories!

Why does everything in our culture have to be in such excess? I wish there was an extent (percentage) to the amount of products these chemicals could be allowed in our products.

Why Is Triclosan Harmful?

According to Health Canada, “anti-bacterial soaps/toothpastes are not recommended because they destroy good bacteria as well as bad, and can add to the problem of “antibiotic resistance.” Translation: they breed superbugs. Also it is important to note that colds and the flu are caused by viruses and antibacterial’s don’t work on viruses! In a nutshell, the main reason why we are washing with antibacterial soaps come cold/flu season is, simply, MARKETING.

Triclosan in Toothpaste

Many of you are concerned about triclosan in your toothpaste. It has been put in only certain toothpastes (*cough*, *cough* – Colgate Total Toothpaste). The main reason triclosan is there is to fight plaque, however scientist find that triclosan only offers minimal plaque inhibitory properties. However, there are other toothpastes out there like Crest Pro Health which have other antibacterial ingredients (i.e stannous fluoride), which are just as good as triclosan but don’t increase your risk of antibacterial resistance.

TRICLOSAN TOOTHPASTE

Triclosan Banned In Europe – But Not USA or CAN

The European Union and other countries have banned or restricted triclosan. Still, the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says it is investigating the health issues, but doesn’t yet have enough evidence to recommend changing consumer use of products that contain triclosan.

At the same time, the FDA says it has no proof that washing with soap containing triclosan is actually better than washing with regular soap. The FDA advises that if you are concerned about using hand and body soaps with triclosan, you should wash with regular soap. To get the same effect, just wash your hands for 20 seconds (pretty simple solution -without all the chemicals).

Triclosan In Our Bodies

As a result of Health Canada and the FDA, not banning triclosan the level in our bodies are rising. For example, since 2004 the level of antibacterial triclosan coursing through our bodies has jumped by 50%.

Progress In Canada To Ban Triclosan

Fortunately, in 2009, none other than the Canadian Medical Association asked the feds to ban it from consumer products and a decision should be made soon.

So until triclosan is banned from your toothpaste and antibacterial products, try to limit your use and opt for a healthier option (i.e. regular soap, natural toothpaste or crest).

Alternative Options To Triclosan Toothpaste

Have no fear! You can buy toothpaste without triclosan (note: Nature’s Emporium – refer to link at top of blog, has a variety of options you can choose from). Regular Colgate doesn’t have it, but Colgate Total toothpaste does, and Tom’s of Maine sells many triclosan-free options. Crest Pro-Health toothpaste contains another antibacterial, stannous fluoride, also to help protect against gingivitis.

To learn more about triclosan in dish soap, refer to an earlier article. Also, here is what the FDA has to say about triclosan.