Acne is a widespread skin condition all over the world, affecting around 85% of individuals sooner or later in their lives.
Traditional acne treatments can be costly and often have undesirable side effects such as dryness, redness, and irritation.
This has led many people to search for natural ways to remove acne from skin. The Internet is full of suggestions, but do these treatments really work?
Light therapy for skin, zinc supplement and other methods have shown to be excellent treatment options for acne. This article explores how to get rid of acne and 4 proven ways to remove acne from your skin. However, before finding remedies, you must know the due causes behind a condition.
What Causes Acne?
Blackheads create when oil and dead skin cells combine to form a plug that blocks the pores. Usually, your skin naturally kills dead cells. But if your body creates too much sebum (oil), dead skin cells can get trapped in your pores, on the word of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).
Sometimes a bacteria called p. Acne is also entombed in the pore, where it multiplies. “As the P. acnes bacteria that certainly live on the skin overgrow within this clogged follicle, the zone becomes inflamed, and this is when you start to see papules, pustules, and cystic lesions,” says dermatologist RealSelf Sejal Shah, MD.
The treatments below work to exfoliate dead skin cells, absorb excess oil, stop inflammation, and kill P. acnes bacteria. There are also some treatments that specifically target hormonal acne. Let’s discuss how to treat Acne?
Ways to Remove Acne from Your Skin
1. Light Therapy
Dermatologists have used visible light devices that kill bacteria on the skin as an alternative acne treatment for 20 years. Light therapy, also called blue light, red light, or phototherapy, is a reliable source treatment that is safe for most people and relatively free from side effects.
There are two main types of visible light therapy that are used in clinical settings: blue light and red light. Each has a specific use and, while both help acne, each has different benefits.
Blue Light Therapy
Blue light therapy is the most common type of light therapy used to treat acne breakouts.
The blue light wavelength has an antimicrobial upshot, which makes it effective in killing various types of bacteria that can accumulate in the pores and sebaceous glands and cause epidemics.
In one research, people with acne who were treated for five weeks with blue light therapy saw an enhancement in 77% of cases.
Blue light therapy also benefits condition your skin, eliminating free radicals that oxidize and age your face. The treatment also has anti-inflammatory benefits, which decrease other acne symptoms, such as redness.
Red Light Therapy
Red light therapy helps promote healing and can reduce the visibility of acne scars. It also has anti-inflammatory capabilities.
Red light therapy works well below the surface of the skin to help calm and repair tissue. When your acne is caused by a chronic skin condition, red light therapy may be the best option for you.
2. Zinc Supplement
Zinc is an essential nutrient that is vital for cell growth, metabolism, hormone production, and immune system.
It is also one of the proven treatments to remove acne from your skin. Research shows that people with acne tend to have lower levels of zinc in their blood than those with fair skin.
Several studies have shown that taking zinc by mouth helps reduce acne. In one study, 48 acne patients received oral zinc supplements three times a day. After eight weeks, 38 patients experienced an 80 to 100% reduction in acne.
The optimal dose of zinc for acne has not been established. Still, several studies have shown a significant reduction in acne by using 30 to 45 mg of elemental zinc per day.
The recommended upper safe zinc limit is 40 mg per day, so it is best not to exceed this amount, except under the supervision of a doctor. Taking excessive zinc can cause side effects, such as stomach pain and intestinal irritation.
3. Retinol
You have probably heard of the benefits of retinoid creams to combat aging, but vitamin A is also effective in eliminating acne. “Retinoids make skin cells come back at a faster rate, decrease oil production and help exfoliate the skin,” says a self-certified dermatologist Rita Linkner, MD Another benefit: acne is the inflammation and retinoids are anti-inflammatory.
Shah often recommends over-the-counter retinols or prescription retinoids to his acne-prone patients. “I think that compared to other treatments, they are beneficial not only for treating acne but also for preventing the formation of new acne, as they help prevent the initial stage of the follicle from becoming clogged,” he says. “We can also help with some of the post-acne problems, like hyperpigmentation.”
But keep in mind that retinoids can also be irritating, and if you have sensitive skin (or eczema or rosacea), a prescription retinoid might be too strong an option. However, your over-the-counter dermatologist may recommend an over-the-counter retinol with a low concentration (0.1 to 0.25 percent), which may be better tolerated.
Retinol is also not a quick fix. It takes time to see the results (possibly a few months), and it’s something you’ll have to keep using to maintain its benefits.
4. Honey and Cinnamon Mask
Honey and Cinnamon are great sources of antioxidants. Studies have shown that applying antioxidants to the skin is more effective in reducing acne than benzoyl peroxide and retinoids. These are two conventional acne treatments for the skin that have antibacterial properties.
The antioxidants were found in vitamin B3, linoleic fatty acid (omega-6), and sodium ascorbyl phosphate (SAP), which is a derivative of vitamin C. These specific antioxidants are not found in honey or cane, but there is likelihood that other antioxidants may have a parallel effect.
Both honey and Cinnamon also have the ability to reduce bacteria and reduce inflammation, which are two factors that stimulus acne.
While the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties of honey and Cinnamon may help acne-prone skin, there is no particular research on its ability to treat acne. It’s a natural acne treatment method.
Choose the best treatment based on your skin condition and consult your dermatologists if need.
