As people become increasingly mindful of what they are putting in their bodies, there may be some question as to whether taking medication for acne is the only option someone has. Some may be concerned about possible side effects, or perhaps they simply don’t like the idea of taking medication.

The short answer? Yes. There are some natural alternatives to treat acne. However, taking medication is truly the most effective way to treat acne.

There are reasons some people with acne may not be able to take medication. For example, pregnant women cannot take acne medication. Likewise, some acne cases are pretty mild, and don’t need aggressive treatment.

While medication is the most effective way to treat acne, this article will guide you through a few natural remedies that you may find helpful.

Facial Treatments

A facial is a clinical procedure that involves a variety of treatments and ingredients to clean the skin and improve its appearance. These facials physically open clogged pores to remove dead skin cell build up and other debris.

There are several types of facials that are used to treat acne. Some of these include:

• Classic Treatment: This process usually consists of steaming, an exfoliating scrub, massaging, and applying a mask. This cleanses and exfoliates your skin allowing dead skin cells to be removed. This type of treatment works best on blackheads or whiteheads.
• Decongesting: This treatment is a classic facial with a focus on unblocking pores and smoothing the skin. While it doesn’t treat the underlying cause of acne, this treatment can help improve the look of your skin. It works best on whiteheads and blackheads.
• Microdermabrasion: This noninvasive treatment uses a handheld device to gently exfoliate the top layer of skin. After 30-40 minutes, moisturizer is applied, and your skin will appear brighter and smoother. This treatment can treat blackheads and whiteheads and help improve scars and discoloration.

While facial treatments may improve the look of your skin or soothe problem areas, these treatments. Without the right medical regimen, breakouts will continue to occur.

For patients seeking the ultimate in natural treatment, facials can be designed using a variety of organic and holistic ingredients.  For example, honey, oatmeal and yogurt are common natural ingredients that can be used for masks and moisturizing treatments.  Ground cornmeal can be mixed with honey to create an effective natural exfoliating scrub.  The enzymes in papaya and pineapple are also used as natural exfoliating treatments for acne-prone skin.

Blue Light Treatment

Another natural treatment option that could help you see improvement in the appearance of your skin is the light-based treatment known as Blue Light Therapy. Blue Light helps your skin by killing the bacteria within pores that might be prone to acne. It is also thought to act as an anti-inflammatory on your skin, which can reduce some symptoms of acne, like redness. In one study, 77% of patients who underwent treatment for five weeks saw a visible improvement in their skin.

While patients see a reduction of redness and increased acne control after use, Blue Light Treatment can also be used effectively in combination with other treatments.

Acne Skin Care

Taking care of your acne-prone skin is an essential part of any acne treatment. However, skin care tends to be one of the most misunderstood aspects of acne therapy.

People with acne often use abrasive scrubs and tools in an attempt to aggressively scrub the skin clear. This practice actually makes acne worse. Instead, exfoliating washes should be used to remove the dead, sticky skin cells that fill the pores in acne-prone skin.

When it comes to keeping your skin clean and cared for, there are a few principles you should follow.

• Consistency

It is essential to be consistent with how you treat your acne at home. Noncompliance with treatment is the number one reason why acne fails to improve in patients.

• Adapting

It is also important that you adapt your home regimen to meet your personal needs and care plan. Your skin is not going to remain the same throughout any treatment, so it is important to adapt your skin care to make sure you are doing what’s best for your skin in the condition it’s currently in.

• Use Products Safe for Acne

Everything you put on your skin should be safe for your acne prone skin. Moisturizers should be oil free and specifically advertise as safe for acne prone skin. You should also choose cosmetics based on how safe they are for problem skin. Remember: Just because it says “natural,” it doesn’t mean it is good for your skin.

• Protect Your Skin from Sunlight

The sun’s radiation is a well-known enemy to anyone’s skin, causing everything from light and dark spots, to premature aging and skin cancer. Using an acne-safe SPF 30 sunblock is essential for people with acne to prevent damage to skin cells that can ultimately make acne worse.

Always remember that these natural remedies do not take care of the root cause of acne on their own. In order to truly treat your acne, they should be used in combination with a dermatologist prescribed treatment regimen.

If you have acne and are looking for aggressive and effective ways to treat it, the acne experts at Advanced Acne Institute can help you. Dr. Colsky and his associates are dedicated to giving you what you want most: clear skin. Contact us today to discuss how this goal can be achieved.