Acne affects over 80% of our population at some point in their lifetime. It is the most common skin disorder and can cause pain, affect self esteem, and be a general nuisance to people that are affected. Dermatology has many treatments that are very effective on acne, but certain medications may come at a negative cost to your health. Recent studies have linked long term antibiotics and accutane to inflammatory bowel diseases like Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease.
If you have acne, but don’t want to subject yourself to drugs that may be harsh on your body, here are some natural treatments that can work just as well:
Witch Hazel Home Remedy
One natural remedy that has recently gained alot of popularity, is witch hazel extract. Witch hazel is a natural astringent that comes from the North American Witch-hazel
shrub. Extract from the leaves and bark of this plant can shrink swollen pores and kill the bacteria that causes acne. This plant had been used by Native Americans to disinfect cuts and insect bites for hundreds of years. It is a cheap and very effective way to treat inflammatory acne. One study showed it to reduce redness by constricting blood vessels and also inhibit the growth of bacteria on the skin.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea Tree Oil is another herbal acne remedy that has scientific studies to back up its effectiveness. This native Australian plant has been used by indigenous people for 100′s of years to treat skin ailments and colds. It was discovered as a natural antibiotic in the 1920′s, but mostly abandoned after the discovery of penicillin. As interest has grown into natural remedies, a resurgence of it’s use has occurred. Almost 100 chemical components have been isolated from the oil, but the compound terpinen-4-ol is believed to be responsible for much of it’s anti-bacterial qualities. Tea Tree oil should only be used topically as ingestion of this substance can cause negative health effects. Experts recommend a solution of no more than 5% for the treatment of acne, even though higher concentrations exist.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is usually only thought of as a disinfectant for cuts and scrapes, but it is actually occurs naturally in our own bodies. H2O2 is made by our own white blood cells to fight infection. It helps destroy the cell membranes of invading bacteria and sterilizes wounds. It can also be a very effective way to fight acne in 2 different ways. When peroxide is used topically, it can kill the bacteria that cause acne. Researches believe that it also may signal white blood cells and alert them to the infection. It may help our own immune system locate invading acne bacteria and destroy it.
Egg White Mask
One natural remedy that has gotten alot of praise on the acne.org review pages is the egg

white mask. This mask may owe it’s beneficial effects to the sulfur that is contained in it. Sulfur is a natural anti bacterial that can destroy p. acnes on the surface ofthe skin. It has been used for centuries and still holds up against man-made anti-biotics. This mask can also exfoliate dead skin cells that clog pores. The only negative effect is the smell that is easily washed off with soap and water.
Egg White Mask Recipe
1) Separate the white from the yoke of 1 egg.
2) Wisk the whites with an egg beater or fork.
3) Wash your face
4) Spread the Egg White on Your Face and let dry for 15-20 minutes. (When it dries it will feel tight on your skin)
5) Wash off the mask with warm water.
With the rapid progress of mainstream medicine today, we often feel like it has all the answers. Sometimes negative health effects can show up years down the road, as with the drug accutane. This medication is one of the most effective treatments available for acne, but the side effects are horrendous. It was considered safe when it was first introduced in the 80′s, but as the years went by, side effects like crohn’s disease, depression, and birth defects were discovered. When ever possible, using a harmless substance like egg whites is preferable to a drug with a laundry list of damaging side effects.

















