The treatment of acne may either be the traditional, commercial variety consisting of products like benzoyl peroxide ointments, hormone-based creams and dermatological soaps, or they may be acne home remedies using natural ingredients.

One of the better known acne home remedies is aloe vera. The plant is mainly used to treat digestive disorders, but it is also known for its ability to treat some skin ailments. Although the aloe vera plant is 99% water, it contains ingredients which are natural antibacterial and antiseptic agents. These speed up the skin’s recovery and stimulate the body’s immune system. In a gel that is applied externally, aloe vera is used to treat wounds and cuts, burns and skin infections like acne.

Another plant-derived material widely used in acne home remedies is tea tree oil extract. It has powerful antibacterial properties and also stimulates the immune system. Tea tree oil extract treats viral, bacterial and fungal infections making it an ideal home remedy for acne.

Some other acne home remedies are:

• Apple cider vinegar: vinegar mixed with crushed fermented apples
• Ground orange peel mixed with water to form a paste and applied to the pimples
• Lemon or lime juice diluted with a little water-based
• Garlic: 3 cloves eaten daily or its equivalent in a pill or capsule form
• Turmeric powder and coriander juice or mint juice made into a paste
• Cucumber pulp applied to the eruptions for 15 – 20 minutes every day
• Egg yolk: made into a mask and applied to the skin and washed off after 15 – 20 minutes
• Ground nutmeg mixed with milk applied to the skin from 1 – 2 hours
• Fresh papaya juice together with the skin and seeds applied to the affected area
• Rose water with lemon or lime juice in a 1:1 mixture applied to the skin and rinsed off after 20 minutes. For best results, this must be done for a month.
• Ripe tomato rubbed on the pimples. It must be washed off after one hour.
• Roasted and powdered pomegranate skins mixed with fresh lime juice and made into a paste
• Sandalwood and black gram beans made into a paste. Apply rosewater on the face and the paste on top of it. It must be left on overnight and rinsed off in the morning.
• Ground radish seeds and water made into a paste
• Ground sesame seeds with water: apply as a poultice to the affected area
• Fresh mint juice applied on the face and left on overnight
• Salt and vinegar applied as a paste on the pimples and washed off after 20 minutes
• Leaves of the neem tree and turmeric powder as a paste applied to the pimples for 30 minutes then washed off
  ñ Wheatgrass juice as a drink
• Peanut oil and lime juice made into a paste and applied on the pimples
• Ground almonds and honey as a paste massaged in to the face and rinsed off with cold water
• Mashed potato (½ cup), cooked oatmeal (½ cup), a slightly beaten egg white and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice made into a paste. Applied to the face for 20 minutes then rinsed off with cold water.

Many of these items available in the kitchen have been used as acne home remedies.