Guest Post: Acne Tips At Home

This post was written by Steven Baker (link to his blog awaiting). 
                                                                   

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How Can You Treat Mild to Moderate Acne at Home?

Over 80% of all people in the world have had acne at some point in their lives. As we age, breakouts usually decrease, but a small percentage of people have it just as badly as when they were teenagers. If you get the occasional blemish, acne can feel like a nuisance. But for some people, acne can be a life long disorder that can be very frustrating to deal with. In this article we explore treatment ideas for people that want to decrease their breakouts, but don't necessarily feel like they need to go to the dermatologist.

Face Washes

Washing your face before you go to sleep to get rid of dirt, cosmetics, and extra oil is essential to decrease breakouts. It is important to exfoliate dead cells on the skin's surface and inside the pore. These keratinized cells are a major contributor to clogged pores and <a href="http://acnetreatmentone.com/types/remove-blackheads/">blackheads</a>. A face wash with either salicylic acid or glycolic acid can help make sure these dead cells are cleaned from the skin. You might also want to experiment with a benzoyl peroxide wash as it can kill that acne causing bacteria that salicylic acid cant. Benzoyl peroxide does not exfoliate like salicylic or glycolic acid, but it does do a much better job at ridding the bacteria within the pores.

Masks

There are a few anti-acne masks that have been reported to reduce swelling and dry out pimples. One of the best masks to try is the "anti-bacterial egg white mask". The best things about this mask is that it is very cheap and very effective. The mask is made simply of whisked egg whites applied to the face for 15-20 minutes before bedtime. Egg whites contain sulfur (which gives it the smell) that can kill acne causing bacteria. Sulfur has been used for centuries as an anti-bacterial and is found very inexpensively in egg whites. One egg is enough to make 2 masks.

A bentonite clay mask is great at removing dead skin cells and extra oil. Alternating between a clay mask and egg white mask works very well because it addresses the two main causes of acne, clogged pores and bacteria.

Herbal Treatments

There are some very effective herbal treatments for acne that can be found at any health food store. Witch hazel is a natural astringent that can kill acne bacteria and reduce the size of swollen pores. This can be used nightly after the face is washed with salicylic or glycolic acid. Many people have reported an improvement in breakouts in as little as two weeks after using witch hazel.

Another herbal treatment that is widely used for acne is Tea Tree Oil. Extract from this plant has been used as a natural anti-biotic for 90 years. It has recently become more popular as there is a greater demand for natural products. Most doctors recommend a 5% - 10% Tea Tree Oil solution, but discourage the use of any higher concentrations. Despite being a "natural" product, this extract can be very harmful if swallowed. Products with high concentrations of tea tree oil extract can even cause burns or blistering on the skin.

Spot Treatments

If you have a blemish that is swollen and red, you can use calamine lotion to dry it out. Calamine is a solution that is made of zinc oxide and ferric oxide. It is used most often for skin problems like hives, chicken pox, and bug bites. But, if used on inflammatory acne overnight, it can have a dramatic effect by morning. Use this on any bright red spots that you need to get rid of quickly.

The use of an exfoliating wash combined with an anti-bacterial can greatly improve acne problems. The products above are inexpensive and usually work as well as anything you can get from the doctors office. If you just want to give a couple products a try, you should first get a salicylic acid face wash. Clean your face with this wash, twice a day and use an egg white mask before you go to bed. The exfoliating power of the salicylic acid combined with the anti-bacterial effects of the sulfur can usually get rid of any mild to moderate acne.

If you need more advice about cheap and effective acne treatments, visit <a href="http://acnetreatmentone.com">Acne Treatment One</a>.