Acne is one of the commonest skin problems afflicting the human race and it affects people irrespective of age, caste, colour or gender. Acne is an extremely embarrassing and troublesome problem, because it is so obvious and off-putting. Acne can be defined as red eruptions on the skin, sometimes containing a white substance, causing discomfort and irritation. The most common form of acne is called acne vulgaris or puberty spots.
Acne vulgaris can be defined thus: … an inflammatory disease of the skin, caused by changes in the pilosebaceous units (skin structures consisting of a hair follicle and its associated sebaceous gland) . Acne lesions are commonly referred to as pimples, spots or zits - [source: Wikipedia]. It is a heart-breaking problem that we do not appear to have complete control over. However, there are various ways to treat acne: you can go in for medication from a skin specialist or you can go in for home or natural treatments.
Home remedies are less time consuming, less costly and have no side effects. However, they do require a little more patience, since a few routines have to be followed diligently in order to get rid of the problem for good. A home cure for acne is equally effective as any medication. Here are a few home remedies to eradicate your acne. To start with, your daily consumption of water ought to be a minimum of eight to ten glasses. This helps you to cleanse your system and kill the harmful bacteria that cause acne.
Too much oily food also leads to acne, so fried and spicy food should be strictly avoided. Complete abstinence of fried and fatty food will have a marked, beneficial effect on an outbreak of acne. Furthermore, including chromium and zinc in your diet also helps to cure acne. There should be a combination of the right nutritional balance and proper, hygenic skin care.
A solution of ground nutmeg with fresh milk regularly daubed on the affected area also helps to cure acne. Cinnamon powder and honey is equally effective in eradicating. Boiled Neem tree leaves applied to acne acts as a disinfectant. [Neem is a tall, usually evergreen East Indian tree (Azadirachta indica) widely cultivated in tropical Asia for its timber, resin, bitter bark, and aromatic seed oil, which is used medicinally and as an insecticide (source = 'Free Online Dictionary')].
The infected area should be washed with anti-acne soap at least three or four times a day. Make-up should be strictly avoided when one is suffering from acne. Make-up makes an acne condition worse. Acne should never be squeezed as it may cause infection or / and make it worse. Squeezing your acne can also lead to permanent scars on your skin, which results in your skin looking unsightly. Avoid letting your hair fall onto the acne-affected area too.
Your hair should be kept tied back to avoid touching the acne. Pillow cases should be washed on a daily basis to prevent the germ spreading. The regular washing of your skin should be observed to keep it free from bacteria. Apart from this, a healthy lifestyle ought to followed with a balanced diet, exercise and sleep. Remember, if you take good care of yourself, ailments will have less chance of afflicting you, especially such a small thing as acne!