Category: Acne

Can lemon juice remove acne scars?

A straight forward answer would be, no. According to Livestrong.com there is no remedy to remove scars. So why the heck all the blogs over the web recommend home remedies for acne scars? Though you can’t completely remove a scar, you can fade them using lemon juice. However, you can go through surgery if you’re impatient, very few people opt for a cost effective surgery unless they have an annoying scar.

Lemon juice is an excellent depository of various remedies for skin. Like other citrus fruits lemon contains alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and according to Wikipedia AHAs works in the formation of new stratum corneum (outermost later of epidermis). In simple words it promotes healing of your skin.

According to WebMD, topical application of AHAs in the form of cream or lotion can treat dry skin, acne and acne scars.

How Does Lemon Juice Work for Acne Scars?

When you squeeze fresh sliced lemon juice on to acne scars, AHAs present in lemon juice works to remove dead cells accumulated over skin and stimulates growth of deeper layers of the skin. (Source: WebMD)

In skin biopsies it’s shown that topical application of glycolic acid, lactic acid and citric acid increased the formation of collagen and thickness of skin, without any inflammation.

Vitamin C in lemon juice also known as ascorbic acid plays vital role in formation of collagen which promotes the growth of cells and blood vessels. According to Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, vitamin C helps in scar tissue repair.

Other uses of lemon juice

Other than fading acne scars, lemon juice can be used to reduce wrinkles and aging signs. Though we lack evidence to prove lemon juice as a remedy, many cosmetic industries exaggerate AHAs performance.

Also read: Natural face packs for wrinkles

How to Apply Lemon Juice to Acne Scars?

Apart from serving you with delicious lemonade, lemon can soothe your skin from various skin diseases. Livestrong.com states that applying lemon juice on red bulged pimple will reduce its redness, and it also states that either consuming lemon juice or its topical application can treat acne scars.

Enough bragged; now it’s time to act.

Step – 1

To remove the dirt gathered over acne scar, wash it with water.

Step – 2

Slice the fresh lemon and squeeze to take juice in a bowl. Using cotton ball apply lemon juice over acne scars. Leave it for about 15-20 minutes, so that vitamin C and AHAs gets absorbed by skin.

Step – 3

Now rinse it off with water and apply sunscreen cream, as lemon makes your skin photosensitive.

You can also try adding raw honey with lemon juice to remove acne scars.

There is no exaggeration in saying that honey is Almighty’s boon to mankind. Benefits of honey are documented in many religious books, including Vedas, Islamic scriptures and in Bible. Its magical healing power and versatility gave honey a significant importance in history.

Today, we lack a conclusive evidence to prove this. However, many cosmetic products come with honey as an ingredient and advocates say manuka honey for acne and acne scars is an effective remedy.

Most of us not aware of this that honey have different types. Manuka honey is one among them which is produced in New Zealand from nectar of native manuka tree.

Nutritional Profile:

All honey doesn’t have same nutritional properties. It differs depending on type and harvesting process. Manuka honey is packed with anti-bacterial, anti-microbial and anti inflammatory properties. You may think, even normal honey has these properties, but the benefits this monofloral honey gives are not comparable.

Wonder How Manuka Honey Treats Acne and Fades Acne Scars

1. You either consume this strong flavored honey or use it topically. Both ways it’s going to pull you out of diseases.
2. Anti-irritant properties restrain clogged pores from getting inflamed.
3. Impurities and bacteria accumulated over skin pores get cleared with anti-bacterial properties of manuka honey.
4. Moisturizing properties in manuka honey leads to brighter and scars free skin texture.
5. Relieves you from inflamed acne lesions.

Is it seems like a normal honey? Unless you try it yourself, you’ll not know the mere benefits of manuka honey for skin.

Check these sure things before buying manuka honey:

Though its expensive when compared to other honey, benefits worth it.

• A honey jar labeled manuka honey will not do wonders, unless it has those magical properties, and not all manuka honey has it. Check for UMF (unique manuka factor), OMA (organic manuka active), or MGO on the jar. Depending on this rating we can confirm its quality.
• Rating labeled as UMF or OMA 15+ and MGO 15+ is preferable.
• Imprint includes New Zealand on it.

How to Use Manuka Honey for Acne

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You can add any essential oil to manuka honey if you’ve problem with stickiness.

Note: Regular application is important to see result.

Other Remedies for acne

• Tea tree oil remedy for acne
• Treat back acne with these home remedies
• Shea Butter, Argan oil, fish oil and jojoba oil.

Manuka Honey Face Pack

• Initially cleanse your skin with natural cleanser or Bioderma cleanser.
• From aisle of manuka honey jars, pick the one with bio active 12+, this rating shows honey is cold pressed rather than fine filtered.
• Take few drops of manuka honey and apply on skin evenly.
• Leave for 15 minutes, the anti bacterial and anti microbial properties starts working.
• Wash with warm water and pat dry. If you’ve dry skin, moisturizer when skin is still damp. (Here is the list of natural moisturizers)

Did you ever tried manuka honey? Share your experience in comments.

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When you check aisle of home remedies to treat acne you’ll find tea tree oil as most effective yet inexpensive remedy.

Tea tree oil is yellowish essential oil. According to WebMD, tea tree oil is derived from Melaleuca alternifolia tree. It was named tea tree by 18th century sailors, who made tea using leaves of the tree.

Is tea tree oil good for acne?

Tea tree oil has many acne fighting properties in its arsenal.

• Anti-microbial properties
• Anti-bacterial properties
• Anti-fungal properties
• Antiseptic properties

A Study of Tea Tree Oil for Treating Acne:

There are few exaggerated claims about tea tree oil. However, only anecdotal evidence exists in treatment of various skin diseases.

To prove this, a study carried out for 124 patients with acne. Half of them treated with 5% of tea tree oil and other half are treated with 5% benzoyl peroxide. After a course of 3 months, result showed both reduced acne lesions but people who’re treated with benzoyl peroxide left with side-effects where as people with tea tree oil treatment has less side-effect. (source)

Based on this study we can confirm and rely on tea tree oil for treating acne.

Important Note: Tea tree oil can be used topically, internal use may harm you. As concentrated tea tree can irritate your skin, we recommend diluted tea tree oil.

Also read this: Hydrogen peroxide can treat acne

How to Use Tea Tree Oil

As mentioned above diluted tea tree oil is recommend, even in the above mentioned study researchers used diluted tea tree oil.

1. Get tea tree oil from a local store.
2. Clean the affect part before treating it with essential oil.
3. Take 1/2 cup of water and add 2-3 drops of essential tea tree oil.
4. Stir the solution well.
5. Dip cotton ball into the solution and apply gently over affected area when the skin is still damp.
6. Leave it for about 20 minutes then rinse it off.

Repeat the process.

You can substitute water with aloe vera gel or green clay powder.

Tips

• For spot treatments, use green clay powder and tea tree oil.
• Though this remedy is effective and has no serious aide-effects, it takes time to show results.

Share your experience with tea tree oil for acne. Did you ever use this essential oil for skin?

Other Remedies for Acne

• Shea butter for treating acne
• Cortisone cream and acne
• Why Fish oil can treat acne?
• Witch hazel for acne
• Natural relief from itchy acne on face

Ancient geeks when they get wounded in battle, there main remedy to soothe was honey. Though there is no conclusive research to validate the health benefits of honey, possible benefits of honey have been documented in Islamic texts, Greeks and in Vedas. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) glorified healing benefits of honey.

Even in modern times honey is used to treat health as well as skin diseases, to fade scars, and is included in cosmetic products. Recently a Reddit.com (social networking site) user shared how she cured acne using raw honey.

How to use Honey to Fade Scars

From minor burns to chronic skin diseases you can use honey as a home remedy. According to experts blend 2 tbsp of honey with 2 tbsp of olive oil. Now apply it on acne scars or other scars. Rinse it off with water.

You can also use 1 tbsp of baking soda with 2 tbsp of honey to exfoliate your skin.

Note: Repeated use or topical application is important to fade scars.

Also read: You can’t ignore benefits of Papaya for skin

Properties in Honey

Honey consists of high levels of monosaccharides, fructose and glucose.

• Antioxidants in honey help to fight radicals.
• pH level of honey refrain bacterial growth.
• It consists of antimicrobial and antibacterial properties to heal wounds.

Don’t miss this: What Benefits Vinegar has for you skin?

Why We Recommend Raw Honey?

James F. Balch suggests raw honey, as filtered honey loses its nutritional value due to heating and processing. You can get honey from grocery but for unprocessed honey you must find some expert.

Well it’s not tough to get some raw honey to test it out.

Conclusion

Though there is no scientific evidence that honey can treat scars, many philosophers and experts suggest honey to soothe skin diseases. Raw honey has more nutritional values than processed one.

Minocycline has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties which can treat acne. Propionibacterium acnes, the bacteria which is the main cause of acne blemishes can be restrained with anti-bacterial properties.

It was believed that minocycline is most effective antibiotic for treating acne inflammation. Anyhow, after studies it was proved that other tetracycline antibiotics can treat acne without side-effects. Though minocycline has properties to treat acne, it’s now not first line antibiotic acne treatment because of its adverse effects.

Related post: Cortisone Cream for acne

Below listed are few points disclosing why minocycline for acne is not recommended.

1. Minocycline belongs to tetracycline antibiotics and it can treat bacterial infections, skin infection, severe acne and urinary tract says Drugs.com. However it’s very expensive when compared to other oral antibiotics.
2. Drugs.com doesn’t recommend minocycline for pregnant women, as this may harm unborn baby and may permanent cause tooth discoloration.
3. Minocycline neutralizes birth pills. Experts don’t recommend minocycline if you’re taking birth control pills.
4. Makes your skin sensitive to sun.
5. Long term use of minocycline may cause hyperpigmentation. (Source: pubmed.gov)
6. This antibiotic treatment may induce hypersensitivity reactions affecting liver, kidney, and lungs, also may cause autoimmune reactions. (Source: pubmed.gov)

Considering its adverse effects with its efficacy in treating acne, experts don’t recommend minocycline for acne as first line antibiotic treatment.

Note: Anyway if you want to give this pricey antibiotic a try then don’t do it without doctor’s prescription.

Share your home remedy for acne here in comments.

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