If there is one thing that just adds to the woes of angst-ridden teenagers, it’s an acne problem that won’t go away. Pimples, blackheads and other skin problems can be quite embarrassing as they tend to flare up right on the face. Other problem areas are the back, shoulders and arms.
Acne develops when the pores in our skin that secret oils in order to help keep it moisturized, get blocked and subsequently allow bacteria to multiply and fester. Many may swear by the fact that regular facial cleansing and a good diet is all that is needed to keep it in check, but for some, such regimes simply do not work.
So what do you do? Well if you don’t want to take medically prescribed formulae, there are two other options to explore. One is by using readily available fortified vitamin for skin creams and the other is to try out one of the many home remedies that have stood the test of time.
For example, treatment with vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid) has been shown to resolve acne and decrease pore size. A 1995 study conducted by a Dr Lit-Hung Leung proposed that Panthotenic Acid promoted the production of Coenzyme-A with the subsequent consequence of reduction of excess fatty acid build-up and secretion through the sebaceous glands (It’s all a bit technical).
Toothpaste is a tried and tested home remedy that is great for isolated spot treatment as opposed to treating a larger area of cystic acne. Just apply a small amount to the offending pimple and it should assist greatly in the drying out process. Use standard toothpaste and not some funky ‘whitening’ or ‘tartar control’ brand.
It might not sound appetizing but ingesting garlic has a good reputation for fighting of unsightly acne. If you can stomach it, eating a few cloves of raw garlic a day can show positive effects within a matter of days. If you prefer, you can get garlic supplement pills from a store but naturally they will take a longer time to show results. Since this is an inside-out approach, acne all over your body will benefit rather than just those areas where you apply a topical remedy.
The remedies above work by opening clogged pores, getting rid of bacteria from the surface of the skin or simply soothing inflamed areas. They may work for you or they may not. You won’t really know until you try. But if you find one that works for you, it’ll be cheaper and gentler on your skin in the long run.
