Try a Home Acne Treatment With Facial Masks You Can Make at Home

By Maria Helena Forrer


Although acne is not caused by a lack of cleanliness, a good deep cleansing facial mask, used on an occasional basis, can help heal blemishes and prevent new ones from forming. It can also reduce inflammation, one of the causes of pimples, if it contains the right ingredients. For an at home acne treatment manuka honey, tea tree oil, allantoin, and clay are some of the preferred facial products for acne.



Active Manuka Honey



You will find honey in a variety of skincare products. It has long been praised for its medicinal benefits. But, modern research has shown that most varieties have little medicinal activity.



If they do work against bacteria, it is because of their low water content, which creates an inhospitable environment for bacteria to grow. Basically, the honey smothers it. Overgrowth of the P. acnes bacteria is one of the reasons that we get pimples, cysts and blemishes.



Active manuka honey, on the other hand, has been evaluated for its natural antibacterial activity and has proven beneficial for even some of the hardest to treat infections. In addition, it has antioxidant activity, which is good for the skin's health overall.



Manuka honey is found only in New Zealand, but it is being dehydrated and used in skincare products around the world. Look for the "unique manuka factor" to ensure that you are about to purchase an active brand.



Tea Tree Oil



Tea tree oil is similar to manuka honey, in that it has natural antibacterial, antioxidant and antiseptic activity. Some studies indicate that it soothes inflammation, as well. Inflammation plays a big role in the formation of acne blemishes.



Irritation of the sebaceous glands, within the skin's pores causes them to swell or become inflamed. This causes oils to back up and clog the pores, along with dead skin cells. Combine that with the P. acnes bacteria, which is present on everyone's skin to one degree or another, and you have a recipe for a pimple.



Allantoin



Allantoin is another natural product that has been used for thousands of years to reduce inflammation, although the compound was only identified in recent years. It is found in plants such as comfrey root, which is a traditional remedy for acne blemishes.



Clay



Clay masks are popular beauty treatments and can work to reduce acne breakouts. Some kinds of clay are more beneficial than others. It is also possible for manufacturers to include the active clay extracts.



Combining the extracts with natural plant based oils, rather than using clay alone, reduces the risk that the clay will dry out and clog the pores. Bentone gel is one of the clay extracts that you may see in acne facial masks.



A Word of Advice



Remember to use gentle, natural cleansers on a daily basis and try to find ones that contain sulfur. Sulfur has been used since ancient times to treat acne outbreaks.



Some sources suggest exfoliation, but exfoliating and scrubbing can cause irritation. Irritation can lead to inflammation. As long as the mask that you choose contains mild and natural ingredients, you can use it two or three times per month to complement your daily cleansing ritual.