GET RID OF ACNE FAST

Acne is a common skin disease that affects an estimated 85% of people at some point in theirlives.

Symptoms include pesky pimples that can be frustrating and difficult to get rid of.

While conventional treatments can get rid of pimples, they’re often associated with adverseeffects, such as skin irritation and dryness.

As such, a lot of people have turned to natural alternatives to get rid of pimples fast. However,while there are a lot of natural acne remedies out there, only a handful are scientifically provento help.

Here are 4 natural ways to get rid of pimples fast, although they may have limited researchsupporting their effectiveness for this purpose.

1. Spot treat with tea tree oilTea tree oil is extracted from the leaves of the tree Melaleuca alternifolia, which is native toAustralia.

It’s well known for its ability to fight bacteria and reduce skin inflammation. Specifically, tea treeoil helps fight P. acnes and S. epidermidis, two types of bacteria that can cause pimples (1,2Trusted Source, 3Trusted Source).

One study found that 5% tea tree oil gel was almost four times more effective at reducing acnelesions and almost six times more effective at reducing acne severity than a placebo (4TrustedSource).

In another study, a gel containing 5% tea tree oil was proven equally effective at reducingpimples as a lotion containing 5% benzoyl peroxide, a common acne medication (5TrustedSource).

The tea tree oil treatment also resulted in fewer adverse effects, including dryness, irritation, andburning.

It’s important to note that tea tree oil is very potent and can cause redness and irritation whenapplied directly to the skin. For this reason, it should be diluted with a carrier oil.

According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, only a smallamount of research has been conducted on the topical use of tea tree oil for health conditions,and a limited amount of research indicates that tea tree oil might be helpful for acne (6).

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If you choose to try it please use it safely and always perform a test patch on your skin, as teatree oil can be very irritating and should never be applied undiluted to the skin.

You can purchase both tea tree oil and carrier oils online.

How to use tea tree oil for acneCombine 1 drop of tea tree oil with 1 teaspoon carrier oil.Dip a cotton swab into the mixture and apply it directly to pimples.Apply moisturizer, if desired.Repeat this process 1–2 times per day, as needed.SUMMARYTea tree oil fights inflammation and acne-causing bacteria. Applying it to the skin has shown thatit may reduce pimples in some instances.

2. Spot treat with other essential oilsIn addition to tea tree oil, many other essential oils with antibacterial and anti-inflammatoryproperties can help clear up pimples quickly.

A large scientific review found that essential oils of cinnamon, rose, lavender, and clove fight theacne-causing bacteria S. epidermidis and P. acnes (7Trusted Source).

Rosemary and lemongrass were also shown to inhibit P. acnes (8 Trusted Source).

One study compared the acne-fighting abilities of clove-basil oil, 10% benzoyl peroxide, and aplacebo. Both the 2% and 5% clove-basil oils were found to be more effective and faster atreducing pimples than benzoyl peroxide (9Trusted Source).

Another study found that a gel containing acetic acid, orange, and sweet basil essential oilsresulted in a 75% increase in the healing rate of pimples (10Trusted Source).

Like tea tree oil, these essential oils are very concentrated and can cause irritation if applieddirectly to the skin. Be sure to dilute all essential oils with a carrier oil, perform a test patchbefore regular use, and discontinue use should irritation develop.

A wide variety of essential oils are available online, including clove oil.

How to use essential oils for acneCombine 10 drops of essential oil with 1 ounce (30 mL) of carrier oil.Dip a cotton swab into the mixture and apply it directly to pimples.Apply moisturizer, if desired.Repeat this process 1–2 times per day, as needed.SUMMARY

Other essential oils including cinnamon, rose, lavender, clove, and rosemary have been foundto inhibit acne-causing bacteria. Applying these oils to the skin may help reduce pimples.

3. Apply green tea to the skin

GET RID OF ACNE FAST

A lot of people drink green tea for its health benefits, but it can also be helpful when applieddirectly to the skin.

Green tea contains flavonoids and tannins, which are known to help fight inflammation and thebacteria that may cause pimples (11, 12Trusted Source).

It’s also high in the antioxidant epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), which has been shown tofight inflammation, reduce sebum production, and inhibit the growth of P. acnes in people withacne-prone skin (13 Trusted Source).

Multiple studies have shown that people with acne experience significantly less sebumproduction and pimples when they apply a 2–3% green tea extract to their skin (14TrustedSource, 15Trusted Source, 16Trusted Source).

There are a handful of skin care products on the market that contain green tea, but it’s verysimple and cost-effective to make your own mixture at home.

You can get a quality green tea online.

How to use green tea for acneSteep green tea in boiling water for 3–4 minutes.Allow the tea to cool.Apply it to your face with a cotton ball or spritz it on using a spray bottle.Leave it on for 10 minutes or overnight, and then rinse your face with water.Apply 1–2 times per day, as needed. It can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.SUMMARYGreen tea is high in antioxidants that help reduce inflammation and fight bacteria. Applying it tothe skin has been shown to significantly reduce pimples.

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4. Moisturize with aloe veraAloe vera is a tropical plant with leaves that produce a clear gel.

When applied to the skin, aloe vera gel has been shown to help fight bacteria, reduceinflammation, and promote wound healing (17 Trusted Source, 18Trusted Source, 19TrustedSource).

Because of this, it’s a popular treatment for a variety of skin conditions, including psoriasis,rashes, cuts, and burns.

There are limited studies on the ability of aloe vera to fight pimples specifically, but existingresearch is promising.

Aloe vera contains lupeol, salicylic acid, urea nitrogen, cinnamic acid, phenols, and sulfur, all ofwhich inhibit bacteria that might cause pimples (19 Trusted Source, 20Trusted Source).

In one study, varying concentrations of aloe vera gel were added to a clove-basil oil andevaluated for anti-acne properties. The higher the concentration of aloe vera in the lotion, themore effective it was at reducing pimples (21).

Another study found that using 50% aloe vera gel with tretinoin cream was significantly moreeffective at clearing up pimples than tretinoin cream alone. Tretinoin cream is an acnemedication derived from vitamin A (22 Trusted Source).

Although aloe vera gel on its own was not effective at treating pimples, it enhanced theanti-acne effects of clove-basil oil and tretinoin cream.

While aloe vera gel may help clear up pimples on its own, it may be more effective whencombined with other remedies or medications.

How to use aloe vera gel for acneScrape the gel out of the aloe leaves with a spoon.Apply the gel to your skin when you apply other acne treatments. You may want to try mixing itwith your other treatment, and then apply this to your skin. Or, you can apply the other acnetreatment first, adding the aloe gel over it.Repeat 1–2 times per day, or as desired.You can also purchase bottled aloe vera gel online, but make sure it’s pure aloe and does notcontain added ingredients.

SUMMARY

Applying aloe to the skin can help treat burns, heal wounds, and fight inflammation. It has beenshown to increase the anti-acne effects of other treatments, but more research is needed on itseffects when used on its own.

Longer-term acne remediesSeveral other natural acne treatments have been shown to be effective with consistent,long-term use.

Although the remedies below might not get rid of pimples quickly, they can help prevent andheal acne over time.

Take a zinc supplementThe mineral zinc plays a role in wound healing and can help reduce inflammation.

As such, it has been studied as a possible treatment for pimples.

Research has indicated that people with acne tend to have lower levels of zinc in their bloodthan those with clear skin (23 Trusted Source).

Taking a zinc supplement has been shown to help. In fact, several studies have found thattaking 30–45 mg of elemental zinc per day can significantly reduce pimples (24Trusted Source,25Trusted Source, 26Trusted Source).

In one particular study, 48 people with acne took zinc supplements 3 times per day. After 8weeks, 38 of them experienced an 80–100% reduction in pimples (27 Trusted Source).

Zinc is available in many forms, each containing a different amount of elemental zinc.

Regardless of what form you choose, it’s probably best not to take more than the recommendedupper limit of 40 mg of zinc per day.

Taking too much zinc may cause adverse effects, including stomach pain and gut irritation(28Trusted Source).

You can buy zinc supplements online. Get a smaller dose so that you don’t exceed therecommended limit of 40 mg.

Consume brewer’s yeastA specific strain of brewer’s yeast called Saccharomyces cerevisiae Hansen CBS also seems tohelp decrease pimples when consumed by mouth.

GET RID OF ACNE FAST

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Brewer’s yeast tends to be a good source of B vitamins, chromium, copper, iron, and zinc.However, its ability to treat pimples is most likely due to its antibacterial effects (29TrustedSource, 30Trusted Source).

One study compared the effectiveness of brewer’s yeast with that of a placebo over 5 months.

Pimples were healed or considerably improved in more than 80% of people taking the yeastpreparation, while only 26% of people saw improvement in the placebo group (31TrustedSource).

Studies have shown brewer’s yeast to have no side effects, but a few people have reported mildgas, bloating, or headaches after consuming it.

You can find brewer’s yeast for purchase online.

Try a fish oil supplementFish oils contain the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic(DHA).

Studies show that consuming EPA can help manage oil production, prevent pimples, and helpthe skin maintain adequate hydration (32 Trusted Source, 33Trusted Source).

High levels of EPA and DHA have also been shown to decrease factors that contribute toinflammation, which may ultimately reduce the risk of pimples (34Trusted Source).

In one study, taking omega-3 fatty acid supplements containing both EPA and DHA daily for 10weeks significantly reduced pimples in all 45 participants (35Trusted Source).

You can also get omega-3 fatty acids by eating walnuts, chia seeds, ground flaxseeds, salmon,sardines, and anchovies.

However, the plant sources above contain the omega-3 fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) andlittle to no EPA or DHA (36Trusted Source).

Taking a supplement with concentrated omega-3s can help you take in higher amounts of EPAand DHA to better treat pimples. You can find fish oil supplements to buy online.

SUMMARYTaking brewer’s yeast, zinc, or fish oil orally may help prevent and reduce pimples over time.These supplements may not get rid of pimples quickly, but studies evaluating their long-term useshow great promise.

Other ways to help reduce pimples

Although people have been using natural acne remedies for years, research on the topic is stillemerging.

The remedies listed below may benefit acne-prone skin, but no studies exist on their ability totreat pimples:

Witch hazel. Applying witch hazel to the skin has been shown to fight bacteria and reduceinflammation, which could help prevent pimples (37 Trusted Source, 38Trusted Source).Apple cider vinegar. The organic acids in apple cider vinegar may help kill acne-causingbacteria and reduce the appearance of scars (39Trusted Source, 40Trusted Source, 41TrustedSource, 42Trusted Source).Limit dairy intake. Two large studies reported that people who drank more milk tended to havemore pimples, but more research is needed (43 Trusted Source, 44 Trusted Source).Try a honey and cinnamon mask. Honey and cinnamon have antioxidant, antibacterial, andanti-inflammatory properties, so they may benefit acne-prone skin when applied to it (45 TrustedSource, 46Trusted Source).Reduce stress. Some studies have linked stress to an increase in acne severity. Ask yourhealthcare provider about relaxation techniques and lifestyle changes that might help youreduce your stress levels (47 Trusted Source, 48Trusted Source).For even more tips, here are 13 powerful home remedies to get rid of acne.

SUMMARY

A few other remedies may help you fight pimples naturally, including applying apple cidervinegar to the skin, limiting your dairy intake, and reducing stress levels. However, these havelittle or no research behind them, so more studies are needed.

The bottom linePimples are a common problem that can be frustrating to treat.

Conventional treatments can cause redness, dryness, or irritation, and many natural alternativesjust don’t seem to work.

The home remedies listed in this article are supported by some limited studies as the mosteffective, natural ways to reduce pimples.

Nevertheless, applying various essential oils, green tea, and aloe vera to the skin seems to bethe quickest way to get rid of pimples, while supplements may require longer-term useaccording to some limited research.

The remedies in this article might not work for everyone but could be worth a try.

Note that the American Academy of Dermatology’s guidelines for the treatment of acne assertthat there’s not enough research on the safety and efficacy of herbal and other complementarytherapies to recommend their use. This statement is inclusive of all remedies noted in thisarticle.