5 Simple But Very Effective Acne Vulgaris Treatments

Written by Shruti Goenka • May 30, 2024

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Acne Vulgaris, commonly called acne, is a skin problem plaguing individuals of all sexes and ages, be it a teenager or an adult. Acne begins to appear on an individual with the onset of puberty and increased levels of testosterone in the body in both the genders, and can diminish with increasing age.

Acne is characterized by the appearance of red boil-like eruptions on the skin due to infection and inflammation of the sebaceous glands. Skin conditions, hormonal changes, stress etc can cause these glands to produce excess oil called sebum which gets accumulated in the pores of the skin and clogs them to further attract the bacteria called P.acne which attacks and inflames these pores to create acne or pimples. Whiteheads, blackheads, papules, pustules, nodules and cysts are the various types of pimples, some of which are small, painless and less severe in outbreak while others are pus-laden, painful solid pimples that can leave behind undesirable scars on the face. Acne can be treated in various natural, medical, clinical and surgical ways depending on the intensity and severity of the outbreak.

In This Article

Most Effective Acne Treatments

1. Washing the Face with Water:

Washing and cleansing the face twice regularly, no more and no less than that, helps to remove the dirt and unwanted oil from the face, clear the blocked pores, helps the skin to breathe and stay fresh while also avoiding acne and pimples. This is a very effective treatment for acne.

Excessive washing of the face is also harmful as it dries the skin, leading to production of excess sebum which attracts the P.acne bacteria and triggers the bacterial attack on the pores of the skin, thereby causing inflammation of the pores and results in an acne breakout on the face.

[ Read: Use Olive Oil To Get Rid Of Acne Scars ]

2. Use of Benzoyl Peroxide:

Benzoyl peroxide is one of the most common and effective treatments to battle an acne outbreak. Present in a large number of anti-acne products like creams, lotions etc, this topical treatment, with its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties helps to restrict and inhibit the growth of the P.acne bacteria and prevents formation of comedones, thereby treating and preventing acne. The side effects of using products containing Benzoyl Peroxide is redness, peeling and rashes on the skin and dryness of the derma. It is thus advisable to always consult a doctor before using such products. Further Benzoyl Peroxide makes the skin sensitive to sunlight; hence application of this should always be accompanied by the use of sunscreen to avoid the harmful effects of sunrays on the skin.

[Read:Pimples On The Nose]

3. Cleansing and Exfoliating the Skin:

Dirt, dead cells and sebum clog the pores of the skin thereby initiating a bacterial attack on the skin, leading to the appearance of acne on the face. Hormonal imbalances like periods and pregnancy in women also lead to increased sebum production in the skin and consequently cause acne. This can however be avoided by regularly scrubbing and exfoliation of the skin to cleanse it and keep it free from dirt, dead cells and unwanted oil. Protecting the skin against harmful exposure to the sun is also important to keep acne away. UV rays of the sun cause sun burns, sun spots, etc, that increase the number of dead cells on the skin, thereby clogging the pores and causing acne. Use of sunscreens and SPF packed cosmetics help to combat this issue and thus help to prevent acne and keep the skin healthy and flawless.

[Read:Remove Pimples On Eyelids]

4. Regular Exercise and Workout:

Regular walks, jogs, gym workouts and other forms of exercising are not only ways of sweating out extra flab from the body and staying fit but are also great stress busters. Acne is believed to be caused by an increased level of stress in the body as stress results in the production of a hormone called cortisol which aggravates the sebum formation in the skin to promote acne. Working out has a dual benefit of reducing stress, thus controlling sebum production, and causing sweating, which is responsible for cleaning the dirt from the clogged pores, thereby treating and preventing acne outbreaks.

[Read:Top 10 Foods That Cause Acne]

5. Natural Remedies and Healthy Diet:

Natural extracts like tea tree oil, potato, honey, garlic etc help cure acne naturally to render smooth and flawless skin .Maintaining a healthy diet helps to flush out toxins from the body, purify blood and prevent diseases, thereby inhibiting the growth of pimples of the face.