Banish the Blemish: 7 Surprising Acne Solutions

Posted on April 15, 2015 | by Boston Plastic Surgery

Have you ever woken up in the morning, fully refreshed, only to find that your skin has been plotting against you while you sleep? Blemishes affect people of all ages, and can be incredibly frustrating as you get older. Don’t let pimples ruin your otherwise flawless face. Try some of these surprising acne solutions and natural acne treatments to keep blemishes at bay.

Wondering How To Treat Acne Breakouts? Open Your Pantry!

You probably already own some of these acne-fighting foods, but have never thought to put them on your face. Gather up these common foods to create a customized skin care routine that costs pennies.

Oatmeal: More Than Just Breakfast

Cooked oatmeal reduces inflammation and overall redness for a full-face refresher. Raw oatmeal can also be used as an exfoliant because of its high fiber content, so try making a mask with honey for a relaxing at-home treatment. Skin boosting bonus: Oatmeal contains several vitamins and nutrients that can help establish stronger skin. Selenium promotes elasticity and improves UV defense. A slew of B-vitamins encourage cell growth and regeneration. Zinc helps to prevent future breakouts by regulating hormone changes.

Apple Cider Vinegar: Tart But Strong

The acid in vinegar dries out the skin on contact. It is a perfect spot treatment when mixed with two parts water for every one part vinegar. It also makes a good overall toner to add to your weekly routine. Believe it or not, apple cider vinegar can also help with age spots when mixed with orange juice, so you can reduce two skin problems with one bottle.

More Food Treatments To Try

Garlic Paste

Garlic paste is believed to prevent new acne breakouts because it contains allicin, which has anti-aging and skin smoothing properties. It also increases antioxidant levels, which is especially important for clear, healthy skin.

Green Bean Water

Some people swear by green bean water; others write it off as an acne fighting myth. If you want to try it for yourself, mix the water leftover from steaming green beans with yogurt and add essential oils like lavender or orange—otherwise your face might smell like dinner! This trick gets mixed reviews, but anecdotal evidence suggests it’s worth a try.

Probiotics To Clear Up Acne From the Inside Out

You’ve probably heard a lot about probiotics lately. This “good” bacteria has been found to improve and possibly prevent several medical conditions, including type-2 diabetes and perhaps even obesity.

Studies show that it can also improve acne-prone skin. A well-established case report found that 80 percent of patients who ingested probiotics experienced clinical acne improvement. Other studies suggest that probiotics can help heal acne scars.

Probiotics are a hot topic of research, and the field is constantly evolving. To see if probiotics might help your skin, try adding a multi-strain probiotic drink or powder to your diet. Plain yogurt with active cultures is another healthy way to add probiotics to your diet.

Go Beyond At-Home Treatments

To further reduce your acne symptoms, go to the pros. At-home remedies are a great way to maintain skin, but nothing can take the place of a treatment performed by a skin care expert. An experienced aesthetician can diagnose your acne problem, help you figure out the causes, and target persistent areas to stop breakouts month after month.

Harness the Power of IPL

Intelligent Pulsed Light, or IPL, uses a broad spectrum lightsource to target red and brown discoloration on the skin’s surface. It can treat sun damage, rosacea, and is particularly effective with acne scars. It evens out discoloration by targeting specific pigment cells, so that the darkest or reddest spots are reduced in color and size. IPL clears up active inflammation and pustules to reduce current acne. The wavelengths of light also fight bacteria on the skin as well as inside any inflamed sebaceous glands, reducing future breakouts.

Relax Acne Away With a Professional Facial

If only you had an acne fairy godmother who could grant your one true wish: clear skin. Our two aestheticians, Kathy and Jennifer, have in-depth experience with easing acne troubles and can help your skin look its best. Our Skin Wellness Center offers a specialized acne facial that includes cleansing, clarifying, and anti-inflammatory treatments. If you’re concerned about acne on your back, we have a facial just for that. It smoothes out rough skin and unclogs pores—and even includes a light massage!

Ask the Pros What’s Best For You

If you’ve tried at-home acne treatments and need to go to the next level, our aestheticians are experts at tailoring treatments to suit each patient’s needs. We’ll evaluate your skin and create a customized plan to get you out of your acne rut.

Start by requesting a consultation at Boston Plastic Surgery with one of our skin experts. We’ll help you reduce your breakouts and get you on your way to clearer, smoother skin.