Home Remedies Web

Acne Home Remedy

Find acne treatments and home remedies for acne, using natural cures and herbal products.

Shahzad Malik, Ph.D.
3–5 minutes
Acne Home Remedy

Signs and Symptoms of Acne

Acne is the common term used for a skin disorder that frequently appears as small elevated pimples on the face, back, chest, and shoulders. About 80% of teens are affected by acne to some degree, and it sometimes even occurs in adults up to the age of 40 if not treated properly. The image on the right shows an individual suffering from a moderate amount of acne on the face.

There are two major types of acne:

  • Non-inflammatory Acne: This type of acne typically appears as whiteheads or blackheads, and they can be treated with non-prescription acne medications and acne home remedies.
  • Inflammatory Acne: Non-inflammatory acne, if not treated properly with effective acne medication, can lead to inflammation, which may cause more serious skin eruptions and pimples such as papules, pustules, nodules, and cysts (described below).

Acne can be divided into the following minor categories, based on appearance:

  • Acne Papules are a small, red form of acne pimples (less than 5mm) that are slightly elevated above the skin’s surface. A group of small acne papules gives a sandpaper-like feel if touched.
  • Acne Pustules are similar to acne papules but they are more dome-shaped and filled with pus.
  • Acne Nodules are a severe form of acne which are painful and inflammatory. They are seated deep in the layers of the skin and can take up to 2 months to heal. If not treated properly, this form of acne can also lead to permanent acne scars.
  • Acne Cysts are severely inflamed, sac-like nodules which can reach up to several centimeters in diameter. Acne cysts are sometimes referred to as nodulocystic acne, and people suffering from this type of severe acne should seek immediate medical care.

Causes of Acne

Acne is a skin disorder caused by plugged pores of the skin. Human skin has a middle layer called the dermis which is made up of hair follicles and sebaceous glands. These glands produce an oily substance called sebum that is used to naturally moisturize and lubricate the skin. The face, back, chest, and shoulders contain a large concentration of these glands.

Throughout life, and particularly during puberty, humans produce hormones such as androgen and progesterone that lead to an overproduction of sebum. As a result, this excess sebum plugs the follicle canals and skin pores, leading to blackheads and whiteheads.

Blackheads form when sebum combines with skin pigments and plugs the pores. Whiteheads are slightly elevated from the skin but, unlike blackheads, are not very visible because their opening to the skin’s surface is narrower or sometimes closed.

If these two forms of acne are not treated immediately, an infection may occur. If this happens, the body’s immune system sends white blood cells to the area to fight the infection, which causes inflammation. If the infection is still not treated, the inflammation can become worse and lead to the more serious forms of acne.

Home Remedies for Acne Treatment

Acne Home Remedy Using Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple Cider Vinegar is an effective natural agent that cures acne by killing the bacteria and balancing our skin’s pH level (which is a measure of acidity). It also absorbs excessive oil from our skin, which is a leading cause of acne.

  • Dilute the Apple Cider Vinegar in water by one part of vinegar and 4 parts of water.
  • Apply the solution directly to your skin with clean cotton, and leave it there for about ten minutes.
  • After ten minutes, rinse off the vinegar.
  • Repeat this three times a day. For severe cases of acne, the solution can be used overnight without rinsing.

For more severe acne, the water ratio can also be reduced to 2 or 3 parts per one part of vinegar, but this stronger solution should not be left on overnight.

Acne Home Remedy Using Tea Tree Oil

Tea Tree Oil is a great anti-bacterial natural substance. When applied on acne, tea tree oil helps the immune system to kill the bacteria and consequently reduce the inflammation. Using Tea Tree Oil in conjunction with Vitamin E supplements (an anti-oxidant) and an excellent healing agent, can not only heal the blemishes but also cure scar tissues.

  • Mix 2 drops of tea tree oil in ¼ cup of distilled water. Dip a cotton swab into the solution.
  • Gently apply the mix onto the acne-prone areas with the swab before going to bed.
  • Rinse off the tea tree oil solution in the morning.
  • Take Vitamin E supplements as directed on the package to support the healing process.

References

I. Bassett, D. Pannowitz, & R. Barnetson. “A comparative study of tea-tree oil versus benzoylperoxide in the treatment of acne“. In The Medical Journal of Australia, 1990 Oct 15;153(8):455-8.

Medical disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and isn’t a substitute for professional medical advice. Talk to your doctor before trying a new remedy, especially if you’re pregnant, nursing, taking medication or managing a health condition.

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200 responses

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  1. Anonymous

    I knew about that and I got it but I can’t buy the things I need to put in my skin because, those products seems unavailable here in Philippines.. That’s the problem.. I don’t have an ATM card even my parents don’t have too.. I am just 12 yrs. old…

    Reply
  2. Melissa

    Alright, here’s a question that hopefully someone can help me with. What can you to for severe all over body acne? It is irritating, annoying and painful when near the bra lines. and when I say all over, I mean everywhere but the hands, feet, and private.

    Reply
  3. Detroit

    To Kara from January 4 posting:
    I always had a problem with acne and I noticed a difference when I started using the face wash from Nature’s Gate. Its the deep cleansing one. It gets deep inside the pores and its natural too. You can get it at whole foods or a natural store. Maybe its right for you

    Reply
  4. Yvonne

    I work at a vitamin store. We sell a lot of Oil of Oregano, Probiotics and MSM. The combination is unreal.I agree that Tea Tree Oil needs a slight dilution in order to protect the skin from irritation.
    I tell you, MSM takes down the redness and irritation. No Kidding! It’s amazing!

    Reply
  5. Lin

    I have been drinking ACV for about more than 6 months now to detox as i suffer from acne and blackheads – and it really helps to detox the body from inside out. Plus I have just recently started using this recipe for Apple Cider Vinegar diluted in water directly on my acne spots and it seems to help subside my acne just a little. Love the goodness of natural products!

    Reply
  6. sbaker

    The ACV solution is awesome. It works! My face looks so much better. I have been using since last Saturday and I see a huge difference in my skin. The spots that I got from previous breakouts are lightening up and I am not breaking out constantly like I usually do. Try it because it is worth it.

    Reply
  7. sam

    i have pores on my face,what should i apply to get ride of ths?

    Reply
  8. ESHIKA

    i tried every thing but it not getting better please help me on this o i have blackhead, big acne and plenty of black spot all over my face.what do? please help someone help me please

    Reply
  9. john

    i hate acne

    Reply
  10. Jacqui

    Dessert essence with tea tree oil works amazingly well. You can get it at health food stores.

    Reply
  11. Kara

    HAs anyone found a really good face wash that works??????

    Reply
  12. jo

    I introduced my 15 yr old son to chrysanthemum tea and he loves it, after drinking it for a couple of days his acne is just about gone. Steep dried chrythansemums (available at Chinese Specialty Stores) in hot water and drink. Wonderful fragrance and nice mild flavor.

    Reply
  13. crystal

    you have to take care of ur self internally spinach is the most effective — bright, clear skin in few days if not to bad. I eat 3 spinach salads a day also good 4 weight loss.

    Reply
  14. Raj

    One lady from Thane were having sever acne on her face with pus oozing out. She tried lot of thing , even face wash and bla bla; later on she tried the IART (institute of applied research and training) custom synthesis product. Within 10 days of application acne was cured leaving marks. She had continued application and the mark were gone. The same thing was happened with a girl persuing her final year doctors degree. She were having acne and acne black marks. She tried a product for marks and other product for acne. Within 10 days of application her black marks due to acen were gone. Now she is continuing acne product to cure acne. Further no communication b’coz her exam is going on. For more information you can mail your query to iartinternational@gmail.com and also you can mail the photograph of affected parts. The institue is at present carrying research on skin ailments,baby oils and fire burn, steam burn.

    Reply
  15. Alison

    I have found this website so helpful, although i have known about the health benifits of tea tree and Apple cider vinegar for a while due to having a rather “hippy” uncle. Until recently i havent had a problem with my cysts which only appear on my chin, i had them all removed about 6 years ago, and now it seems to my dismay that they are back. They are so painful and make my chin look distorted. I have found that the tea tree oil treatment does help a lot, making the swelling go down, i am hoping that with a good cleansing routine and the use of tea tree and Apple cider vinegar i can prevent futher flare ups. Good luck to all trying to improve the condition of their skin. You are not alone!

    Reply
  16. kelly

    hey can someone please tell me what it means by dilute it in to parts

    thanks

    Reply
  17. tanya

    I just started putting ACV tonight.. I don’t like the smell so I don’t know how I’m going to be putting it on my face every night. But I’m wondering if I can use ACV and tea tree oil together?

    Reply
  18. Marie

    Usually I never post comments but after putting the apple cider vinegar on my pimples last night, I felt like I had to share this with you guys. It really worked. It reduces tthe size of the pimples and starts drying them out.I think everyone should try it.

    Reply
  19. Anonymous

    i have bad acne, never had it before in my life. ive tried zapzit(10% benzoyl peroxide) didnt work at all, also tried proactiv and all kinds of other acne treatments, nothing has helped me. i just recently started using a face cleanser with sea salt mixed into it and used as a scrub, after i rinse my face and dry it i apply teatree oil with a cotton ball, it stings a little but after it feels great. and i also drink an acv tonic daily, seems to be helping quite a bit.

    Reply
  20. Ben

    Duac Gel is ok but you must watch out if you have colitis!!Oh my god!, I have been bleeding like hell from my intestines for 2 months and only found out it was because of Duac! I ope people will read this post because it can lead to very serious problems like mine.

    Thanks,

    Ben

    Reply
  21. Rita

    thanks guys for your posts l will try some of the staff u have mentioned

    Reply
  22. Bliss

    Everyone, under no circumstances should tea tree oil be applied neat (without dilution).

    There are very few essential oils that should be used undiluted and tea tree oil is not one of them.

    Also for people of color, who have more melanin in their skin, tea tree oil may cause darkening of the skin where pimples were.

    I have used the ACV/water solution with no problems. It has also helped me get rid of dark spots that have resulted from old acne pimples, etc.

    The spots just peel off after a week or so of continued usage of the ACV/water solution has been applied to my WHOLE face (excluding under eye area) for about a week or so.

    I’m sure there are other products that work just as well but the ACV solution is natural, inexpensive, and works very well.

    Because I make it myself, I know EXACTLY what’s in it and I am comfortable with that.

    Reply
  23. Anonymous

    Caroline, For acne spots apply lemon juice or Apple Cider Vinegar for overnight. It helps!

    Reply
  24. Jaya

    Caroline, You don’t need to mix vitamin E into the Tea Tree Oil. Tea Tree Oil can be applied directly onto the acne but make sure you don’t let it smear all over the face. Taking Vitamin E supplement internally can help heal the acne faster. Sometimes, Tea Tree Oil can cause irritation on sensitive skin so it’s best to mix a drop of extra virgin olive oil into it when using the first time. Hope it helps!

    Reply
  25. Caroline

    i wonder if you can use ONLY tea tree oil only for the face?
    or must conjunction with vitamin E?
    and which kind of vitamin E ? the tablets or what?
    and i was wondering what can remove acne spots? ( the red spot leftovers from the acne )?

    Reply
  26. Cookie

    Hello for the pass 6 month i had this red rash on my face and i don’t know what to do anymore someone plz help!!! i have take oral antibiotics and took one doze of steroid that the doctor gave me but nothing seems to work. It looks like Rosea but now i got small white pimples. i just started drinking ACV for four days and i do see an improvement last night i put ACV onto the acne and it burn and pulsed so bad but it looks like it help. But i don’t know if its bad to put it on the face?

    Reply
  27. Von

    I keep ACV in my home and I use on nearly everything! I use it 2 clean my house, occasionally my face, but I always use it in my bath water as well. 1 to 1 1/2 cups of plain orACV along w/ 1/2 of baking soda, it keeps my entire body clean, clear, & soft! I myself don’t have acne, but daughter has breakouts often. What I found to work best for her was organic fish oil (liquid) 1-2 tablespoons per day or flaxseed oil from a Natural Health Store. I noticed a dramtic change in about a week, she also lost weight! Good luck to everyone who is suffering from this problem! I know that it’s easier said than done, but be patient u will find the remedy that is for YOU!!!

    Reply
  28. Desmond

    Just use hot water steem your face in hot water everyday. dont use soap, dont use anything but water. it works for me

    Reply
  29. Ray

    Not only do I have acne, the entire side of my father’s family has it. We have a family dermatologist! None of that stuff worked and as an African American, alot of the suggestions did not work for darker skin. I say the Vinegar works best. This was an extremely hot summer in the northeast and I would wake up to cysts or nodules every morning throughout July- at one point it looked like cold sores because even my lips were breaking out! I wash and swipe with Apple Cider Vinegar or Plain Vinegar and I noticed real improvements in a week. I do leave it on overnight undiluted- but that may be harsh for most people. I have cystic and nodular acne that lasts for weeks- so take that into consideration before you try vinegar undiluted for yourself.

    Reply
  30. Bianca

    Hi im 16 years old, i dnt have bad acne, but i still have

    i used 1tsp of oil, 1 egg yolk, 1 tsp of honey, and 3 tbs of ground oatmeal!

    It really helped, hope is helps you guys:)

    Reply
  31. A once hopeless acne sufferer

    I have suffered with acne pretty much my entire adult life. I have spent thousands of dollare on products, have used topical antibiotcs, and even oral antibiotics. I was told by a derm the only thing that would get ride of my accutane. That was disturbing to hear and left me hopeless because I was afraid to take accutane. A family member told me about apple cider vinegar and it is one of the best things that has ever happened to me. It takes awhile and you must have patience. I dilute the vinegar with water and use it twice a day. BIG tip use organic apple cid
    er vinegar that has the “mother” in it not the cheap heinz one from the supermarket.

    Reply
  32. jessica

    ive been breaking out on my face for the past few days, no idea why. i came across this site a couple hours ago and put some ACV that i had in my fridge on my face. Literally 2 HOURS later i can see a huge difference. This is great, i highly suggest it.

    Reply
  33. crystal

    use tee tre oil to your face it helps

    Reply
  34. Kim

    You should only use Organic apple cider vinegar on the face. Never apply synthetic ACV onto acne.

    Reply
  35. Anonymous

    For the apple cider vinegar is this organic or just any apple cider vinegar?

    Reply
  36. Farah

    Duac daily gel did a fantastic job for me. within 2 months all my acne n marks on my face went and up until today my skin is clear and free from any acne or spots. it really worked for me so please do try it. you could get it from your GP or the local pharmacy. hope it helps good luck!!!

    Reply
  37. Deb

    The only thing that worked for me is cotton ball soaked in Apple Cider Vinegar – rub on acne spots and all over the face – it works great in a few days! Big difference. All the other creams, pills, etc. did nothing!

    Reply
  38. Anonymous

    For those who’ve had acne as long as you can remember, you might be sensitive to commercial products. I switched to natural products like vegetable glycerin soap, aloe vera for moisturizing, and apple cider vinegar as toner. For wrinkles I use carrot seed and sesame oils (works for me as well as retin-a) mixed in organic aloe. It doesn’t smell great at first, but it wears off. Try natural. It’s better.

    Reply
  39. Stephanie

    I’ve been putting tea tree oil on my face ( I thought I discovered this myself LOL) Not only have I noticed my cysts shrinking with it, it helps the pain IMMEDIATELY. I initially started using it to help my nails heal after taking off my ceramic nails, but when I read the little flyer on the bottle I thought I might try it on my face. WOW.

    Reply
  40. madalyn

    Acne is one of my worst problems. and sometimes they are really soar.i do agree with the burts bees products it does burn a little but it is awesome.i think anyone reading this should at least give it a try.

    Reply
  41. Donna Thompson

    Wash face with African Black soap then cream face with natural shear butter eat healthy drink plenty water this really works

    Reply
  42. arianne

    I’ve suffer from acne for as long as I can remember and not so much on my face as in my back! I’ve used everything prescribed and although epiduo has worked cream from my face it didn’t do anything for my back!! So about a 4 days ago I started to do everything different.. And its cleared my back to where I almost don’t have anything I’m so extremely happy so I want to share with everyone what I’ve been doing! First I use Cetaphil to shower and to clean my face and that you can get in any walgreens or pharmacy then I put alcohol on my back everywhere to clear the area after that drys I put on TEA TREE OIL that you could find in GNC or any health food store I do these twice a day I make sure to scrub my back really, really good to crear and dirt or oil.. I want to say these really works if you have really bad back acne like I did! I use everything cetaphil from the soaps to the creams if your skin get to dry they have a sunscreen its amazing it helps moisturize your skin without leaving it greasy its all dermatologist approve and its amazing!! It work for me I hope it could work for you good luck! 😀

    Reply
  43. KT

    I got an acne cyst a few weeks ago. I tried everything I could find on the internet. I finally found something that has seemed to work. My acne cyst hasn’t completely gone away, but in 3 days it has gone down drastically in size.
    The first thing I do is wash my face with proactive, then use the proactive toner, then I put some lime juice on a cotton ball and hold it to where the cyst is for a few minutes. After that, I use the proactive lotion. I do that twice a day, then at night, I put some rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball, put it on the cyst and cover it with a band-aid.
    It seems to work for me, just wanted to share it.

    Reply
  44. Mary

    I have never experienced acne in my 38yrs of life. Now all of a sudden i have a problem with acne,for the last almost one year acne has caused me alot of worry. I already have a cabinet full of acne creams. I was prescribed Benzoyl peroxide which worked after 6 weeks, they cleared abit,went back to the doc, prescribed adapalene, didnt work actually made the acne worse, went back prescribed mediven cream which amazingly cleared them completely, but after discontinuing mediven, i get another attack, this time round almost on the whole face!! i have been trying the baking soda thing, but it hasnt worked for me, so now i will try the apple cider vinegar and hopefully it works since it seems to have worked for so many here. I wish this problem could go away!!! any ideas?? please help

    Reply
  45. Frances

    SO everyone is different it seems and what works for one may not work at all for another. It’s hard for me having acne because I do EVERYTHING right, eat perfectly (vegetable juices I make myself mostly), use ACV, tea tree oil, coconut oil, no synthetic products, etc. etc. and still my face caused my heart to pound today when a man looked my way in the grocery store today. (I stopped myself this time from filling in his thoughts) I can say though that my heart pounds far less than it used to, I care less what others may think of me and instead try to focus on how beautiful life is. I just want to say that I believe that harsh prescriptions are not the way to go. I used them and had perfect skin, but I didn’t want to be dependent on them and I was still having serious effects of hormonal imbalance from whence my acne arose. And to top it off I felt uglier than ever, clear skin does not neccessarily equal true confidence. I’ve been working on these serious, imbedded issues for awhile now and can honestly say that I believe my skin will heal completely. I take care of myself, I love myself, and I have learned I must transcend this issue and trust my intuition in my personal regimen. I feel powerful every morning when I wake up and decide what to use on my skin without frantic, hateful gestures. Acne can be a great teacher, and remember your skin does so much for you, it protects you from the outside elements. Give it a mental break and a big hug of love because it’s a part of you, and you ARE beautiful. I feel more beautiful now than I did when my skin was clear, but I know it will be clear again as my outside catches up with my inside. I recommend doing something to occupy your time, drawing, writing, reading, anything to get your mind off your skin and onto the beauty of our existence! Get in touch with yourself! We’re meant to be here and have this experience!!! Let’s make the most of it.

    Reply
  46. Mia

    I am starting to feel a cystic size pimple under my skin and my wedding is in 2 weeks? How can I make it go away QUICKLY before it even continues to grow?????? Im freaking out 🙁

    Reply
  47. Jamie

    I Use the Egg White mask And it Works Great For Me. Just Whip Up One Egg white Then Apply To Your Face as a mask. Leave it for 15-20 minutes, Rinse and Pimple redness Is gone and the whites Suck Up Oil In your Pores which Also Decreases Them In Size. 🙂 Good Luck!

    Reply
  48. Megan

    I’m 27 years old and I’ve had acne as long as I can remember. I hate it. I’ve been on ever medicine you can think of, precription and over the counter. Nothing worked. After my last baby, I noticed my acne was starting to get worce. It just never let up. I stumbled on this site while I was searching for ANYTHING I could do to get it under control at least. I was shocked because I use tea tree oil to clean my house! LOL a friend told me about it and for the last year or so its been silently in my cabinet. It has been a week, now that I’ve been using it and I just can’t believe the results! My face is almost completely cleared up. After just a couple days the spots that had been there for weeks and hurt so bad were gone. Treatments take time so I was prepared to wait weeks like always before I started looking for results. All I do is wash my face twice a day, then use a cotton ball to put tea tree oil on the acne. Its amazing. I’m so thankful too. Oh and I haven’t had to wear make up in a few days! I never used to leave the house with out it because I was to embarrassed. 🙂 I’m sure in another week I will be acne free!

    Reply
  49. Anonymous

    If you really want the skin of your dreams try using the following skin care rutine: watch your diet, try not to over load on the suger, next take a daily vitamin it balances out your body, then wash your face at the most three times dailey and try to stay away from the make-up the bacteria will not help what so ever, next after you have washed your face with warm water (opening the pores) use a astrigent ever night before you go to bed. The astrigent is a lightly medicated liquid that will not only fight bacteria already on your skin but prevent the up coming bacteria also…..well thats it for now hope you try it 🙂

    Reply
  50. Me

    For those of you with sensitive skin who are looking for an excellent laundry detergent, try Charlie’s Soap. http://www.charliesoap.com/ It’s safe, non toxic, biodegradable and rinses completely from your washload all at about 14cents a laundry load. It actually took the commercial laundry detergent residue off of the inside of my machine.

    Reply