10 Ways to Get Rid of Acne and Pimples?

Many people, about 85%, deal with acne and pimples at some point in their lives. It can be frustrating because these pesky pimples are hard to get rid of. The usual treatments sometimes cause problems like irritated and dry skin.

Because of this, many people try natural solutions to quickly get rid of acne and pimples. However, not all natural remedies work. 

Here are 10 ways to quickly get rid of acne and pimples, but keep in mind that there might not be a lot of scientific proof for their effectiveness.

1. tea tree oil

Tea tree oil comes from the leaves of a tree called Melaleuca alternifolia, which is found in  Australia. It’s known for fighting bacteria and reducing skin inflammation. This oil is great at battling the bacteria that cause pimples.

In one study, a gel with 5% tea tree oil was almost four times better at reducing acne and six times better at lessening its severity compared to a fake treatment. Another study showed that the tea tree oil gel worked just as well as a lotion with 5% benzoyl peroxide, a common acne medicine, but with fewer side effects like dryness and irritation.

But be careful – tea tree oil is strong and can make your skin red and irritated if used directly. So, it’s best to mix it with another oil before applying. Not a lot of research has been done on using tea tree oil on the skin, but some suggest it might help with acne, says the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. If you want to try it, be safe and test a small area of your skin first because undiluted tea tree oil can be irritating.

2. Apply apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is made by fermenting apple cider, which is the juice from pressed apples.

It’s like other vinegars and can fight bacteria and fungi. The citric acid in it, as found in a study from 2016, can kill P. acnes and zinc oxide.

Another study from 2017 says that the lactic acid in apple cider vinegar might make acne scars look better.

But, right now, there’s no proof that it works for acne. Some skin doctors say not to use it because it could make your skin irritated.

3. Avoid touching pimples

It might be hard but don’t touch your pimples. Touching, rubbing, or popping them can make your skin more irritated, and the pimple could get worse. It can even spread pimples to other parts of your skin.

When you touch or squeeze a pimple, more bacteria can get in, making the infection worse. Squeezing can also push bacteria and dirt deeper into your skin, so the pimple might come back even worse.

If you have big or deep pimples, it’s best to talk to a doctor to figure out how to treat them safely.

4. green tea

Green tea has lots of good things for your health because it’s packed with antioxidants. Drinking green tea might also help with acne.

In a study from 2017, it was found that the stuff in green tea, called polyphenols, can fight bacteria and reduce inflammation, which are two main causes of acne.

There’s not a lot of research on how drinking green tea helps with acne, and more studies are needed. In a small study from 2016, women who took a green tea extract for 4 weeks had less acne around their noses, chins, and mouths.

Putting green tea on your skin might also be helpful. A study from 2020 showed that applying green tea extract to the skin can reduce oily stuff and pimples in people with acne.

You can buy creams with green tea or easily make your mixture at home.

5. fish oil

Omega-3 fatty acids are good fats that are healthy for you. They can be found in certain foods and take some time to show results. Fish oils have two main types of omega-3s: EPA and DHA.

A study from 2019 found that having a lot of EPA and DHA can lower things in your body that cause inflammation, which might make acne less likely.

You can also get omega-3s from eating

• salmon
• Sardines
• walnuts
• anchovies
• chia seeds
• ground flax seeds
• you can take fish oil supplements.

6. Reducing stress

The American Academy of Dermatology says that stress can make acne worse.

When you’re stressed, a hormone called androgen goes up, which can make the hair follicles and oil glands in your skin work more, leading to more acne.

Here are some tips for handling stress

• Talk to your family, friends, a doctor, or other supportive people.
• Make sure to get enough sleep.
• Eat a healthy and balanced diet.
• Exercise regularly.
• Don’t have too much alcohol or caffeine.
• Try deep breathing, yoga, mindfulness, or meditation.

7. Moisturize with aloe vera

Aloe vera is a plant with gooey gel in its leaves. When you put this gel on your skin, it can fight bacteria, reduce swelling, and help wounds heal.

People often use aloe vera for different skin problems like psoriasis, rashes, cuts, and burns.

There are few studies on how aloe vera works for pimples, but the ones we have look promising. Aloe vera has stuff like lupeol, salicylic acid, and other things that can stop bacteria that cause pimples.

In one study, they mixed aloe vera with clove-basil oil, and the more aloe vera they used, the better it was at reducing pimples.

Another study found that using 50% aloe vera gel with an acne cream called tretinoin worked better than just using tretinoin alone.

Even though aloe vera alone didn’t do a lot for pimples, it made other things, like clove-basil oil and tretinoin cream, work better. So, aloe vera might be more helpful when used with other treatments.

8. Honey and cinnamon mask

A mix of honey and cinnamon was shown in a study from 2017 to fight against P. acnes, the bacteria causing acne. Another study from 2020 said honey alone can stop P. acnes from growing or kill it. But just because honey does this doesn’t mean it’s a sure way to treat acne.

In a study from 2016 with 136 people having acne, using honey on the skin after using antibacterial soap didn’t work any better than using the soap alone.

Even though honey and cinnamon might help with acne because they can fight bacteria and reduce swelling, we need more research.

Here’s an easy way to use honey and cinnamon: mix 2 tablespoons of honey with 1 teaspoon of cinnamon to make a paste. Put it on your face for 10 to 15 minutes, then wash it off and pat your face dry.

9. witch hazel

Witch hazel comes from the bark and leaves of a plant called the North American witch hazel shrub. Right now, there’s not much research on whether witch hazel helps with acne.

In a small study from 2017, 30 people with mild or moderate acne used a special treatment with witch hazel for 6 weeks. Most of them saw a big improvement in their acne by the end of the study.

Another study from 2019 suggested that witch hazel might fight bacteria and reduce skin irritation and swelling, which are things that can make acne worse.

10. Rosemary

Rosemary extract has things in it that can help fight against bad stuff in your body, like antioxidants, antibacterial stuff, and things that can make swelling go down.

We need more research to know for sure if it works, but a study from 2016 said that rosemary extract might be able to make the swelling from acne-causing bacteria less.