Acne Solutions - What Can I Do Next?

Let’s face it, acne affects millions of people all over the world and because of that there is a ton of money changing hands for all kinds of pills, potions, cover-ups, creams and scrubs that claim to be the real solution. If you’re like me, you have tried many of them over the years.

To me, the most frustrating thing I have experienced is not that many of these treatments don’t work, it is two other things. (1) I find one that works for a while and then it stops working. The other thing is that it can be really hard to find a product that doesn’t irritate my skin.

One thing I have found, however, is that traditional acne treatment medications, oil-control moisturizers, astringents, cleansers and such can work really well if used in conjunction with alternative treatments that attack the root of the problem. Doing a simple Google search will reveal several alternate acne treatments.

If you choose to mix a traditional treatment with an alternate treatment, be sure to look for one that contains natural ingredients and are oil-free. Of course, combining this with exercise and a good diet may help too.

There are also so-called do-it-yourself treatments that can be effective and far less expensive than prescription, over-the-counter or alternative treatments..

There are several do it yourself ways that you can try to ease the severity of acne while you seek a permanent solution. Here are a few of them:

1. Steam

Steam helps open pores. After accomplishing this, use a gentle cloth to clear and clean the pores without using soaps or oil based cleaners.

2. Exfoliation

After the pores are opened and cleansed the next step is to exfoliate. I find that something that works well is a mud mask. However, if you want a cheaper solution, you can gently scrub away the affected areas with an exfoliating brush to remove the dead cells.

3. Medication

After steam and exfoliation, I have found that tea tree oil helps to sooth and protect my skin from both bacterial and fungal infections. Tea tree oil is said to have antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties, plus it smells and feels good.

4. Moisturization

The final step in your home-based regimen is to moisturize your skin. Make sure to find and use a moisturizer that contains all natural ingredients and contains no perfumes or chemicals and has low oil content.

As I started out saying, I have tried lots of remedies. Some work for me and some don’t. Also, some work for a while and then stop working. Different solutions work for different people - it all depends on your skin’s alkaline level, its sensitivity and the severity of your acne. My best advice is to simply try out different approaches and see which one works for you. Many people are reporting great success in clearing their acne with holistic and alternative remedies and approaches, so try to keep an open mind and do what's best for your skin and your wallet.