The FDA is recalling certain acne medications for cancer link. Our herbalist takes her decades of experience and creates a guide to natural acne care.
Everyone wants smooth skin with a healthy glow. People are willing to pay plenty to achieve that, and many rely on anti-acne products to clear up those unattractive pimples and inflamed skin. As archeology has discovered, people used cosmetic creams as far back as in ancient Rome.
Some products may bought over the counter, and some require a doctor’s prescription. But what we confidently regarded as safe allies in the fight against acne turn out not to be so safe after all. Benzoyl peroxide, an antibacterial agent found in some popular anti-acne products, may break down into carcinogenic benzine. Read Karin’s post on the FDA’s recall of anti-acne products.
Think of applying a lotion or cream containing benzoyl peroxide to your face every day. You can’t know if the gel you squeeze out of that tube is in the process of breaking down into benzine, but research suggests that it will.
So what we do to keep our skins free of acne?
Here we have to look at the origins of acne breakouts. Genetics, unfortunately, factor in. If your parents tend towards acne, it’s likely you will too. You’ll probably need to make some lifestyle changes.
Other factors causing acne may be hormonal flare-ups, stress, not enough sleep, not drinking enough plain water, and a diet rich in sugar and processed and fatty foods. Like French fries and industrially-produced hamburgers, and packaged snacks. Cigarette smoke, lots of coffee, and frequent alcoholic drinks also damage your skin.
To maintain healthy skin, we need not only to avoid junk food, but to consume foods and beverages rich in anti-oxidants. Find something that falls into the popular “super-food” category that’s appetizing, and consume it every day. Green tea, very anti-oxidant; drink it instead of Coke. Fresh produce, either cooked or raw, and preferably home-made…the list is familiar, but no less valid for that. Tons of any ideas for healthy snacks circulate around the Net. Find some that appeal to you. Then eat them, instead of junk food.
If stress is causing your skin to break out, practice yoga. Seriously. The gentle exercise increases blood circulation, bringing that all-important oxygen to every part of you, and in addition, relaxes and makes you feel more alive.
Drink a lot of plain H2O. Water scours your organs and helps eliminate toxins.
Keep your skin clean with herbal infusions that soothe inflammation and exert anti-microbial power over the grime you’re exposed to over the day.
Some suggested herbs to calm acne:
- Chamomile
- Lavender
- Green tea
- Echinacea
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Marigold
How to use the anti-acne herbs: Pour 1/2 cup boiling water over 1 tablespoon of herb, cover, and wait 10 minutes. Strain. Splash your face with the infusion; it feels good when it’s warm, but can be used cold. Pat your face dry with a clean towel; do not rinse the tea away.
Optionally, add a drop of tea tree essential oil – one drop only – to the herbal infusion. If using the essential oil, avoid getting the infusion in your eyes.
Raw honey has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Use clean q-tips to pat drops of honey on bad acne. Do not put the used q-tip back in the honey; get a fresh one if needed. Leave the honey on the skin for 10 minutes, the gently rinse it off.
Change your pillow case nightly, optimally after having cleaned your face.
Always remove makeup before sleeping.
Safe and natural exfoliating products
Sugar has its cosmetic uses. To exfoliate and cleanse the skin, wet your face with water or herbal infusion. Drop about a tablespoon of white or brown sugar into the palm of your wet hand and gently rub your face with it. Don’t scrub yourself to death. Rinse the sugar off and pat your face dry.
Some get acne on their backs. An effective remedy is a long, wet loofah sponge well saturated with soap, rubbed across the back in the shower. A long-handled brush with soft bristles will do the same.
Miracle meds containing benzoyl peroxide aren’t what you’re looking for anymore. Try a weekly facial mask made by combining an infusion of plantain leaf, chickweed, and marigold flowers with cosmetic-grade white or green clay. Plantain draws infected matter out of skin tissue and soothes inflamed skin. So does chickweed. Marigold flowers have strong anti-bacterial properties.
The common plantain can be found on the side of the walkway
How to make a herbal mask against acne
Have ready a teapot or clean glass jar. Put 1 tablespoon each plantain, chickweed, and marigold flowers in it and pour a cup of boiling water over the herbs. (If using a glass jar, set it on a kitchen towel to avoid thermal shock, which might crack it.) Stir. Cover the infusion and wait 15 minutes. Strain it.
Dissolve about 3 tablespoons of cosmetic-grade clay with the herbal infusion enough to make a thin paste. Apply the paste to clean, moist skin. Put music on – read a book – drink green tea – hang out for 10-15 minutes. The mask will start to dry; that’s fine. Rinse it off with warm water or herbal infusion. Pat your face dry.
Your own anti-acne face mask
If you can’t source fresh herbs, you can probably find them dried in health food stores. Or find them online. I suggest combining those plantain, chickweed and marigold, but any but any one of those noted above can be used to make a skin-healing infusion.
Chickweed is a weed, but it’s also a medicine and food and it helps fight acne
Note: Chickweed is useful in drawing out pus from inflamed pimples or boils. I have also applied chickweed to styes in the eyes and to clean up pinkeye. A poultice of fresh chickweed is best: crush a handful of clean herb in your clean hands and apply the messy green stuff to the infected area. It will start to feel warm; even hot. At that point, remove the poultice and wash your hands.
However, dried chickweed also works, if infused into boiling water as described above. In that case, use only 1/2 cup water per tablespoon of dried herb. Dip sterile cotton into the strained infusion and apply it to the infection. Discard the cotton after a few minutes and wash your hands.
A cucumber and yoghurt mask against acne
For a skin-soothing facial mask that uses ordinary kitchen ingredients, blend a washed but unpeeled organic cucumber with 1/8 cup yogurt and 1 tablespoon raw honey. Spread the mask on and rinse off after 15 minutes. It won’t be as medicinal as the herb/clay mask, but it will reduce painful redness and leave the skin softer.
Editor’s note: store bought masks are expensive and contain preservatives to stop it from decomposing and going rotten. Like good food, a healthy face mask should be made with the freshest, local and most organic ingredients. Time to start grow
herbalisFor more on natural remedies see:
Za’atar is a natural anti-acne treatment
Some Tips to Consider Before Buying Beauty Products
5 Natural Ways to Keep Your Skin Beautiful
The ABCs of Middle East Spices Medicines, Part IV – Oregano to Rosemary
Author: Miriam Kresh
Miriam Kresh is an American ex-pat living in Israel. Her love of Middle Eastern food evolved from close friendships with enthusiastic Moroccan, Tunisian and Turkish home cooks. She owns too many cookbooks and is always planning the next meal. Miriam can be reached at miriam (at) greenprophet (dot) com.
