Alternative Acne Treatments

While dermatologist use traditional methods for acne, there are some alternative acne treatments that you may want to consider. These alternative treatments come from Chinese alternative medicine, home remedies, as well as from herbal medicine.

Chinese Alternative Treatments for Acne

There alternative acne treatments that come from the Chinese alternative medicine traditions. The Chinese alternative methods take a holistic strategy of treating illness and maladies. In taking this approach with acne, they believe that acne can be caused by an imbalance in bodily systems.

Sources of Acne in Chinese Alternative Medicine

Those that practice alternative Chinese medicine feel that acne is a produced by a multiplicity of problems within a person. They see acne as a by-product of heat and toxicity in the blood. They think that coffee, garlic or spicy foods can build up heat in the body and cause issues with the skin. Additionally, acne is a symptom of problems in the digestive system where poisons are produced and are exhibited on the skin in the form of acne.

Chinese Alternative Medicine Treatments of Acne

Chinese alternative acne treatments start by looking at bodily systems and finding a healthy way to balance them. Those that practice alternative Chinese medicine feel controlling acne starts with a diet low in saturated fats and the proper amount of vitamins along with maintaining proper hygiene. The recommended vitamins include:

– Plenty of vitamin A as a way to maintain healthy skin
– Zinc is an important element when it comes to healing damaged skin
– Omega-3 fatty acids are also essential for skin cells as they help transport the benefits of nutrients throughout the body
– Vitamin B-6 helps protect skin from menstrual related acne

Proper digestion is also important in keeping bodily systems in peak performance and helps ward off acne. Making sure to take in the proper amount of high fiber foods is critical to maintaining proper digestion.

Home Remedies for Acne

When it comes to alternative acne treatments, those that use home remedies have several methods available. Honey is one item that can be used as a topical treatment for acne. Honey can be placed on the skin for five to minutes to help revitalize skin.

Lemon juice can also be used on the skin to treat acne. It can be mixed with water and applied directly to the skin. With this type treatment, the juice/water mixture should be allowed to stay on the skin ten minutes and then rinsed off. Those people with sensitive skins may need to increase the amount of water in their mixture while cutting back on the lemon juice.

Herbal Treatments for Acne

Herbalists also have an array of tools at hand to treat acne. Two of their mainstay treatment options for acne are black current seed oil capsules and primrose oil. These two items used together or separately can be used to clear up acne.

Since herbalists look at the body in a holistic way, they strive to treat the whole body and see someone with a healthy and relaxed body as better able to maintain healthy skin. In this vein, they recommend the use of Echinacea or Goldenseal teas. The use of these teas help relax the body and reduce stress thus eliminating the release of hormones that cause acne.

Alternative acne treatments can come from the three different areas of alternative medicine. Finding one that works for you and that you are comfortable is the most important step. It is recommended that you consult your physician before attempting any radical new treatment plans.