Folk Remedies for Acne that Really Work

Although these folk remedies for acne date back centuries, they really work and have been proven over and again. Acne has no actual cure, but there are many treatments for the condition, most of which are natural with no side effects. Read on to discover several folk remedies for acne.

Folk Remedies for Acne - Clay Packs

Clay packs are popular folk remedies for acne among Seventh Day Adventists who use many natural and folk remedies. Clay packs were also used as folk remedies for acne by German immigrants at the turn of the century. You can purchase cosmetic grade clay at natural health stores, some drug stores or order it online.

To use these folk remedies for acne, mix cosmetic grade clay into a cup of warm water until it is the consistency of a thick soup. Apply to the skin and leave for at least thirty minutes. It's ideal to leave the clay pack on the skin for several hours if possible. Then, wipe the clay from the skin using warm water and a soft cloth. Do not rinse the clay down the drain as it can cause clogs. Instead, discard it into a bowl and put into the trash or in your garden.

Folk Remedies for Acne - Mung Beans

One of the Chinese folk remedies for acne is a paste of mung beans applied to the skin. The mung beans are astringent and as such, they draw the excess oil from the skin that causes acne in the first place. This makes mung beans another of the most effective folk remedies for acne.

Grind dry mung beans to a powder in a coffee grinder or food processor. You could even use a blender if it's all you had. Then, mix with warm water to form a paste. Apply to the skin and leave for thirty minutes - several hours. Wipe from the skin using warm water and a soft cloth.

Folk Remedies for Acne - Burdock

Burdock tea is one of the oldest folk remedies for acne. It has been used for generations in the United States by natural healers and wise women/men. Burdock brings blood circulation to the surface of the skin. Increased circulation may help fight the infection and inflammation of acne. Burdock is also one of the folk remedies for acne that contains starch. Starch helps absorb excess oil from the skin.

Add one teaspoon of ground, dried burdock root to one cup of boiling water. Allow the mixture to steep for twenty - thirty minutes and then strain. Drink three to four cups daily for one of the best folk remedies for acne.

If the acne is severe, you can also apply a burdock root poultice directly to the skin. After you've made tea with the ground root, wrap the leftover root in a soft cloth made from natural material. Moisten the cloth with some of the hot tea and apply to the skin for about fifteen minutes. This is one of the folk remedies for acne that can be used freely until the skin has cleared.

Folk Remedies for Acne - Red Clover

Red clover poultices are fantastic folk remedies for acne and are still used throughout the United States to treat skin conditions. Red clover thins the oil secretions, making excess oil easier to remove.

Cover fresh red clover flowers with water and heat until they are tender. Strain the water from the flowers and press them into a thick mass. Sprinkle the mass with white flour to hold the poultice together. Place the red clover poultice directly on the skin and leave for thirty minutes. The poultice can be used several times per day as one of the mildest folk remedies for acne.

Folk Remedies for Acne - Stinging Nettle

Stinging nettle is one of the old gypsy folk remedies for acne. It can be taken as a tea and/or applied directly to the affected area. The astringent properties of stinging nettle help reduce excess oil, making it one of the most effective folk remedies for acne.

Add one ounce of dried nettle to one quart of boiling water. Allow the mixture to steep overnight. Strain and drink two - three cups per day. Or, reheat the tea and apply the warm liquid directly to the skin once or twice per day. This is one of the best folk remedies for acne when the two methods are used together.