Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 2: Treating acne with aloe vera
• Part 2 of 2: Reducing acne outbreaks
• Warnings

Aloe vera is often used as a skin healing agent. It has calming properties and serves to support and improve the speed at which your skin heals. Aloe vera also acts as an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agent without significant side effects. Because of all these wonderful properties, aloe vera can be helpful in the treatment of acne.

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Part 1 of 2: Treating acne with aloe vera

1. Buy aloe vera. You can buy either an aloe vera plant or ready-to-use aloe vera gel. You should be able to get an aloe vera plant at most garden centers, and aloe vera gel is available at most pharmacies and supermarkets.
   • To extract the gel from the leaf, cut a fairly large leaf from the aloe vera. The blade should be about 12-15 cm long. Wash the leaf well in water and cut it in half lengthwise with a knife. Use a spoon or knife to scoop out as much gel as possible.
2. Test a small amount of the aloe vera on your skin. You should always try a small amount of the plant gel or commercial product on a small area before applying it all. You must make sure that you are not allergic or hypersensitive to the plant. The plant belongs to the same botanical family as lilies, onions and garlic, so if you react to those plants, you will probably also react to aloe.
   • Try the gel on your wrist first, let it dry, then rinse it off. If there is no redness, itching, or swelling, you can try it on your face.
3. Use aloe vera on the affected area. Take two teaspoons of aloe vera gel and add two to three drops of lemon juice to it. The lemon juice helps maintain the skin's pH level. Mix well.
   • Use a cotton swab to apply the mixture directly to the acne. Leave this on your face for at least 20–30 minutes or overnight.
   • Rinse it off with lukewarm water and cleanse your face as usual.
   • Repeat this daily.
4. Use aloe vera to make a face mask. Cut one or two leaves about 6 inches (15 cm) from an aloe plant and cut off the sharp tips along the sides of the leaf. Cut open the leaves and scoop out the gel.
   • Add one teaspoon of honey (honey has extra antibacterial properties) or five to seven drops of lemon juice to the aloe vera gel. Mix any additives thoroughly.
   • Apply the gel to your face or use a cotton swab to apply the mixture directly to the acne.
   • If possible, leave the gel on overnight, but if not, at least 20-30 minutes.
   • Rinse the gel with lukewarm water and cleanse your face as usual.
   • Repeat this daily.
5. Continue the treatments for several weeks. It may take time for the healing effects of aloe vera to help with your condition. If these treatments haven't gotten rid of your acne in three to four weeks, make an appointment with a dermatologist to determine the best steps to take.

Part 2 of 2: Reducing acne outbreaks

1. Wash your face at least twice a day. Wash your face once in the morning and once before going to bed. If you sweat a lot during the day, such as while exercising or because the weather is hot, wash your face as soon as possible to remove the perspiration.
2. Use a mild vegetable oil to clean yourself. Look for a cleanser labeled "non-comedogenic." This means that the product will not promote the formation of comedones, blackheads or blemishes.
   • Examples are products such as Neutrogena, Cetaphil and Olay. There are many commercially available products that are non-comedogenic. Read the label to be sure.
   • There are oils that are used to clean the skin and many of these use non-comedogenic oils. Its use is based on the principle that "like species dissolve each other". In other words, oil can be used to dissolve and remove excess skin fat.
   • Make sure you only use non-alcoholic products. Alcohol dries out and damages the skin.
3. Use your fingertips to apply cleansers. You have to be very careful when cleaning your skin.Using a washcloth or sponge can irritate the skin and cause more problems.
4. Treat skin with blemishes gently. You shouldn't prick, squeeze, squeeze, or touch acne. Otherwise, this can lead to inflammation, scarring and will result in healing taking more time.
5. Stay out of the sun and do not use sunlamps. Sun (and sunlamps) can damage skin cells due to UVB radiation. If you are on certain acne medications or certain other medications, keep in mind that some medications make your skin even more sensitive to the sun.
   • These drugs contain antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin, tetracycline, sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim; antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl); medicines used to treat cancer (5-FU, vinblastine, dacarbazine); heart medications such as amiodarone, nifedipine, quinidine and diltiazem; nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs such as naproxen, and the acne drugs isotretinoin (Accutane) and acitretin (Soriatane).
6. Avoid rough scrubbing. Otherwise, this can lead to permanent scarring and the skin will take longer to heal. Exfoliating is popular, but vigorous exfoliation often does more harm than good.
   • Exfoliating can cause micro-scars (small scars that cannot be seen without magnification) as well as visible scars, often making acne worse.
   • The exfoliation "scrubs" can also remove skin that is not ready to fall off. It is a bit like scraping away a crust that does not fall off by itself.
7. Don't eat unhealthy things. While your diet doesn't have to lead to acne directly, despite the stories you may have heard about milk and chocolate, certain foods increase the risk of acne in some people. Some foods, including dairy products and refined sugars, can cause inflammation and provide an environment for acne to thrive.
   • In particular, foods with a high glycemic index, such as high-carbohydrate foods, have been linked to acne.
8. Eat healthy. This ensures that you are getting the right nutrients to keep your skin healthy. The vitamins that seem to be most important to the skin are vitamins A and D. In addition, consuming enough omega-3 can be helpful for people with acne.
   • Try to make sure that at least half of your plate is filled with vegetables, especially at dinner.
   • Foods high in vitamin A include: sweet potato, spinach, carrots, pumpkin, broccoli, lettuce, kale, red pepper, zucchini, cantaloupe, mango, apricots, black-eyed beans, beef liver, herring, and salmon.
   • Foods rich in vitamin D are: cod liver oil, salmon, tuna, milk, yogurt and cheese. Many foods are fortified with vitamin D, but the best way to get vitamin D is to expose your skin to the sun for 10-15 minutes a week, as sunlight activates the skin's vitamin D production.
   • Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids are: flaxseed and linseed oil, soybean oil, canola oil, chia seeds, butter nuts, walnuts, salmon, sardines, mackerel, whitefish, shad (type of fish), basil, oregano, cloves, marjoram, spinach, sprouted radish seeds, Chinese broccoli, and small amounts of meat and eggs.

Warnings

• The effectiveness of aloe vera as an acne treatment is up for debate. While the cooling properties of the plant are known, its medical use requires further research.
• While the topical use of aloe vera gel has little to no side effects, ingestion of aloe vera gel can lead to side effects such as stomach cramps and diarrhea.