How to Treat Acne
Beware of over-the-counter acne products that contain harsh ingredients and extraneous chemicals.
Benzoyl peroxide, for example, is undoubtedly effective in reducing acne but it can also cause an allergic reaction or dry out and irritate your skin, leading to other problems. (7)
Acne medications are prescribed in cases of severe acne and those have their hazards as well.
Accutane is one of these—it is known to cause depression and Crohn’s disease. (8) Recent studies have linked tetracycline to autoimmune disease. (9)
Isotretinoin can cause difficulty breathing, dizziness, blurred vision, chest pain, hearing loss, and a whole slew of other terrible reactions. (9)
In addition, another common method of treating adult acne in women is a prescription oral contraceptive. That approach has implications of its own and is not the optimal solution if clearing acne is its only aim. (11)
Natural acne remedies may take longer than something you can buy in a bottle but they don’t carry the associated dangers with them.
12 Hormonal Acne Remedies
Adolescents are not the only demographic who have acne—hormonal acne in adulthood is fairly common, too. Knowing possible causes can lead to its elimination regardless of your age. See the following for some natural acne solutions.
1. Dairy and Acne
Many people are sensitive to the proteins in dairy. They can cause inflammation in the body which, in turn, can stimulate severe acne. Additionally, non-organic milk can contain hormones that directly interfere with ours- causing a hormone imbalance (12). Also, a correlation between acne and the consumption of low-fat and skim milk, in particular, has been found.
If you’re going to keep drinking dairy, full-fat milk is less likely to cause acne. (13) But if you do- beware that drinking milk can also stimulate the production of insulin, altering other hormone levels. (14)
2. Avoid Refined Carbs
The American Academy of Dermatologists now recognizes that carbohydrates high on the glycemic (sugar) index contribute to acne. (15) Sugary foods like candy and soda plus items like white bread, refined grains, potato chips, and white potatoes can all raise blood sugar levels quickly.
When the body produces various hormones to regulate blood sugar, inflammation occurs, and acne appears.
3. Enjoy Sunny Weather
Sunshine is good for the skin, contrary to popular belief. (16) It’s the best source of vitamin D—synthetic vitamin supplements don’t work quite the same. More importantly for acne, the red and blue rays of the sun kill the bacteria that cause it. (17)