The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Borax
Posted by Linda (Indianapolis, Indiana, United States) on 03/04/2013
★★★★★
Wow!! That's all I have to say about borax. I have found the best product on the market for my stuborn blackheads and clogged pores. I swear just from washing my face once with borax all my blackheads, dead skin and clogged pores are gone.
This is what I do: wet your face with warm water, get about a teaspoon of borax in your hand and then apply on your face AVOID eye area and under eye. Scrub gently with the borax around the problem area, rinse with luke warm water and watch your face glow. AMAZING
After I rinse the borax off I apply a toner 50/50 ACV and water with a cotton pad to minimize the size of my pores, after it dries a apply coconut oil and my face is like a babys bottom :)
Make sure you always apply suncsreen to the face.
I also use borax as a scrub for my body, I used to have back acne and they are almost gone, my skin feels like silk. I swear by borax.
Avoid Peanut Butter
Posted by Jennifer (Napa, Ca) on 12/06/2020
★★★★★
Peanut Butter!
If you have teen or adult acne and you eat peanut butter or nuts or seeds/oils, it will increase inflammation and create massive infection within your clogged pores.
Please stop eating peanut butter and or seeds and nuts and seed oils if you want to get rid of your acne.
My friend had terrible acne his entire life since he was a teenager and we tried everything to help him with no success until we finally read an article about how unhealthy peanut butter is and how much massive inflammation it causes within your skin and causes acne, so please stop eating peanut butter and or nut and seed oils and it will clear right up!
Some people can tolerate peanut butter, but if you have acne, don't eat it!
Coconut Oil, Tea Tree Oil
Posted by Libraloveshealth (Los Angeles) on 02/27/2017
★★★★★
Coconut Oil and Tea Tree Oil:
Works great! I have a preparation made with some coconut oil and a bit of tea tree(melaluca)oil mixed in. I rub it on my face at night after using a gentle cleanser. It has worked pretty fast to get my acne under control. I have always dealt with some pretty annoying breakouts before/during periods. I was taking clindamycin lotion and adapalene gel which helped but sometimes would dry my skin out too much/cause easy sun burns. I love how this works better and is natural!
Baking Soda
Posted by Izzy (Wellington, New Zealand) on 09/11/2014
★★★★★
I'm 24 years old and have had problems with inflammatory acne since the beginning of high school. I've got some scarring on my face and even when I don't have pimples, my skin looks terrible and uneven. I heard about Earth Clinic from a friend a while ago and finally decided to look up a solution (I'd kind of given up trying to fix it).
This morning I had big, angry red pimples on my cheeks. About three hours ago I scrubbed my face with baking soda, (another solution I found on here...) and rubbed some cold-pressed Coconut Oil into my skin, I can hardly believe it - my skin has calmed down so much and my red spots are almost gone! Even in just a few hours my complexion has improved more than it has in months. Nothing has ever helped as quickly and effectively as this! Totally incredible!
Acne Tips
Posted by Sarah (Carrollton, Tx) on 01/21/2011
★★★★★
I agree with stopping the use anything containing sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). I got canker sores in my mouth repeatedly for a month until I switched to a sensitve toothpaste (pronamel or sensodyne are good and inexpensive) and my canker sores vanished w/in 1 day - the only different ingredient was the absence of SLS. Read up on it and SLS is a strong detergent used in toliet cleaner/bath&kitchen cleaner to make the "foaming" soapy action... Everything has this - shampoo, bottled soaps, toothpaste, and all household cleaners. I started developing cysts and dandruff problems on my head after a while and was shedding a lot of hair, I found some good shampoos - David Babaii's Wildaid (from ULTA) and Renpure Organics (from Walgreens) - they don't have SLS and have safer, less harmful ingredients for the environment - my scalp problems vanished w/in 1 week and I haven't had problems for the last 2 years since I've cut SLS out of my life.
I was on Retin-A for years w/o much help, still broke out and it turned my face red. Using face wash w/o SLS has reduced my acne outbreaks to only 3-4 days out of the month when I'm cycling, all other times my face is pretty clear and I don't have to apply harsh chemicals anymore.
Acne Tips
Posted by Regulator555 (Grand Rapids, Mi, Usa) on 06/02/2010
I suffered from acne for years. As I got older, it got worse. After trying numerous OTC remedies, at great expense, I started doing research on what the problem could be. Chemicals! SLS/ALS's trigger acne. Propylene glycol triggers acne. Parabens trigger acne. Mineral oil triggers acne. The list goes on and on. All these chemicals were linked to my bad skin. So, I stopped using everything - shampoo, face/body wash, toothpaste, deodorant, lotions, creams, etc. I started over. K.I.S.S. - keep it super simple. Natural is the key with the fewest ingredients possible. There are cosmetics out there that are natural and pigmented with fruit. There are soaps out there that are just made with castille soap. Baking soda for deodorant. Read the labels - you'd be surprised. The stuff is even in our food. Moisturize with an organic oil (yes, you can put natural oil on your face if you have acne). Look into essential oils and adding a few drops. Eliminate everything and then start adding in a few natural things. After I eliminated all the chemicals, my skin cleared. I get a zit here and there (PMS related), but rarely. Read your labels! Note: the cosmetic industry is self-regulated. Even if it says "natural" it may not be. Don't be fooled - read the ingredients.
Baking Soda
Posted by Sweetpea (Henderson, Nv, U.S.) on 10/29/2009
★★★★★
Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda) for Acne
My son is 12 years old and has bad acne for about 1 1/2 years. I tried many of the over the counter products: cleansers, facial scrubs, toners, astringents, and moisturizers, but nothing worked. While doing some house cleaning using sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and water it occured to me to try that for a face wash for him. I made a paste and have him use it every morning and every night ~ he uses it like any other facial cleanser and it has been fantastic! The pimples have shrunk in size and many are gone. His pores are much smaller. It doesn't burn, sting, or dry out his face. And best of all, it is really inexpensive.
Acne Tips
Posted by Janine (Hacienda Heights, CA) on 06/10/2009 1 posts
I am an aesthetician and treat acne clients on a regular basis. The first thing I teach my clients is how to wash their face. When washing your face use a good quality product and apply it using a light hand, don't press or push to hard. You do not want to stimulate more oils by pressing to hard. Use a very light touch in circular motions for 1 to 2 minutes. Yes, 1 or 2 minutes, you want to cleanse the skin and the pores. Always use a clean wash cloth with warm (not hot) water to rinse your face. It is important to use a wash cloth to pick up the oils from the face as well as exfoliating . (this is one thing I find that most of my acne clients don't do), but when you think of it we use some kind of cloth to wash our dishes, our cars, or the counter top. Washing in the morning and evening should be enough. So make sure you have plenty of clean wash cloths on hand.
Acne Tips
Posted by Ellen (Toronto, ON) on 06/28/2009
To add to the previous post regarding washcloths: baby wipes work great for removing makeup/washing face/exfoliating and are disposable!
Acne Tips
Posted by Nancy7711 (County Cork, Ireland) on 08/03/2010
I'm a Registered Nurse and had an Anti-Aging Center. I agree with the esthetician who states that proper method of cleansing the skin. The reason you should use a 100% cotton wash cloth is because the cotton fibers pick up the dead skin cells (which baby wipes do not do). It's these dead skin cells that help contribute to clogging the pores. You will definitely start seeing a difference with this method. It also stimulates a small bit of collagen (desperately wanted as we age)
Aloe Vera
Posted by Sean (Denver, Colorado) on 05/19/2008
★★★★★
Aloe Vera for Acne: it works, I tried it last night got up and voala! smaller pimples.
Hydrogen Peroxide, Aloe
Posted by Sophie (Portland, Oregon) on 12/03/2007
★★★★★
I've never had breakouts before and suddenly I have acne all over my chin and some on my forehead. . I began trying all of these high end products I buy from Nu-skin, well it just became more aggravated. I became totally flipped out, because, we are havinge two big parties to go to in five days and one we are hosting in ! I couldn't focus on what I was going to wear until I had my acne under control. I looked up this Eerth Clinic site and reading people stories. I ran to the store. I purchased Aloe Vera gel 99%, Aloe Vera Juice and Hydrogen Peroxide. All three products cost $10.00.
I took a hot shower and put the Hydrogen Peroxide on a cotton ball and held it on acne prone areas for a few minutes. Afterwards I put some Aloe Vera gel on my face, then I drank some Aloe Vera Juice diluted with water and went to bed. When I woke up in the morning "BEHOLD A MIRACLE" all the acne was gone and my complexion was glowing, and creamy. So, save your money and your energy just try this it works, of course it might not for everyone, but it sure blew my mind!
Acne Tips
Posted by Kris (Omaha, Nebraska) on 09/19/2007
★★★★★
My decade-long bout with facial acne ended when I (1) Quit using liquid make-up, and (2) Started using a facial wash with alpha hydroxy acid. My absolute favorite is the brand Alpha Hydrox Foaming Facial Wash. Awesome AND inexpensive. I think that quitting using concealers and liquid make-up to cover up the skin is crucial to stopping the acne cycle. Even if a liquid make-up claims to be non-codemogenic it may aggravate the acne. For a while I used powder make-up, which didn't cause break-outs, but now I rarely even use that.
Essential Oils
Posted by Mila (Sacramento, California) on 04/03/2007
★★★★★
I tried essential oils, more specifically, rosemary and coriander oils, for my blackheads and active acne, and a miracle happened with my face. Here is how I do it: at night I wash my face first if i have makeup on with my regular camphor based cleanser, then about an hour later i heat up a huge pot of water, and hold my face above the steam for about 10-15 minutes, i also cover my head with a big towel, so the heat does not escape. The steam helps open up the pores and let the toxins out. Then I take a shower and rinse my face off oil and toxins. After i get out i pat my face dry and apply coriander and rosemary oil mixed together. It's been a couple of weeks, and my face has cleared up so much, I am amazed. There are other things I do too, like drinking less caffeine and eating less sugar ,taking flax and omega 3,6,9 oils, also praying to God( I'm a christian), and my skin has been great. It doesn't get congested anymore, it's color is more healthy and even, I am absolutely amazed. I am 22, so I know acne at my age is an internal problem, so I recommend to anybody the essential oils(coriander and rosemary), but also checking your diet, some foods cause your skin to congest and breakout. Hope this helps)) I think I'll be using essential oils now,for me they've been more effective and a lot less expensive than facials and pretty much all brand name products i've tried in my life, and trust me i've wasted thousands of dollars on lotians, facials, cremes, etc. God bless you, and hope you find this comment helpful.
Acne Tips
Posted by Chet (Los Angeles, CA) on 01/21/2006
★★★★★
STOP USING SLS (SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE, SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE) AND ANY SULFATES IN YOUR BATH PRODUCTS!!! This ingredient is found EVERY body and face soap...and EVERY shampoo. IT IS ALSO WHY YOUNG MEN ARE GOING BALD!!! For acne, I'm trying the lemon juice exfoliation and the cucumber juice face mask. Seems to be working.
Alcohol
Posted by Mike (Kent, UK) on 09/17/2023 25 posts
★★★★★
Any high alcohol solution seems to dry and remove spots pretty quickly. For example 70% hand sanitiser.
At a pinch I just put some of that on a few times and the spot seems to disappear after a very short time.
Flaxseed Oil
Posted by Tina (Chattanooga) on 03/09/2023
★★★★★
Acne has plagued me for most of my life beginning in my teens. Dietary changes helped but now at 56 and post-menopausal, the hormonal acne that started around my mouth and on my chin takes full advantage of any dietary lapses.
I began taking flaxseed oil to help with hot flashes at a relative's suggestion. After several months, I realized the flaxseed oil didn't help much with the hot flashes so I stopped taking it. However I now realize it WAS helping with my hormonal acne because my skin has been going crazy since I stopped taking it. My daughter's skin has too.
The company I've been ordering from is no longer selling it so I am now on a search for another brand with the same stringent production methods and wonderfully "clean" product.
