★★★★★
Not sure if you'd call it a "cure" as much as a "treatment" that works as long as I am using it. Has completely eliminated a 35 year case of body acne.
★★★★★
I am not 100% cured yet, I do not expect to be, but this has significantly reduced my breakouts to almost non-existent!
My back acne was to the point of uncomfortable when I would lay down, causing me pain. I have not been formally diagnosed, no idea what type of acne I have. I DO have a tendency towards cystic acne on my face (diagnosed), so I imagine that is likely what's going on throughout my body.
I began a regimen of salicylic acid body wash (2% - multiple brands) and that did not touch it. I also tried peroxide-based cleaners & still no luck. I used rubbing alcohol in my teenage years with some success & decided to give it a try again.
To be safe, I dilute it with witch hazel (50-50 mixture in a spray bottle approximately 4 ounces). I also add about 30 drops of tea tree oil, but you can certainly add more if you can manage the pungent scent & tingling sensations on your skin.
Really, you do not need the witch hazel. I did this for its toning properties & to reduce the drying effects of the alcohol. If you wanted to use distilled water, that would be fine too. I use this mixture morning before I dress & evening after a shower. It MAY sting just a little bit, particularly after the shower when your pores are opened. If that's unbearable to you, don't use the alcohol & stick to the witch hazel (& perhaps try diluting that with distilled water as well, just in case).
This has helped reduce my breakouts so much, I no longer fear wearing backless dresses or being on the beach. I will occasionally get a few here & there, but I no longer have entire patches of acne on my back & the lifespan of the few pimples I do get is reduced to about 2 days with this therapy.
After 3 years of cyclical body acne, I'm happy to say it's manageable. I think with continued therapy of the tea tree oil, it will only get better. I wish you the best of luck!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple Cider Vinegar
I also use Dr. Bronners baby mild soap (using ACV or the aloe as a toner afterwards) and occasionally a drop of organic jojoba oil on any really bad cysts, morning and night.
It may take a while for you to find exactly what works, but I know you can find something to heal those scars and it's worth trying the aloe from mrh. :) Good luck!!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Scalp Acne Remedies
★★★★★
Acne Inversa Remedies
Acne Inversa Remedies
I think your disease is caused by a virus, and that the weeping of fluid from your sores after the magnesium sulfate bath was a sign of the virally infected cells bursting due to the magnesium, sulfate or both. I would see that as a good thing and the reason it was global is because the minerals were absorbed into your body and thus attacking the virus everywhere.
I would begin taking vitamin C to bowel tolerance every two hours and also use a trace mineral supplement. Experiment with the antivirals like selenium, colloidal silver, baking soda, olive leaf extract, etc. Always a good idea to research them first and I always check the Amazon reviews to see what has worked for other people, etc.
You might want to experiment with the epsom salt baths to see if it improves your condition. It may take several baths and it may look worse before it starts to get better. Mineral baths are an old treatment for skin problems.
Please let us know what works and what doesn't!
Acne Inversa Remedies
~Mama to Many~
Scalp Acne Remedies
You try washing your hair with baking soda and rinsing with vinegar. There is a lot of discussion about doing this here:
https://www.earthclinic.com/remedies/hair_shampoo.html
At first, it may make your hair seem more oily, but should tame it down a lot. I would give it a week or two. It is hard to find a shampoo that does not have SLS in it, which is bad for your hair and scalp and may make it harder for you to heal the acne. This should be compatible with what Dave suggested.
Have you tried any of the other things people have suggested on the acne pages? It seems like there is a lot of trial and error since the cause can be different for different people.
I agree with Dave that food could be aggravating your condition. You could also look into the PH balancing pages and try that.
Let us know how it goes! I hope you have a solution soon.
~Mama to Many~
Scalp Acne Remedies
Would my opinion change? No. My observation was not based on the antibiotics issue. Except obviously some Doctor (MD) thought this was an infection or else the prescription of an antibiotic would not have been given and that would bolster my hunch that the problem you are encountering is an INFECTION.
(I apologize if you were speaking to someone else, but you didn't mention anyone's name in your question...and when I looked at the "thread history" I was the first and only to respond. Best to you.)
Scalp Acne Remedies
Scalp Acne Remedies
About the scalp issue: Two suggestions.
First the condition could be the result of acidic reaction to too much acidic foods; ketchup...chili, tomatoes; Food reaction is what I'm thinking and I've had such a reaction (not so severe) as you are discussing. When I get away from acidic foods the reaction is much less. If I apply isopropyl alcohol to the outbreaks it will sting but immediate relief. An even more effective over the counter is "Scalpicin"...
Second: This condition might be an infection, fungal... like ringworm, microsporum canis; or scabies...microbiotic mites. For the former I use an over the counter cream, like Tenactin, or Lamisil, which has Terbinifine as the active ingredient. Tenactin has a different active ingredient that also kills ringworm fungus.
If you've been around cats and dogs as indoor pets growing up, you just might have the later problem...rather than the food reaction.
Scalp Acne Remedies
Scalp Acne Remedies
If you are only treating it on the scalp you are not healing your body internally.
Scalp Acne Remedies
Scalp Acne Remedies
I like that: Rishabh from Punjab.
You report acne on scalp. And you've tried antibiotic cream to no avail. Condition for five years.
You don't give us much to go on so I'll throw out some suggestions and if you can tell us more basics that would help... Basics such as; does condition worsen from time to time when you eat different foods, or is the condition basically the same all the time? And, are you on any medications which might tell us something. Allergies?
So now with little to go on, consider these ideas;
Let's first start with the theory that you have an infection; likely fungal but possibly viral. To kill a fungal infection on the skin I like the herb echenacia in liquid form.
Next, if the condition is not viral/fungal think of the possibility that your system may be acidic and you need to bring it back to alkeline. Use baking soda, one half teaspoon in glass of water and drink. Save a bit of the baking soda liquid and place fingers in liquid and rub on scalp.
Next consider your system has gotten a poison or chemical that is causing erruptions. Use charcoal tablets. For years I used charcoal as a catcher of toxins. I've also used "clay" as in bentonite clay. A half teaspoon well mixed in warm water. Drink. Also apply some of the clay to make a paste and apply to scalp.
Next consider the topical application of Apple Cider Vinegar. The acne cites might sting. That may be good; you know the cider is getting into the eruptions.
I've also just been reading the amazing healing power of cabbage leaves. Google: Jakobe Jakestein Cabbage pdf. You'll find a great book by this lady who used cabbage as a topical application to help with many skin conditions.
All right Rishab from the Punjab, that's my first set of suggestions. I'm sure you'll get a lot of ideas from others who wish you the best. (Are you from the Punjab of India or Pakistan? Isn't there a Punjab in Pakistan?)
Dave
Scalp Acne Remedies
I am suffering from problem of acne on my hair scalp for the last 5 years and despite adequate care and antibiotic medicines the problem still persists. I don't know the reason for the same and the problem grow especially during the change of season. I would request yo to kindly help me with the same on prority basis.
Tea Tree Oil
★★★★★
Coconut Oil
★★★★★
Dietary Changes
Borax
Dietary Changes
★★★★★
Borax
★★★★★
When I take a shower, I use a bit of 20 Mule Team Borax (the kind in the laundry detergent aisle) and wash my acne prone areas with this. After I dry off, I spray the sea salt/tea tree oil mixture on my buttocks/thigh area and leave it on there for the rest of the day. I work from home so I was also reapplying the mist 2-3 times a day.
Sea salt will draw out the impurities from your skin so expect your acne to get a bit worse before you see results. After 4 days, there was a remarkable difference! I'm on day 7 and my little zits are all gone and I only have a few red ones left which have greatly reduced in size and redness. It will sting a bit but it is bearable. I've read it takes longer to have clear skin in that particular area so you will need to be patient. I had tried the apple cider vinegar, coconut oil, Witch hazel, exfoliating and borax alone before trying the sea salt and although it helped, I was still not happy.
I expect after another week, I will have perfect skin again! Good luck!
Sesame Oil
Apple Cider Vinegar
★★★★★
Multiple Remedies
Here is a small, but certainly non-inclusive, list of what may be the problem and how to treat the acne problem accordingly.
Your acne might be hormonal if:
- You are female
- You are a young male/female (13-18 years old)
- You are pregnant
- You get breakouts around your menstrual cycle/you are menopausal
- You are taking steroids/growth hormone supplements
- You have a known (or suspected) hormone imbalance, such as a thyroid problem, PCOS, or have other symptoms of a hormone imbalance such as increased bodily hair, irregular periods, hair loss, or difficulty controlling weight.
- You have acne on your face as well as your body
If you have hormonal acne, clearly the way to treat it is to balance the hormones. For me and a lot of other women who suffered from hormonal acne, my skin cleared up considerably after taking birth control pills. Some women also notice their skin clearing considerably after taking hormone-balancing herbal supplements such as maca, raspberry leaf tea, dong quai, or spearmint tea. I have also seen a lot of women claim that drinking detox tea clears their skin considerably!
For all acne sufferers, you need to be on a CLEAN DIET. I travel to France several times a year and I notice that while many American girls have acne, I have rarely seen a French girl with even a blemish. Seeing the way that French girls eat, I am not surprised - the French eat mostly natural foods free of nasty American chemicals and preservatives. If you can't pronounce it, don't eat it. Also, wash fruits and veggies THOROUGHLY before eating, because American pesticides contain estrogen compounds. Another French habit I noticed - and that I think Americans need to do more of - is drink more water and less sodas. 8 glasses of water will help clear your skin and give it a healthy glow.
Your acne might be due to retention hyperkeratosis (failure of the skin to exfoliate itself) if:
- Your acne responds well to exfoliation/chemical peels/Retin-A
- You have a lot of clogged pores and blackheads
- Your acne gets worse after periods of sweating (such as going to the gym)
For me, clogged pores are the cause of my body acne problems. My skin responded beautifully to using Aqua Glycolic body wash with a Japanese bath towel in the shower. Just put a little dab of body wash on every morning and scrub away (if your skin is blemished, do not overscrub - it will aggravate your acne). Be patient with this treatment - body acne takes longer to go away than facial acne - it took me 2 months to get perfectly clear body skin. ALWAYS take a shower after sweating or if you have some kind of product on your skin - like sunscreen - that can clog your pores. Also, if you have a tendency to have clogged pores, watch what shampoos and conditioners you use. When you rinse your hair, take care that the lather does not touch your body. If you live in a humid/hot environment, wear cottons or other breathable fabrics, and do not wear tight-fitting clothes.
Your acne might be product-related if:
- You don't take measures to prevent shampoo/conditioner residue from hitting your back/buttocks/chest or area(s) where there is body acne
- Your shampoo/conditioner contains pore-clogging ingredients or SLS
- You are using a product to control your body acne and your body acne has flared up worse after using it
- You also have acne on your scalp/suspect you may be allergic to a shampoo/conditioner you are using
If you suspect you might have product-related acne, switch your products. If the acne clears up, the product might be the problem.
Your acne might be fungus (pityrosporum folliculitis) related if:
- You are a man (although this condition occurs with women too - but is more common with men)
- You have a rashey kind of body acne, with chronic, red, itchy pustules on the back and chest, or sometimes on the neck, shoulders, upper arms and face
- Your body acne occurs mostly in the summer, after you sweat with tight-fitting clothes on, during sports activities, or are hot/sweaty
- You have come in contact with someone else with a fungal infection
This is the kind of body acne my fiance, and a lot of other guys, suffer from. This kind of acne benefits from using an anti-fungal shampoo (Nizoral or Head and Shoulders), coconut oil, or an anti-fungal cream on the affected area. Do not wear tight-fitting clothes when working out - wear something breathable instead.
Band-aids (quick fixes) to heal existing acne in the meantime:
- Tea Tree Oil/Alcohol solution - the best to kill acne bacteria/dry out existing acne
- Benzoyl Peroxide 5% - very good at killing bacteria/drying out acne - but beware, it will stain clothing.
- Apple Cider Vinegar - a lot of people rave about this cure, but it hasn't worked for me. I recommend the brand with "the mother".
Good luck everyone, hope that this helps someone with this frustrating problem!
Clay Mask
Apple Cider Vinegar
★★★★★
Clay Mask
★★★★★
Mint julep mask is very good for this.
Another tip: ladies, change your bra daily, I noticed I was getting breakouts in the area where my bra straps were - on the shoulder blades. I believe the sweat and dirt buildup on the straps contributes to the problem.
Make sure you are not constipated either, it will exacerbate the problem.
