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Alternative Acne Treatments That Work

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Herbalists have their own concoctions to use as pimple alternative treatments. One very useful combination oral/topical remedy for moderate to severe acne is as follows:

  1. Take as supplement 500mg of Vitamin C three times each day with a meal or snack. (Up your dosage to 1000mg if you are over 30 years of age.) Do not take all the tablets at once! Vitamin C is water soluble, so it works best when it's replenished throughout the day.
  2. Take 1000mg Flaxseed oil three times per day. It will decrease pore size. (Can also add evening primrose, borage, or black currant seed oils.)
  3. Take 100mg of Vitamin B-6 every morning, after breakfast.
  4. Drink a tea of Echinacea or Goldenseal twice per day, once upon waking and again in the evening, 2-3 hours before bed.
  5. Use a soap or cleanser for "sensitive" skin. The more natural the better. Rosemary or Tea Tree oil soaps, if you can find them where you live, would be especially useful.
  6. Make a "before bed" toner, to be used after cleansing each and every night, until your acne is completely gone. Here are the ingredients: 1/3 cup distilled water, 5Tb rubbing alcohol, 5Tb hydrogen peroxide, 2 Tb fresh lemon juice, and 60 drops eucalyptus oil. Shake well to blend. (The alcohol will keep the lemon juice, so there is no need to refrigerate.) You can use every time you cleanse, provided you use a high SPF sunscreen before going outdoors. Always let the toner dry on your skin before applying moisturizer.
  7. Only use a oil-free moisturizer for "sensitive" skin and add 8-10 drops of Tea Tree oil per ounce. Always apply moisturizer before sunscreen.
  8. Only use an oil-free sunscreen specifically made for the face. Anything else is asking for trouble. Wait at least 30 minutes before going outdoors and refresh your sunscreen every three hours thereafter. The spray varieties are perfect for this, especially if you're woman who wears cosmetics.
  9. In addition, exercise regularly and take time to relax and decompress -- meditation, massage -- are also important alternative treatments for acne, as the body needs to be at its peak to fight any disease.

"What works for one may not work for another" is true whether you go to a dermatologist, use an over-the-counter medication, or seek a holistic approach. So it's important that you try any treatment for at least four weeks, preferably eight, before moving on to the next. While alternative acne treatments are controversial, especially with doctors, their success depends highly on the individual, how well they follow directions, and the degree of acne they are suffering from.

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