4 Natural Acne Treatments to Try Before Seeing a Dermatologist

4 Natural Acne Treatments to Try Before Seeing a Dermatologist

It's hard to feel beautiful when you have blemishes right in plain sight on your face. Fortunately, there are a number of natural remedies that might help you to get rid of your acne - or at least reduce its severity.

The remedies suggested below are all based on scientific research. They've worked for other people, so it's likely they could work for you, too.

1. Reduce Your Consumption of Dairy Products

Scientific researchers have demonstrated that consumption of milk and dairy products can increase the severity and prevalence of acne – so ditch the dairy products to clear up your skin. Following this suggestion could result in a reduction of your calcium intake; so to compensate for that, you'll want to ensure you increase your intake of other sorts of calcium-rich foods including sardines, kale, okra, bok choy and almonds.

2. Reduce Your Consumption of High Glycemic Foods

If you're unfamiliar with the concept of the glycemic index, this website has posted an in-depth article on the topic that you might find helpful. A quick explanation: High glycemic foods are foods that can cause a dramatic upswing in your blood sugar soon after you've consumed them. While this is a topic that's typically of most concern to diabetic people, it should also be of interest to those who suffer from acne – because scientific researchers have discovered a relationship between acne and diets that are heavy on high glycemic foods. Top foods to avoid include potato chips, potatoes, white bread, short-grain rice, ice cream and any food that has substantial amounts of added sugar.

3. Apply Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is an all-natural essential oil featuring beneficial cleansing and antimicrobial properties. It is derived from Australia's own native Melaleuca alternifolia trees. Scientific research has demonstrated that topical application of 5% tea tree oil solution to acne-affected areas can be as effective as topical application of 5% benzoyl peroxide, with fewer side effects.

4. Drink Green Tea and Apply It Topically

Researchers have determined that green tea is particularly beneficial in acne treatment. There are two different ways you can use it:
● By applying green tea lotion to the affected area, and
● By drinking green tea.

Apparently, the green tea is effective because it inhibits sebum production.

If acne is a persistent problem for you, give these remedies a try. Hopefully one or more of them will be effective in eliminating your acne.

These treatments, assuming they prove to be effective, are preferable to some of the harsher alternatives that dermatologists make available. For example, a dermatologist may recommend oral antibiotics to heal your acne. However, experts at the Australasian College of Dermatologists recommend avoiding this treatment unless alternative acne treatments all prove to be unsuccessful.

If you've tried all these natural acne remedies, and none of them worked for you, it may be time to request a dermatology referral from your GP. In Australia, public Medicare may cover some or all of the costs for dermatology services if your GP decides that a dermatologist referral is necessary. Some private health insurance providers also cover dermatology care. You can do a health insurance comparison to easily find a provider that covers dermatology and any other healthcare services you might need.