Just because a product is made of natural ingredients does not mean it belongs on your face. If you have suffered from acne, especially stubborn persistent breakouts, you probably feel like you have tried every option under the sun with little to no results. While it is true that our skin generally can improve with a healthy diet (you are what you eat, as the saying goes), searching your pantry or refrigerator for home remedies to apply topically to your face may make acne worse. And honestly, if the secret to clear skin was in our kitchen, there wouldn’t be a need to develop acne medications and skin improving treatments.

It doesn’t take much to discover from a single Internet search that the world wide web is quick to offer advice on the latest acne quick fixes that offer affordability and convenience by shopping your local produce aisle. And who doesn’t love the idea of treating their skin naturally? Learning to discern which foods are helpful and which ones are not will help you avoid worsening your acne. At home acne treatments you should stay away from include using honey, toothpaste, apple cider vinegar, coconut oil and combinations that include garlic cloves, cinnamon or lemons. Honey draws out excess water and while that may dry out red, inflamed blemishes it will likely worsen blackheads or open acne, not to mention make a sticky mess all over your face. Honey is touted as a cure for acne since it can fight and kill bacteria, but there is no evidence to show that honey alone is effective for acne. Toothpaste is designed for teeth. The chemicals in toothpaste that include lauryl sulfate, fluoride and baking soda can irritate the skin causing inflammation, which will lead to more breakouts on already sensitive skin. Apple cider vinegar is thought to be a great exfoliant due to its acidity. Unfortunately, it is too acidic and can easily strip the skin of its natural oils. People should opt instead for skin care acids specifically targeted for acne such as salicylic acid or glycolic acid. Unlike apple cider vinegar, coconut oil has a great smell and feels silky on the skin. Although it can be a soothing moisturizer it is also likely to clog pores which will lead to whiteheads and blackheads. Acne-fighting recipes that include lemons, garlic cloves or cinnamon can cause an allergic rash known as contact dermatitis that can potentially take weeks to clear up. 

If you are battling acne, steer clear of home remedies that not only offer false hope but may break you out even more or create other skin issues in addition to acne. To help improve your acne, seek the advice of a board-certified dermatologist at THE CENTER for Advanced Dermatology. Our doctors can help you patch test tried and true prescription products while respecting and advocating for your right to try at home treatments that can benefit the skin. Call 602-867-7546 or book online at WEBSITE.