The shift from the lazy days of summer into the go, go, go of another school year can present all of us with a change in our skin. Poor diet, lack of sleep, dehydration, and stress are only a handful of triggers for acne but for every cause there are several natural and herbal solutions. Whether you’re a teen or a senior, these remedies can help clear your skin and help you put your healthiest face forward.

Remedies and Tips for Acne

Hydrate:  Not drinking enough water in a day can cause a myriad of problems with your health and dehydration can show on the surface as acne. Dry climates and weather changes can play a role in the dryness of skin but more often than not, lack of water is the issue. Our faces have natural oils and when they are in a dry environment the oils harden and lead to clogged pores. Keeping your body hydrated and using a natural moisturizer to ensure your skin is moist will help you avoid the clogged pores that lead to acne and have a water bottle with you throughout the day so staying hydrated is a breeze!

Reduce Stress: We are all faced with stressful situations but how we react to them is important to keeping our bodies healthy… including skin. Take a look at 5 Easy Steps to Reduce Stress

Eat and Drink Well: Wholesome, nutritious foods play a major role in keeping your skin clear. When we eat well our bodies are getting the vitamins and minerals needed, our digestive systems are functioning properly, and toxins are being cleansed from our system because our livers aren’t overloaded with junk food, caffeine, or alcohol. Be sure plenty of water and herbal teas (flavored with honey or lemon) are a part of your diet.

Get Rest and Proper Sleep: The recommended 8 hours of sleep at night aren’t just to recharge your body’s battery! When we sleep our skin is healing itself from the damages of the day (sun, wind, pollutants) and when we don’t have the proper amount of sleep, our complexion can show it. Get to bed early and even if you aren’t able to get 8 full hours of sleep at night, be mindful of the amount of time you allow your body to rest; no gadgets, no phone calls or questions, no distractions.

Natural Products for Acne

Wild Sage Botanicals is local to us in Boulder, CO and we’re happy to have their products on our shelves. The Red Clay Blemish Mud is a blend of essential oils, witchhazel, and French red clay that can be dabbed onto blemishes and left for a few hours or overnight. The mud is helpful for swollen and sore pimples that are just under the skin as well as those on the surface. Insect bites and poison ivy rashes benefit from the use of the mud as well!

Alba Botanica’s Acne Dote heals and soothes acne, pimples, and blemishes with homeopathically prepared sulfur and the therapeutic benefits of plants. Use this gel when you first discover the blemish as well as throughout the day to speed clearing.

Hanna’s Berberis aquifolium (Mountain grape) is a vibropathic remedy used for acne, eczema, and other complaints like blotchy or scaly skin. Berberis aqui works quickly to clear the complexion and can be used in conjunction with other products designed to address acne.

Kali. Sulph. (Cell Salt #7) Homeopathic from Hyland’s helps to relieve blemishes associated with common acne and is great to have on hand for cold and flu season! Hyland’s ClearAc is a homeopathic for the management and symptomatic relief of pimples, blackheads, and blemishes associated with common acne.

Yellow Dock (as a tea or tincture) can address various skin conditions including acne. Because Yellow Dock is a known remedy for the liver and gallbladder its benefits to the skin are two fold; not only does it help to heal and prevent acne but it is keeping the body’s filter healthy which will promote clearer skin over a long period of time.

When we think of acne, many of us stay away from all things oil thinking it will only make the problem worse, but a diet high in essential fatty acids is important to skin health, including acne-prone skin.  Essential fatty acids (like fish oil) are a necessary part of the diet that are responsible for cell function, the health of cell walls, and the transfer of waste out of the cells. Should you fish or flax? Check out the benefits of Omega 3s (an essential fatty acid that most Americans have a deficiency of).

Turmeric is at the top of my list of favorite products and among its benefits are that it not only helps to clear your skin but also promotes anti-aging as well as a natural glow.

Turmeric root is an excellent anti-inflammatory.

Hanna taught that acne often had an underlying cause of staph or strep infection in the body.  She believed that staph gave a blue tint to acned skin and strep gave a red tint.  She recommended the individual vibropathics Staph or Strep along with Black Radish & Parsley, a powerful anti-bacterial herbal combination.

Check out other Natural Remedies for Skin and take a look at our Body Care section where you can find our top picks for keeping your skin healthy and clear.