Quick and easy acne remedies

Acne, the four letter curse word most of us are faced with at some time or another. Whether brought on by hormonal imbalances, poor diet, improper skincare or stress, there is never a right time for those pesky zits. Of course, mine came right before the New Year's Eve party and my soon-to-follow birthday. It was one of those painful monster zits which served as a 'Look at me' target dead centre in my forehead. In a panic, I visited my nearby Fontana Pharmacy for an over-the-counter (OTC) remedy. I was given the popular Neutrogena On-The Spot Acne Treatment and was assured by the representative that it would work. Of course, I trusted her but I resorted to Instagram to see what my followers had to share on the world of acne. The response was startling and highly convincing.

Responses varied from

all-natural to OTC remedies and some non-traditional items found around the house. One local celebrity suggested turning it into a mole for the night as an instant quick fix. Familiar natural remedies were suggested, such as honey, aloe vera and lime juice - what was new to me was the suggestion of yoghurt, cinnamon and olive oil revered for its softening benefits. Seriously, is there anything that olive oil isn't good for? Another top recommended treatment was Tea Tree Oil. A little research online revealed that Tea Tree Oil is revered for its natural antibacterial, antimicrobial and antiseptic properties, so I guess it makes it a no-brainer.

Cleansing agents such as toothpaste, baking soda, apple cider vinegar and peroxide were top suggestions, but what surprised me was that no one suggested rubbing alcohol- which, as a teenager was my go-to-fix. I guess the word got around that alcohol dries out the skin and does more harm than good. Aspirin was a surprising top contender and was recommended to be crushed, mixed with water to make into a paste and placed on pimple. Aspirin is a definite must-have for any medicine cabinet - because if an aspirin can save you from a heart attack, a pimple doesn't stand a chance.

Well, after opening my eyes to the many different cures there are out there for acne, I'm sure I will be more than prepared when one pops up. The next morning after using the Neutrogena spot treatment I was happy to report that the pimple was reduced by 50% and 24 hours after it was gone completely.

Suffice it to say, I am not a dermatologist and neither an expert, just someone who likes to experiment with at-home remedies. So please, check with your personal aesthetician before attempting anything here.

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