Acne is a serious skin condition that affects billions of people in any walks of life around the world. Acne can be in many forms like black heads, cysts, white heads, pimples or abscesses. It can cause breakouts on the face, neck, chest, shoulders and back.

Some people prefer not to use or take man-made products, even when it comes to acne remedies. If this is the case for you, natural acne remedies may be appealing.

1. Cleanse gently. Over-cleansing and scrubbing will cause irritation and inflammation. Remember that acne is not caused by poor hygiene. It is caused primarily by inflammation. Cleansers specially designed for acne usually include benzoyl peroxide. Natural, gentler alternatives include orange oil, tea tree oil or active manuka honey.

2. Green tea is a healthy drink loaded with antioxidants. But could green tea hold the key to clearing acne?

Although it’s too soon to know for certain, a few (albeit small) studies that have shown topical application of a green tea lotion to be an effective treatment for mild to moderate acne.

Green tea has been used in Chinese medicine for centuries as a remedy for many ailments, including acne. Traditionally in the culture, several cups of green tea were drunk per day. Today, some herbalists go one step further and suggest making a toner from strong-brewed green tea.

3. Choose your makeup carefully. Mineral-based makeup is the best choice. The minerals to look for include zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, both of which have natural sun-screening activity. The minerals are mixed with natural pigments and applied with a brush. They go on smoothly and cover well if they are properly designed.

4. A teaspoon of coriander juice, mixed with a pinch of turmeric powder, is another effective home remedy for pimples and blackheads. Apply mixture on the face after thoroughly washing it every night before retiring. Use mint juice in a similar manner as coriander juice.

5. Tea tree oil is probably the most well-studied of all natural acne remedies. Some studies have shown it to be as effective as benzoyl peroxide, although it does take longer to see results. Tea tree is a strong antiseptic and is believed to kill P. acnes, the bacterium responsible for acne breakouts.

6. Garlic has been used successfully to acne treatment. Rub with raw garlic several times a day. Garlic is known to cure the toughest of acne problems. The external use of garlic helps to clear the skin of spots, pimples and boils. To cure acne further, eat three seeds of raw garlic once daily for a month. This purifies the blood stream and ensures basic cleansing of blood & keeps acne away.

7. Zinc is another effective remedy in the area of nutrition that seems to offer new promise of help for acne. It has shown dramatic results in some cases. Take zinc in therapeutic doses of 50 mg three times a day. Zinc is available in tablet and in capsule form. In tablet form, it is available as Zinfet - 200 mg. The patient can take a quarter tablet so as to get 50 mg of zinc. In capsule form, zinc is available as Ulseal 220 mg. One-fourth of the powder inside the capsule can be taken as a single dose. The patient can take a dose of 50 mg daily upto one month or till there is noticeable improvement and then reduce the dose to 25 mg.

8. Wash your face and moisturize before bedtime and sleep well. Always remember to remove your makeup before going to bed and follow-up with a moisturizer, just as you do every time that you clean your face.

9. Meats, sugar, strong tea or coffee, condiments, pickles, soft drinks, candies, ice cream, refined and processed foods should be avoided as far as possible.

If your acne is severe, or if you are developing scars or are prone to scarring, it’s important to see your dermatologist. He will have other treatment advice for you, even if you decide not to use conventional acne treatments.