8 best natural ingredients for acne that you should try

You hear the word ‘acne’ and are immediately grossed out just at the thought of it. God forbid if it actually happens to you, it is a nightmare!

 You do everything it takes to make it go away. Maybe you hide it, maybe you conceal it, maybe you pop it if you feel adventurous(don’t do it for real though). 

None of these is a permanent solution for acne. In this article, we’ll list out the best natural ingredients for acne! 

Why natural? Because let’s agree chemical products do more harm than cure anything. It might look like they are curing, but they are just suppressing. 

The acne will come out at a later time. 

What is acne?

Acne is an irritating skin condition that occurs when your hair follicles become clogged with oil and dead skin cells. It further causes whiteheads, blackheads, and/or pimples.

 Acne is most common among teenagers, while they go through puberty, though it affects people of all ages.

Its medical name is Acne Vulgaris. The most common areas for acne breakouts are the face, chest, back, and shoulder.

 Though most acne is treatable, in some cases it might worsen and could require you to see a doctor. 

There are numerous causes of acne, ranging from bacteria to genetic issues. 

Before we go on to study the natural ingredients for acne, it is important to know the cause so you can select the right ingredient for yourself! 

What are the causes of acne?

There is no one factor that causes acne. Acne occurs when the oil glands attached to the hair follicles are activated at the time of puberty or due to other hormonal changes. 

This oil/sebum is a natural substance for lubrication and protection of the skin.

 Now, associated with increased oil production, there is a change in the manner in which the skin cells mature. They predispose to plug the follicular pore. 

This plug appears as a whitehead if it is covered by a thin layer of skin over it. If it is exposed to the air, the darker exposed darker portion of the plug is called a blackhead. 

The follicle may further enlarge, rupturing the wall, and allowing irritating substances and normal skin bacteria to go into the inner layers of the skin, producing inflammation. 

Inflammation that is near the skin’s surface produces a pustule. A deeper inflammation produces a pimple. 

And, if the inflammation is deeper still, a cyst is formed. 

Hence we can conclude that the main four causes of acne are: 

• Excess oil (sebum) production
• Hair follicles clogged by oil and dead skin cells
• Bacteria
• Inflammation

There are some factors that worsen this condition: 

• Hormonal changes: Androgens are the hormones that increase in both boys and girls during puberty. The increase of these hormones causes the oil glands to enlarge and produce more oil/sebum. Hormonal changes may also take place a week before menstruation in women, and can happen during the phase of menopause too.  
• Certain medications: Certain drugs which have testosterone, corticosteroids, or lithium can also cause acne breakouts. This however depends on person to person.  
• Diet: Though dietary routines are not known to cause acne, they can worsen the condition. Carbohydrate-rich foods like bread, chips, and fried food may also contribute.    
• Stress: Again, stress is not a cause but definitely makes acne worse. Stress affects your overall bodily functions, causing a disbalance in hormones, and hence worsening acne.  

Before moving on to the natural ingredients for acne, we’ll learn some things about acne scars! 

What are acne scars?

Acne scars are the permanent textural changes and marks that occur on the skin as a result of severe acne. These are different from the reddish-brown marks because they are temporary and do not need any treatment. These scars may need monitoring and treatment. These are left when severe acne goes away, or when you pop it to remove it! 

What are the natural ingredients for acne treatment?

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is popular for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It is present in organic skincare products for acne.

To some extent, it controls sebum production and largely helps in the pain and inflammation related to acne. 

Lactic Acid 

Lactic acid is primarily a pigmentation-fighting ingredient found in organic skincare products.

It is derived from milk. Lactic acid belongs to a class of ingredients called alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs). It is one of the mild natural ingredients for treating acne.

 It also gives you brighter and smoother skin! This is also a great option if you have sensitive skin. 

Salicylic Acid 

Salicylic acid belongs to a group of medications known as salicylates. At the point where you apply salicylic acid to the skin, it works by aiding the shedding of the dead skin cells from the top layer. It likewise diminishes redness and acne brought about by skin break out. This diminishes the number of pimples.

SPF

Ingredients like zinc oxide in SPF products have anti-inflammatory properties. These are known to treat acne and decrease the swelling and redness related to it.

 It may be a common notion that SPF and sunscreens should only be used when going out in the sun. 

But that is not only true. You should always apply sunscreen and more so if you are prone to acne. Some sunscreens also commonly contain niacinamide, which is an anti-inflammatory.

Retinol

Retinol is one of the natural ingredients for acne that is a blessing for the skin. Retinol helps treat severe acne and also reduces the related scarring. 

It unclogs the pores, hence keeping the dirt and unwanted substances out of them.

Organic skincare products containing retinol can be included in your skincare routine or be used especially if there is a breakout. 

That is not it. Retinol balances the hydration level. It controls the excessive oil production in the pores, hence preventing acne. 

Niacinamide 

Niacinamide has calming properties. Since skin breakout is an incendiary condition, that irritation regularly prompts various pimples. 

Niacinamide can lessen the by and large incendiary response, bringing about fewer pimples. 

It brings down sebum (oil) production. Dysregulation of sebum can bring about exorbitantly sleek skin and accordingly more skin inflammation injuries. 

Having a decent equilibrium of oil and dampness inside skin break-out prone skin is an important component for controlling the skin breakout. 

Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) is the microscopic organisms implicated in worsening skin break out. Niacinamide can diminish the movement of P. 

acnes microorganisms on the skin, in this manner improving skin inflammation.

If you are curious as to how you can use these ingredients to formulate your own organic skin care products, then check out the Certificate in Organic Skincare Formulation course!

 This course is designed for skincare enthusiasts who wish to become experts in the area and someday establish their own business. Do check it out and enroll!