Well, the truth never lies. And the truth here is about the medicinal power of highly odorous clove available in our kitchens called ‘garlic.’ Not only we are familiar with acne and but also with garlic. But we never made a connection between the two seemingly unrelated things, right? Bang! Here is the connection- one is the ailment, the other is the cure. The cure with no side effects has an absolute potential to eradicate the problem of acne permanently.

Our very own garlic works to eliminate acne because it contains active sulphur and is considered to be one of the finest natural antibiotics. Garlic treatment for acne is quiet simple and does not involve any elaborate preparation. You may just cut open a garlic clove and apply it on the affected area.

For better results, squash a garlic clove, mix it in a cup of warm water, and apply the mixture on the affected part with a clean piece of cotton cloth. Mixed with water, garlic juice is an excellent cleanser and a great natural medicine for acne. Applying garlic can not only remove the toughest of acne but can also remove spots, boils and pimples.

Like external application, the consumption of garlic also helps with acne problem. Eating three seeds of raw garlic everyday for three months purifies the blood stream. The purification of blood improves oxygen supply to skin cells, which helps skin fight acne better and get rid of them faster.

Now, if you are bothered about the foul smell that garlic brings, you may soak the garlic cloves in milk for around half an hour before consuming. That would remove the smell while retaining the medicinal effects of garlic.

So, we have an effective medicine in the kitchen itself, why bother about visiting a dermatologist. However, if the problem persists, do seek medical help so that the problem comes under control at the earliest.

Benzoyl peroxide can be found over the counter in cleansers, gels, and lotions, as well as in stronger prescription creams. It is generally an inexpensive treatment, and can be found in both name brands and generic products. All benzoyl peroxide products work similarly. Benzoyl peroxide is often the first treatment choice for those suffering from mild to moderate acne.

How It Works

Propionibacteria acnes, or P. acnes, are the bacteria responsible for acne breakouts. They cannot live in an aerobic (oxygen-rich) environment. Benzoyl peroxide works by introducing oxygen into the pore, thereby killing P. acnes. When the bacteria population is reduced, the number of breakouts on the skin is reduced as well.

Another factor that makes benzoyl peroxide so effective is its ability to help rid the follicle of excess dead skin cells. Clearing the pore of cellular debris will lessen the chance of pore blockages, or comedones. Because of this, benzoyl peroxide helps prevent breakouts before they start.

The use of benzoyl peroxide often must be continued, even after acne clears up. Once treatments are stopped, bacterium populations can increase and acne may return. Your dermatologist can help you determine how long to continue your benzoyl peroxide treatments.

Common Usage Directions

Benzoyl peroxide makes an effective treatment for mild to moderate acne. Start with a lotion or gel in a 2.5% strength. Higher percentages are available but may irritate the skin. Start with a lower strength to allow your skin to become acclimated to the benzoyl peroxide treatments. Move up to a higher strength if results are not seen after several weeks.

Most common treatment methods call for a thin layer of benzoyl peroxide lotion to be applied over a thoroughly cleansed and dried skin. It can be used once or twice daily. Apply thoroughly over all areas affected by acne. Do not use just as a spot treatment. Benzoyl peroxide must be applied to all affected areas of the skin, as it works to stop pimples before they erupt.

Benzoyl peroxide may bleach hair, towels, and clothing. Take great care during and after application to avoid letting it come in contact with any of these materials. You may want to wear an old shirt if benzoyl peroxide is applied to the back or body. Let the lotion dry thoroughly after your nightly skin care treatments before getting into bed at night, to avoid bleaching your pillowcase.

Possible Side Effects

The most common side effects from benzoyl peroxide are dryness and flaking. They are generally mild and can be reduced by using an oil-free moisturizing lotion daily. Other side effects include excessive dryness and flaking, redness, and burning.

You can reduce the chances of experiencing side effects by following all directions on the product package, or those given to you by your dermatologist. If unwanted side effects occur, you may want to scale back use to every other day, or use a benzoyl peroxide lotion in a lower strength.

Rarely, severe redness and peeling, extreme burning, itching, swelling and/or rash occur. Should this happen, discontinue use at once and contact your dermatologist.

Sulfur is one of the oldest known acne treatments. Yes, sulfur. The same stuff match sticks are made of. Historically known as brimstone, sulfur was used in ancient times to treat skin problems like dermatitis and dandruff, to rosacea and warts.

Sulfur is a natural element, and has an odor that is quite… distinctive. The scent of rotten eggs comes to mind. Luckily, most of today’s products don’t smell that bad.

Quite often, sulfur treatments also contain resorcinol or sodium sulfacetamide. Sulfur is available in prescription medications, as well as over-the-counter skin care products.
How it Works:

When applied topically, sulfur causes the skin to dry and peel. Despite how this sounds, it is actually a good thing for your skin if you have acne. Sulfur helps reduce skin oiliness, and prevents pore blockages from forming.

Sulfur is found in a wide array of skin care products, including soaps and cleansers, lotions, masks, and spot-treatments.

Common Usage Directions:

Since sulfur products come in a wide variety of forms, always follow the usage directions on the package.

Pay particular attention to the instructions for masks, lotions, and spot treatments. Some can be left on all day, or overnight. Others must be rinsed off after just a few minutes. This can vary from mask to mask, and cream to cream. Always double check the usage directions to avoid a skin care catastrophe.

By and large, sulfur products are used one to three times daily.
Possible Side Effects:

Drying, peeling, redness, burning, and skin irritation are the most common side effects. They tend to be worse when you first begin treatment. You may want to start slowly, and build up to the recommended dose.

Topical sulfur rarely causes serious problems. If your skin is uncomfortably dry and irritated, scale back on your usage for a period of time.

Some products containing sulfur can cause skin discoloration. And some products still have that unique sulfur odor. If you find find the smell particularly noxious, try another brand. The scent can vary from product to product.
Tips for Using Sulfur:

* If your skin is chapped, sunburned, or already irritated, wait until it has healed before using sulfur products.
* Steer clear of drying soaps and abrasive scrubs. They can over-dry the skin and make your sulfur products sting when applied.
* If you are currently using a prescription acne treatment (such as Benzamycin, Differin, or Accutane) talk to your doctor before using sulfur products. Adding sulfur to your current acne treatment routine can cause major irritation.
* Take care when using sulfur with your over-the-counter treatments too. It may be too drying. Again, when in doubt, ask your doctor.
* The effect sulfur has on a developing fetus isn’t known, so let your doctor know if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.