Steam Cleansing

Opening your pores with steam is effective for cleansing. You can do this at home but be careful:

Bring to a boil a large saucepan or large pot two-thirds full of water. Place on countertop (use a trivet to avoid damaging the countertop) and drape a towel over your head and the pan/pot to create a trapped flow of steam that circulates around your face.

Do this for five minutes or a bit longer if you are still comfortable. If your face gets too hot, get some air and repeat after a few minutes. If you are under 18 ensure that you are supervised by a parent. You may wish to add a few drops of essential oils to the water. Lavender oil, tea tree and lemon oils are often used after the steam to close the pores. Using your clean bare hands, rinse your face with cold water and then gently pat dry with a clean towel.

Natural Acne Treatment

Salicylic acid is classified as a beta hydroxy acid, which means that it has the ability to penetrate pores, exfoliate skin and clean pores from the inside to prevent breakouts.

Natural Acne Treatment

There are many options for those for those who are looking for an all-natural acne treatment. Some of these choices may include acne lotions or creams containing salicylic acid or tea tree oil.

Derived from willow tree bark and wintergreen, salicylic acid is an active ingredient in many popular natural acne treatments. Just as with benzoyl peroxide, another popular acne treatment, used continuously, salicylic acid is effective in treating non-inflammatory acne and helps abate shedding of skin cells and can unclog pores.

Pros and Cons

Salicylic Acid is an effective treatment for inflammatory acne and can prevent lesions by unclogging pores, but it may cause skin irritation.

It is believed by some that tea tree oil possesses an antiseptic quality and has been used to treat infections in some cases. However, just because tea tree oil is considered to be a natural option for acne treatment, it is not a safe assumption to believe that it has no side effects. Products containing tea tree oils have been known to cause dermatitis, allergic rash, blistering, abdominal discomfort and slowing of brain function.

Cost

All-natural acne treatments come with a wide price range. Salicylic acid is an active ingredient in many of today's popular over-the-counter acne treatments. For example, BioElements Spotless Cleanser Salicylic Acid Acne Treatments lists for $38.50 for three fluid ounces. Other acne products containing tea tree oils can range in price from $5 to $30.

Effectiveness

Salicylic acid is classified as a beta hydroxy acid, which means that it has the ability to penetrate pores, exfoliate skin and clean pores from the inside. Just as with any acne treatment, use should be continuous, even after it appears that the skin has cleared up. Since the FDA does not closely monitor natural herbs and supplements, the safety and effectiveness of products containing tea tree oil may not be known.

Now that you are knowledgeable about natural acne treatment, find out about treating acne scarring in the next section.