Acne, also known as pimples, has long been a problem for many teenagers. The appearance of the face plays a significant role for both young men and women; at the age of 13-15 (the transitional period), they pay special attention to their appearance and the opinions of those around them.
People who take care of their health and skin condition are characterized by a confident look, a healthy shine in their eyes, and an even complexion. Keeping your skin in perfect condition is quite simple, but during hormonal changes, pimples and inflammation are unavoidable, and teenagers should accept this as a given. This fact does not mean that you should abandon daily hygiene and just wait out the transitional period. On the contrary, you need to start taking care of your facial skin from an early age. Various folk remedies can help with this.
Tomato Mask
Cut one tomato into two halves. Rub your face with the tomato pulp, applying some effort to extract the tomato juice. Leave the mask on your skin for about 10 minutes, then rinse it off with warm water. Be careful, you need to be sure you are not allergic to tomatoes, and very sensitive skin may turn red from this procedure.
Using Mint
Use peppermint as an ingredient for a cosmetic treatment, not common garden mint. Peppermint contains high amounts of menthol. Thoroughly grind a handful of mint leaves in a mortar until they release their juice. Apply the resulting mass to the areas of the skin affected by acne. Keep the remedy on your face for 10 minutes, then rinse.
The mask is harmless and can be repeated as needed. Peppermint menthol helps reduce painful sensations and redness. Menthol has long been recognized in folk medicine as an excellent analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent.
Oatmeal Mask
For this procedure, you will need ¼ cup of honey and a portion of cooked oatmeal. Mix the ingredients thoroughly and let them cool. Gently apply the resulting mixture to your face, avoiding sensitive areas, and leave it on for 10 minutes before rinsing off. Note that the honey-oatmeal mixture tends to thicken, so do not leave the mask on for too long, as it may become difficult to wash off.
Oatmeal will cleanse your skin of dead cells, remove excess oil, and unclog pores. Honey is added to the mask to improve its consistency, but it also helps increase the elasticity and overall tone of the skin.
Beneficial Nettle
The most well-known member of the nettle family is the plant that often bothers gardeners with its stinging properties. It is often mercilessly dug up, not knowing that the plant can be used for cooking and health purposes.
If you are dealing with fresh nettle, be sure to work with gloves. First, pluck all the leaves, as you won’t need the stems and branches. Place the leaves in a small pot and cover with boiling water. The decoction will be ready in 5-7 minutes. You can add lemon or honey before consuming it. Nettle tea contains a lot of calcium, minerals, and vitamins, although it may taste slightly bitter. Dried leaves can also be used for tea, but such a drink will have fewer beneficial properties.
You can buy dried nettle leaves in tablet form at any pharmacy. They are made from frozen nettles, and each package comes with usage instructions. If you decide to take a course of nettle tablets, try to drink more fluids to help flush toxins from your body.
In rare cases, nettle may cause stomach irritation. Nursing mothers are advised to limit their intake of nettle tea as it is a strong diuretic.
Aloe Vera
Aloe grows in almost all parts of the world and has many varieties with medicinal properties, but aloe vera is most commonly used for medical and therapeutic purposes. The gel containing aloe vera provides a cooling, soothing, and softening effect on skin affected by pimples and acne. The plant is an excellent natural antibiotic.
Separate a large juicy leaf from the plant, using outer leaves and cutting them as close to the stem as possible. Make a cut along the entire leaf to release the yellowish milky sap. This sap is not suitable for irritated skin as it may cause burns and new inflammation, but it is an excellent laxative. Use a serrated knife to remove the thick rind from the leaf, starting with the sharp edges. Use the blunt side of the knife to extract the sticky sap, which can be applied to areas of the skin with acne. If the gel gets into your eyes, rinse them thoroughly with running water. Store the substance obtained from aloe leaves in a container in the refrigerator for no more than one week.
Aloe vera gel is used for acne treatment for two main reasons: it has a soothing effect, reducing irritation, and it kills pathogenic bacteria as it is a natural antibiotic. Remember, the milky sap found between the gel and the thick rind of the leaf is not suitable for irritated and sensitive skin.
Rose Water and Lemon Juice
An effective cosmetic remedy for acne can be prepared from rose water and lemon juice. Apply the mask with massage movements to the affected areas of the skin. Lemon juice may cause slight tingling and burning, which is a normal skin reaction. Rinse your face with running water after 20 minutes.
Lemon juice helps open pores and cleanse them, and it has antibacterial properties. Rose petals, which are the basis for rose water, tone the skin and refresh the complexion. If you intend to undergo a full course of masks, avoid prolonged sun exposure and tanning beds.
Lemon juice and rose water are safe and hypoallergenic, but if you notice that your skin condition worsens, stop using these remedies immediately.
The folk remedies listed above are quite effective against acne, but remember that any of them can cause an allergic reaction, even those considered the most hypoallergenic. Therefore, start using the remedy you like very carefully, and only after making sure that you tolerate it well, continue to use it regularly.
