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Regardless of age and season, acne is one of the most common skin conditions that each of us faces. Acne onset generally starts when a boy or girl reaches puberty, but sometimes it extends well beyond puberty. Acne also occurs when your pores on your face and chest are clogged with dead skin cells. Acne leaves scars when you try to pluck it with your fingers or a pointed object. Tanaya Sarma, co-founder of Speaking Herbs, says, “The best way to prevent acne is to keep the skin as clear and oil-free as possible. And essential oils like tea tree oil, lemon oil, oregano oil and peppermint oil can help with this and offer a lot of benefits. “
Sarma explains more about using essential oils for acne.
Tea tree oil
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Tea tree oil has anti-inflammatory as well as antimicrobial properties, which is why it is considered one of the best essential oils for acne. It helps in killing bacteria, thus helping your pimples dry out and eventually go away. Tea tree oil acts as a powerful antiseptic. Sarma advises, “Always dilute essential oils with a carrier oil or hydrosol before using them on the skin. The best carrier oil that works on oily skin is jojoba oil. Take a few drops of jojoba oil and add a drop of tea tree oil to it. Massage your face lightly with this combination. You can use this remedy twice a day on a clean, dry face. “
Peppermint oil
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This is another natural treatment that can reduce the swelling and inflammation from bacterial acne. The menthol in peppermint oil treats acne by decongesting the skin and reducing redness. Just like tea tree oil, you can mix it with jojoba oil or basil hydrosol before applying it to your skin.
Rosemary oil
It’s one of the most sought-after oils for clearing clogged pores as it is great at keeping sebum (oil produced by the skin) at bay. It also has anti-inflammatory properties and treats redness of the skin that occurs due to the frequent breakouts. Rosemary oil even reduces puffiness. Dilute with jojoba oil or basil hydrosol before use.
Oregano oil
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The antiseptic and antibacterial properties of oregano oil help in the selective treatment of pimples that are already on the surface of the skin. Dab the diluted oil onto the affected area with a cotton ball.
lemon oil
Lemon oil is a rich source of vitamin C and has natural bleaching properties. It also supplies the skin with antioxidants, clogs the pores and speeds up skin healing extremely. Remember to dilute it before applying!
Use of essential oils to treat acne
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Essential oils are natural extracts from plants. Most often they are sold in their natural form, but some brands can dilute them. “Essential oils can be used either by inhalation or topical application. However, essential oils should not be applied directly to the skin; they should be diluted with a carrier oil such as jojoba, olive or almond oil before use. You can use essential oil diffusers, sprays, or oil droplets for convenient application. Essential oils can also be mixed with rose water, basil hydrosol, or peppermint hydrosol and then applied (or sprayed) onto the skin, ”suggests Sarma.
Remember that while essential oils are used as alternatives to medications used to treat acne, they must be used with caution. The ingestion of essential oils should be avoided as they can damage your vital organs. See a doctor if you don’t see any results or if you have skin irritation.
Read more: Everything You Should Know About Skin Cleansing
