Acne is a common skin disease that mostly occurs during adolescence and often goes on till the early adulthood. The skin with acne gets scaly red with whiteheads and blackheads, pimples, pinheads, nodules and even scars. This disease attacks skin with the densest of sebaceous follicles, which usually covers the face, upper cheat area and body back. Acne can be inflammatory or non-inflammatory, depending on its severity.
Mostly in adolescence when testosterone levels increase, acne pops up. But, it reduces over time and disappears in adults. If acne involves large nodules, it’s called cystic acne that may even appear on hips, groin and armpits where sweat generally gets collected. The impact of cystic acne is major and can cause the loss of self-esteem, anxiety and depression in a person. Thus, it requires an early treatment to reduce its long-term bad effects.
What Causes Acne
Acne is mostly caused due to the blockage of hair follicles in the skin. Sebaceous glands that are attached to these follicles produce an oily substance called sebum, which if in excess, mixes with dead cells of the skin and forms a plug in the follicle. Such blocked follicles can then cause a range of problems that include whiteheads, blackheads and cysts.
Acne can further be triggered due to increased testosterone levels during puberty, drugs containing androgens and corticosteroids, intake of more dairy products and foods rich in carbohydrates, overexposure to sun, and increased stress. In women, acne can also be a result of some conditions, such as periods, pregnancy, and polycystic ovary syndrome.
Symptoms of Acne
There are several indicators or symptoms of acne that include the development of blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, papules (raised bumps in reddened skin areas), and nodules. Additionally, the skin might get flushed and thick. The swelling on the skin may also get inflamed and filled with pus. Acne is quite common these days and usually develops on the face, shoulders, chest or upper back.
Herbal Remedies to Treat Acne
Although there are several kinds of herbs available that could help treat acne, you should definitely consult a physician before using any herbs. What a dermatologist might do, cannot fully be replaced by a single herb. So, get treated by a good herbal physician and utilize herbs as suggested by him/her. Otherwise, the common herbs that are used in the treatment of acne can be grouped into different categories. It’s not a surety that if someone else benefitted from a particular herb, it would suit you too. So, understand what these different types of herbs for acne treatment are.
Firstly, there are detoxifying herbs that include Blue Flag, Burdock and Dandelion Root. These herbs are used to clear your body of toxins. Then, there are herbs that balance hormones in your body; these include Chaste Berry, and Rosewood Oil. Another type is for the antibacterial herbs that reduce acne by killing bacteria on the skin. Bee Propolis, Echinacea and Tea Tree Oil are some of the antibacterial herbs. For general skin repair purposes, the herbs that can be used are Aloe Vera, Alum, Neem, Basil, Dandelion Root and Lavender Oil.