Acne can make a person feel self-conscious about his or her appearance. Although a case of acne is usually not a threat to a person's overall physical health, alleviating the condition can definitely improve confidence levels. Here are a few home remedies that can get rid of acne:

Use apple cider vinegar.

Apple cider vinegar is antibacterial. Acne is caused by bacteria that becomes trapped within the pores, and the bacterial invasion can also result in the pus-filled cysts that are characteristic of cystic acne.

Not only does apple cider vinegar work as an antimicrobial agent for the skin, it also acts as an astringent to help remove excess oil. To use apple cider vinegar as an acne reducer, wash your face and rinse well with water. Gently pat your skin dry and then apply a vinegar water solution that includes 3 parts water and 1 part vinegar. If the concentration of vinegar is still high enough to cause burning, stinging or other skin irritations, reduce the amount of vinegar further.

After applying the vinegar solution with a cotton ball, leave it in place for a few minutes and then rinse with water. The solution can be used multiple times throughout the day. However, overuse can cause the skin to become dry. Thus, consider applying a non-comedogenic, oil-free moisturizer after applying the vinegar solution.

Try oil cleansing with castor oil.

Castor oil is also antimicrobial, and it has a healing effect on the skin, as well. It can help calm the inflammation associated with an acne breakout.

To oil cleanse with castor oil, apply the oil all over your face. Then, rinse a washcloth or hand towel with hot water. Make sure the water is hot but not scalding. Apply the hand towel or washcloth to your face and allow the steam from the towel to open your pores while the castor oil is still in place. As the towel cools, wipe the castor oil from your face using the cloth. Repeat the application of a hot towel or cloth until all of the oil has been removed.

Make a baking soda scrub.

Baking soda is alkaline and has a mildly abrasive texture. Wet the baking soda with water to form a loose paste. Then, apply the paste gently to your skin in a circular motion. The baking soda helps kill bacteria on the skin and dries excessive oil. In addition, the abrasiveness of the powder works as an exfoliant to clear the pores of dead skin cells, resulting in smoother, softer skin.

If you suffer from repeated bouts of acne, schedule an appointment with a dermatologist in your area.

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