Acne can have terrible consequences for people. Not only can it result in physical scarring, there’s also the mental scarring as well.

Oil and dirt can plug up pores, resulting in acne (blackheads and whiteheads). If bacteria get trapped, the skin gets inflamed and the result is pimples.

Keeping the skin clean is the best way to prevent acne, but everyone has problems with acne at one time or another. Hormone imbalance is also a cause of acne, which is why teenagers and often pregnant women have problems with acne. Stress can also lead to skin problems.

Most people with acne will buy over-the-counter products, but most of these products contain chemicals that, not only can slow down the healing process, but can also aggravate the problem, resulting in even more skin problems. Not only that, they're generally more expensive than home remedies.

Which leads us to, how can we treat acne naturally?
 
Nature has been said to be mankind's medicine cabinet. Many of our pharmaceuticals today even come from nature. There are many natural products that can be used to treat acne.

While these methods won't produce results overnight, stay with them. You may even want to combine a couple of these remedies to see how they work for you.

·     One of the number one ways to treat acne naturally is with oatmeal. Oatmeal draws out the excess oil and impurities from your skin. Put it in a blender and pulverize it, then add enough water to make a thick paste. Apply it to your face and leave on for 10-15 minutes, then rinse off with warm water. Oatmeal also makes an excellent exfoliate. Just by rubbing the paste around your face it will remove dead cells

·     Juice 1 cucumber with a juice extractor. Then apply the juice to the pimples. Leave on for at least 15 minutes, and then wash off with warm water. Make sure this is done daily.

·     Wash your face with mild soap and hot water, and then apply a thin layer of extra-virgin cold pressed olive oil. Don't wash off the olive oil, the skin needs to absorb the oil. Repeat three times a day. Usually, the skin will clear up within a week. To maintain a clear skin, do this once a day.

·     Rub fresh garlic on your acne. You can also puree the garlic and use later. Do this daily and you will see an improvement of your skin. Another variation is to puree 3 or 4 cloves of garlic and soak them in milk for half an hour (this helps remove the smell), then rub the mixture on your acne.

·     Raw potatoes are great for clearing acne fast. Grate or shred a potato and apply it as a poultice. This not only works for acne, but also for boils and wrinkles. Potatoes contain sulphur, potassium, phosphorus, enzymes, vitamin C and protein, which are all excellent for the skin.

·     Tea tree oil has been found to be both an antifungal and antiseptic (helps prevent infections). Put some on a cotton swab and apply it to your acne with it. Leave on all night (or all day).

·     You can also make a paste of salt and vinegar. Rub it on the acne and leave on for 30 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.

·     Apple cider vinegar is one of nature’s best overall products. Simply dilute one part vinegar to five parts water and apply it to your skin with a cotton ball. Not only does the vinegar help to remove excess oil, it helps destroy bacteria as well as helping to maintain your skin’s pH. This is definitely one of the best acne natural remedies.

·     Another favorite treatment is to make a paste of powdered nutmeg and milk and apply to your face. Many people swear by this one!