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Many acne sufferers are understandably cautious about harsh chemicals that are often used in acne skin care products, such as tretinoin and salicylic acid, which can often make the skin irritated and dry. For these consumers, herbal acne cures might just be the solution they've been looking for.

When you have acne, the main thing to do is keep your skin cleansed and oil-free. This will destroy the bacteria responsible, firm up loose pores, and help any open sores to heal more quickly. The numerous herbal acne cures make use of natural ingredients to do these things.

One method of creating herbal acne cures is to make a cleaning solution by steeping plants in boiling water. Simmer two ounces of leaves from a berry-bearing herb in a quart of water and dab the resulting mixture onto your skin using a cotton ball. Tea bags or basil will also suffice. The leaves contain natural acids that have antiseptic properties and cause the pores to constrict.

There are also herbal acne cures that you can apply directly to individual pimples, instead of all over. For this, try mixing one tablespoon of groundnut oil with one tablespoon of lime juice, and dabbing a small amount of the paste on each pimple after washing the skin gently and thoroughly.

It is also possible to create a skin-penetrating-and-cleaning natural facial treatment from everyday household components. Combine yogurt and oatmeal until well blended and put it on as you would any store-bought mask. As with any mask, allow it to dry and then remove it with warm water and pat it dry with a towel. A mixture of honey and cinnamon will also suffice. These home-made remedies promote healing of skin tissue by acting as antiseptics and reducing inflammation.

Aloe vera can also assist the healing process. It is used for painful skin conditions, such as burns. The leaves of the yucca plant are turned into a gel, called aloe. In its pure condition it is clear to light green. Some preparations contain additional ingredients in aloe vera, so it is important to read labels very carefully.

Some people recommend an internal herbal remedy as well. Drinking wheat grass juice is said to help clear up acne outbreaks, and zinc supplements may also be of help. Both can be found in most health food or organic food stores.

Since anybody can be allergic to all sorts of things, beware before taking products like herbal acne remedies, prescription drugs, or over-the-counter items. Any of these may cause a negative reaction. Always be sure to check with your pharmacist, naturopath, or dermatologist, and look over the ingredients to ensure you see nothing you know you are allergic to. In addition, apply the product on a small patch of skin and wait a day before placing it on a large area (in case you see any reaction).

Herbal acne cures can leave skin clean but not dry, tighten pores, heal open sores caused by breakouts and eliminate infectious bacteria. Herbal acne remedies may be the solution for people who fear the side effects of harsh chemicals like tretinoin and salicylic acid often found in commercial skin care products. Some herbal acne skin care remedies can be applied directly to the pimples instead of all over, and some recipes are for masks. Herbal ingredients can include oatmeal, aloe, lime juice, groundnut oil, honey, yogurt and cinnamon. Always try to ascertain if you are allergic to any remedy, herbal or commercial, before applying it to your skin.