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I started making my own beauty products at vitapulita.com to help my family and friends find healthy alternatives to what exits commercially. Although products for acne weren’t initially on my radar, I became more and more interested in formulating a product since most products on the market simply use salicylic acid, which can be very irritating. One problem however, with natural remedies, is that formal scientific research is often lacking. When possible, I will supply whatever studies that are available on the products, in addition to safety concerns. So, if you are looking for a more natural approach to dealing with your pimples, here are some suggestions:

Tea tree oil – I love tea tree oil for skin tags! Just a dab each day and by the end of the week the skin tag will be gone. But tea tree, or melaleuca alternifolia, can be used in many other ways. This essential oil derived from the leaves of the Australian plant is powerful topical medicine! A clinical study compared tea tree oil to benzoyl peroxide in treating acne. The benzoyl peroxide worked only slightly better than the tea tree oil, but the tea tree was found to be less irritating. Given this, tea tree may be worth a try the next time you get a pimple. I use this oil in my facial detox soap and customers are very happy with it. To try it for yourself, buy a bottle of tea tree oil in any pharmacy or in Trader Joe’s. Use a cotton swab and apply a small dab to the pimple. Let dry. At first, only apply tea tree once a day because if used excessively, it can cause redness. So begin slowly. If pure uncut tea tree causes redness even in small amounts, it can be mixed with another oil to dilute it, such as grapeseed. Tea tree oil has had some impressive studies done on it. A 2004 NCCAM study on the effects of tea tree oil on bacteria in a test tube found that tea tree was a helpful adjunctive remedy for killing bacteria that was resistant to other antibiotics, such as MRSA. In addition, smaller studies have found that tea tree works well on athlete’s foot.DO NOT TAKE TEA TREE OIL INTERNALLY. It is not meant for oral consumption and is dangerous as such.

Neem oil – Oh man does this smell! Some people say that it does not bother them, but personally I hate the odor.It is described as a cross between garlic and peanuts, but I like both of those foods, so I disagree. However, neem oil my be worth looking into as an acne treatment. I use this oil in my facial detox soap and customers are very happy with its performance. Seeds of the neem evergreen tree, Azadirachta indica, indigenous to India, provide us with neem oil. Traditional Ayurvedic medicine uses neem oil for acne and other skin conditions as it is thought to be antifungal, antibacterial, antiseptic, antiviral, and antiparasitic. Currently, most of the research on neem oil has concentrated on its use as a natural pesticide for organic farming, but less for cosmetic uses, although neem oil can be found in soaps, toothpastes, and creams. To try it for yourself, apply just a dab to a pimple. Leave on as long as your olfactory system can handle and then wash off. You will not be able to find neem oil in the stores easily, but an excellent source is Mountain Rose Herbs. Neem oil should not be taken internally, especially if you are pregnant, as it can act as an abortifacient. Similarly, neem oil should not be used by nursing mothers.

Argan oil – Argan oil, argania spinosa, is an extract of the nut of the argan tree, from Morocco. Argan oil regulates the production of sebum, therefore it is thought to prevent acne. It is naturally high in Vitamin E which may be helpful in removing or fading old acne scars. Studies on argan oil and its effects on the skin are lacking, but there is little to lose in trying it. It is nontoxic in all ways and can even be consumed internally with no ill effects. If you wish to try argan oil for your acne, opt to purchase a pure oil, not a cream that has argan oil in it, as the percentage of argan oil may be minuscule. I would again recommend Mountain Rose Herbs. Apply the argan oil as a moisturizer, either in the day or at night. Don’t worry that oil on the skin will increase pimples as this is untrue. In fact, some people believe that acne is the result of skin which is overly dry and attempting to produce oil to compensate for that dryness.

Organic virgin coconut oil – Coconut oil is the new perfect product and is currently all the rage with good reason. Coconut oil is antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial; studies have shown that coconut oil improves skin and hair conditions, both by moisturizing dry rough scaly skin and by treating atopic dermatitis, an inflammatory skin condition. A study in the Journal of Dermatological Science found that coconut oil is effective against acne due to the presence of lauric and capric acid, both which have strong antimicrobial responses. Be sure to use virgin organic coconut oil, refined coconut oil will not work. Use the coconut oil as a facial moisturizer during the day or at night. If you wish to also use the argan oil, you may mix the two together. If the weather is cooler, you will need to melt the coconut oil before mixing it with the argan as it is solid in cool weather. Organic virgin coconut oil can be found in most health food stores such as Trader Joe’s, Mrs. Green’s, and Whole Foods.  Needless to say, virgin organic coconut oil is nontoxic and may be ingested as well as being used topically.