Ayurveda for Acne and Pimples: Causes, Symptoms & Remedies

About Acne & Pimples

Acne breakouts can hurt your skin as well as your self-confidence. Most people having breakouts would nod to this. The worst part is that they begin to sprout when you hope to appear at an event. It's like having a bad hair day when you are going to meet your special someone after a long time.

So, when you have an unsightly pimple on your forehead just in time for an important event, what options do you have?

• Crying and cursing the heaven? That's not going to help.
• Pop it? That will only make it worse. Ask anyone who has popped one too many pimples, and their scars will tell you the long story short.
• Use an over-the-counter acne cream? It might work, but if it doesn't, it will only leave the acne burnt and sore.

This article will tell you different tried-and-tested ways to get rid of pimples. Along the way, you will learn about some of the most effective Ayurvedic remedies for acne treatment and prevention.

But before that, it is important to know the causes and symptoms. That way, you can avoid situations that cause acne breakouts in the first place and also identify symptoms and suitable measures to treat them.

Causes and Symptoms of Acne

Acne is a chronic skin condition that never leaves your side and often makes your adolescence and adult life difficult. Small acne here and there is common, and it usually goes away after some time. However, it's a matter of concern when they appear in clusters on the cheeks, forehead and even shoulders, back and chest.

Acne breakouts are characterised by large pus-filled lumps under the skin that are sometimes painful to touch. In some cases, the pus may only be at the tip of the lump or no pus at all.

Let's look at different causes of acne, and later we will discuss various Ayurvedic home remedies for pimples.

Excess Oil (Sebum) Production

The sebaceous glands in our body produce natural oil (sebum) to keep the skin moisturised. However, excess sebum production can lead to acne breakouts.

Hormonal changes are another driving factor behind acne breakouts. As puberty hits and androgen levels increase, the sebaceous glands produce excessive sebum, leading to acne among males and females alike. Although it's a natural process, it can be a nuisance more often than not. In that case, you can opt for Ayurvedic treatment for acne due to hormonal imbalance. We shall discuss that later.

Medication

Acne can occur as a side-effect of medicines or supplements containing corticosteroids, testosterone or lithium. Besides chronic medication can also interfere with hormones and trigger acne breakouts. Taking Ayurvedic treatment for hormonal acne alongside your ongoing medicines can help you find relief to some extent.

Stress

If your skin is prone to acne or you are already dealing with acne, stress can worsen the situation. If you are not sleeping well due to stress or not drinking adequate water during the day, you will likely see acne sprouting on your face.

Bacteria

There are millions of bacteria living and thriving on your skin. Combined with dust and oil clogging your skin pores, these bacteria can lead to breakouts and skin infections of the worst kind. Therefore, it is essential to use antibacterial face wash to keep these harmful bacteria from breeding on your skin.

Diet

Foods rich in carbohydrates can worsen acne. Some examples are chips, chocolates, bagels and bread. People who are sensitive to dairy products, nuts and dry fruits like almonds, cashew, walnut and raisins are more likely to get acne than others.

Make-up Products

Using make-up products can clog your skin pores and irritate your skin, which later becomes acne. If your job requires you to wear make-up daily, double down on your skincare routine and apply aloe vera gel and night creams to let your skin repair itself. Also, consider using a good-quality moisturiser before applying the foundation. Remember to remove your makeup before going to sleep.

Types of Acne

Depending on the underlying trigger, acne can take several shapes and forms. Here are a few kinds of acne known to modern medical science.

Blackheads

Blackheads are dark spots that generally appear on the bridge of the nose or anywhere on the face or body. They are caused by excess sebum production and dirt that clog up the skin pores. They are not painful and not even visible from a conversational distance. However, most people feel uncomfortable with dark spots on their faces and have them removed regularly by a salon practitioner.

Whiteheads

Whiteheads are close bumps with bacteria, dead skin and sebum trapped inside them, eventually forming pus. Whiteheads are slightly painful and visible from a conversational distance. You might feel tempted to pop the pus out but doing so can leave a long-term scar and, therefore, should be avoided. The best way to treat whiteheads is to dry them using herbal ointment.

Papules

Papules are red or pink bumps, usually smaller than a centimeter, caused by dead skin, oil and bacteria trapped inside the pore. Papules start popping on the skin due to clogged pores, which causes hair follicles to become inflamed and septic. Papules generally don't heal independently and may require extensive therapy and regular cleansing.

Pustules

Pustules are similar to whiteheads, except they are bigger and more painful. Pustules are filled with pus and blood and should not be picked or scratched, as it can cause scarring.

Fungal Acne

Fungal acne is triggered by a yeast infection in the hair follicles. The bumps are inflamed and itchy. Frequent picking and scratching can leave permanent scars, so keep your fingers off your face.

Nodules

Nodules are hardened pimples deep-rooted in your skin. As you can guess, acne is painful and relatively difficult to treat.

Ayurvedic Remedies to Treat Acne

Here comes the part you have been waiting for. We understand that chronic acne can affect your confidence and feelings about yourself. And opting for Ayurvedic treatment for pimples is the safest way to approach the problem. Here are some of the best Ayurvedic formulations to treat and prevent acne breakouts.

Manjishtadi Kwath

Manjishtadi Kwath

Purifies Blood & Improves Skin Health

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It's a herbal decoction that helps treat skin diseases like acne from within by purifying the blood and eliminating free radicals from the system. Even if you don't have acne, you can consume Manjishtadi Kwath regularly to get naturally glowing, youthful skin.

Khadirarishta

Along with Manjisthadi Kwath, which is a blood purifier, Khadirarishta is your go-to solution if you have redness, irritation, and pimple scars that are associated with active acne breakouts.

For better results, you can take Khadirarishta with Kerala Ayurveda Manjishtadi Kwath (15 ml kwath with 20 ml Khadirarishta in 60 ml of lukewarm water twice a day after food).

These products by Kerala Ayurveda are formulated with 100% natural ingredients

Ayurvedic Herbs for Acne

Amla (Indian Gooseberry)

Amla is a rich source of vitamin C, which is good for skin and treating conditions like acne and pimples. Amla can be consumed raw or applied on the skin in the form of a paste.

Nimba (Neem)

Neem is a natural blood purifier that helps treat skin conditions and is used in herbal formulations to control blood sugar levels. Since Neem leaves are too bitter to consume, you can prepare and apply a Neem paste on the affected area.

Tulsi (Holy Basil)

Tulsi's antimicrobial properties help treat acne and other skin conditions caused by gut or bacterial infections.

Aloe Vera

Aloe vera can soothe inflamed and painful acne. Apply Aloe Vera gel to the skin, leave it on for 30 minutes, and wash it off with cold water.

Conclusion

The ancient science of Ayurveda has answers to every skin problem, including acne. Other home remedies for acne include watermelon and papaya face packs, Cumin Coriander-Fennel tea, turmeric and honey face packs, tea tree oil, and so on.