You’ll be over breakouts real soon with these natural treatments for acne dark spots.
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How to Fade Acne Dark Spots: 9 Natural Ways
1. Purple Tea
Like its cousins the green tea and black tea, purple tea comes from the same tea plant and boasts the same benefits. But purple tea has an additional benefit that other types of tea don’t have: a higher antioxidant content, thanks to its polyphenol-rich purple color.
You can steep purple tea and dab the chilled brew over affected areas or opt for a specialized cream from Purple Tea. For instance, its restoring night cream is packed with antioxidants and may even boost collagen production while you sleep, helping heal and fade acne scars and dark spots.
2. Aloe Vera
The gel from this succulent plant is full of vitamins that help heal the skin. It’s already a common home remedy for minor burns, scrapes, acne scars, and skin inflammation.
Aloe vera gel has high amounts of vitamins C and A, as well as L-Lysine. These help in strengthening the dermis, promoting repair and growth, and stimulating collagen formation which helps the skin’s ability to heal itself.
Aloe vera also contains lignin, which has disinfecting abilities that clean away bacteria that keep the skin from healing. It also has numerous antioxidants and minerals that promote healthy skin.
3. Baking Soda
Baking soda isn’t just for baking anymore. It’s become a staple in many homemade, DIY skincare routines thanks to its alkalizing qualities and exfoliating potential.
Using baking soda as a scrub is great because it’s gentle and keeps your skin pH balanced. It is also able to gently scrub away dead skin cells without damaging the sensitive scar tissue.
4. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is a popular folk remedy in many cultures around the world. It can be a moisturizer, a hair mask, a cooking oil, a cough remedy, and scar solution.
It also has omega fatty acids that are effective moisturizers for the skin, ensuring that scars are properly moist and on their way to recovery.
Coconut oil also has lauric acid, which studies show can reduce acne-causing bacteria. A word of caution to those with oily skin types, though: coconut oil may be too heavy and cause a blockage in your pores.
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5. Raw, Organic Honey
Honey is great for desserts and sweetening your breakfast oatmeal, but it’s also a great natural remedy for wounds and scars. In fact, raw honey was commonly used in the past to heal infected wounds and even to preserve mummies!
Honey has antiseptic qualities that help calm down inflammation, which is helpful in recovering skin cells that have been damaged by acne. Its antioxidant content is also helpful in keeping skin healthy, healing current breakouts, and supporting damaged skin as it heals.
Don’t just use any kind of regular, store-bought honey though. Commercial honey may be so thoroughly processed that all nutrients are removed, and may even have added sugar that can encourage bacteria growth.
Make sure to get raw, organic honey, Manuka honey, or medical-grade honey to treat acne dark spots.
6. Apple Cider Vinegar
This zesty cooking ingredient is now among the best all-around ingredients for DIY skincare routines. It can be used not only in foods but also in cleaning and skincare.
Apple cider vinegar contains a high amount of acids, including acetic acid, lactic acid, citric acid, and succinic acid. While those acids individually offer benefits to the skin, apple cider vinegar needs to be diluted first prior to skin application.
Succinic acid, for example, may be able to calm down inflammation caused by Propionibacterium acnes, a bacteria known for causing acne. As the inflammation tones down, skin tissue is less likely to undergo damage, and scarring is either less visible or heals faster.
Lactic acid can also help with scarring. It’s a mild form of alpha hydroxy acid, which works as a gentle chemical peel.
7. Lemon Juice
The juice of citrus fruits, particularly lemons, is popular in many cultures for its natural bleaching abilities. It contains alpha hydroxy acids, which works like a mild chemical peel that helps in cell growth and skin lightening.
Add lemons to bathwater, rub the rinds over affected areas, or use the juice as a night mask. Make sure to use lemon only at night, as it can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight.
8. Turmeric
Turmeric is a spice related to ginger and is prevalent in many Asian cuisines thanks to its zesty flavor and bright color. It’s also a common home remedy for skin conditions like inflammations, acne, discolorations, and scarring.
What makes turmeric so effective is its curcumin content, a compound with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It helps in reducing melanin production, which can produce acne dark spots.
To use turmeric on your skin, use the powdered version. Make a paste with some raw honey to make a mask.
9. Cane Sugar
Sugar, specifically cane sugar, can be an effective way to fade dark acne scars. This is because of cane sugar’s glycolic acid content.
Glycolic acid is another type of alpha hydroxy acid. It helps promote cell regeneration by peeling away dead skin cells.
Besides its glycolic acid content, the naturally rough texture of sugar makes it a good exfoliant. It’s also environment-friendly, as it simply melts away after disposal.
To make a cane sugar scrub, simply add oil. It can be olive oil or coconut oil, then a few drops of lemon juice until it becomes a workable scrub.
Acne dark spots are a nuisance because in a way it leaves signs of your acne breakouts. But there are many natural ingredients that can help speed up the fading, and they may already be in your home right now!
Remember to consult with your doctor before deciding to use new ingredients on your skin. At the very least, do a skin patch test to see if you have any skin allergies or sensitivities to the ingredients you want to try.
What’s your favorite natural remedy for treating acne dark spots? Share them with us in the comments section below!
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