Title : Garlic for Acne Spot Treatment and Scars Reduction
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Garlic for Acne Spot Treatment and Scars Reduction
Struggling with adult acne? There are many natural remedies that may help you deal with the condition. Today we sought to find out “is garlic good for acne?” Also, how do people use garlic for acne scars, cysts, pimples, whiteheads, and blackheads? Find out this and much more about garlic acne treatment.
Why Garlic for Acne?
Although most popular as a food ingredient, garlic has a long history of use for medicinal purposes.
For example, garlic was widely used as an antiseptic (to dress wounds) and soldiers took garlic to prevent gangrene during the World Wars.
Today, garlic is recommended for numerous medical conditions ranging from heart disease to high blood pressure, cholesterol buildup, and atherosclerosis among others.
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, regular garlic consumption may also help prevent cancer. Indian ayurvedic practitioners still consider garlic helpful for and use it to treat acne.
Garlic Benefits for Acne
Now, how does garlic work for acne? The claimed benefits of garlic for acne include:
- Garlic may help to fight acne-causing bacteria: Garlic contains a compound known as allicin. This gives garlic its characteristic smell and flavor. Allicin is antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal. Just as treatment medications the likes of benzoyl peroxide, garlic is thought to help kill the acne-causing P. acnes bacteria, says James Duke, the author of “The Green Pharmacy Guide to Healing Foods.”
- Garlic helps to reduce inflammation due to acne pimples: A sulfur compound known as thiacremonone provides further ground for garlic acne treatment. A 2009 study concluded that thiacremonone exerts anti-inflammatory properties and could thus be “…a useful agent for the treatment of inflammatory and arthritic diseases”. (When taken orally). This also helps to reduce redness and soreness in the affected areas of the skin.
- Garlic helps to absorb excess oil from the skin: The thiacremonone in garlic also acts as a skin-drying agent, effectively combating the excessive oiliness often associated with acne scars and pimples breakouts.
- Garlic helps to fight free radicals in the skin: Allicin is a powerful antioxidant and may in part explain the effectiveness of and the use of garlic for acne treatment. Antioxidants helps to prevent the buildup of harmful free radicals and reverse their damage. According to a research study published in the Science Daily¸ allicin decomposes into sulfenic acid which then reacts with the radicals inside the body.
- Regular use of garlic helps to fight insulin resistance which is believed to trigger acne breakouts. A study published in 2005 in the European Journal of Pharmacology found garlic oil helps to improve the body’s sensitivity to insulin. This by extension means that garlic may work for acne breakouts due to insulin resistance.
Does Garlic Help Acne Scars?
Severe acne breakouts, especially cystic acne and acne pimples, tends to cause scarring. Scars are characterized by pitted or raised areas of skin that have a different texture from the rest of the skin. They usually fade away gradually, sometimes taking years to clear. Any remedy that helps to promote healthy skin growth helps to clear acne scars faster. In Ayurveda, garlic is considered good for acne scars. Garlic helps acne scars in various ways:
- Perhaps the most powerful antioxidant, the allicin in garlic helps to reduce the effect of free radicals that worsen acne scars.
- Garlic enhances blood circulation which then helps with regeneration of new skin cells by ensuring skin tissues receive the necessary vitamins and minerals.
- The thiacremonone in garlic is also believed to help aid healing of acne scars. By reducing inflammation, thiacremonone also helps to make acne scars less noticeable.
- By healing existing acne pimples and cysts, garlic helps to prevent new scarring.
- Garlic provides vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients such as vitamins C and B6, selenium, copper, and zinc.
How to Use Garlic for Acne Scars and Spot Treatment
Right now I know you are eager and can’t wait to learn how to use garlic for pimples and scars removal. Well, there are essentially two broad ways in which you can use garlic for the purpose: topically (applying on the treatment areas) and internally (consuming garlic orally). Oral intake provides the most potent treatment for acne spots and scars but you may still want to apply garlic on your skin and see if it has any effect. Below are some of the ways in which you can use garlic for acne:
1. Garlic for Acne Spot Treatment
In as far as treating acne spots with garlic is concerned, the following methods may be worth your consideration:
Method 1: Garlic Paste for acne spot treatment
- Crush a few garlic cloves.
- Apply the resulting paste directly on the spots.
- Allow the paste time to dry completely before washing it off with water.
- Pat the skin dry and then apply a moisturizer.
- Use this crushed garlic remedy once daily until the spots clear.
Method 2: Garlic Juice for Acne Spot Treatment (Topical)
- Get a fresh garlic clove and slice it into two halves.
- Apply some pressure on one half to squeeze its juice out.
- Rub the clove on the pimples or scars gently.
- Leave the juice on for 5 minutes, assuming it is tolerably, then rinse it off with water.
- Use this garlic remedy for acne once daily until those spots clear away.
Method 3: Garlic Solution for Spot Treatment
- Crush 2 garlic cloves
- Pour the paste into a cup of water.
- Stir the mixture well and then allow it to stay still for 10 minutes.
- Dip a cotton ball in the mixture and dab it on the areas of the skin afflicted with acne pimples.
- Allow it time to dry into the skin, then splash cool water on your skin.
- Use this garlic treatment for acne regularly until your skin clears.
2. Garlic and Apple Cider Vinegar Acne Treatment
Apple cider vinegar is widely claimed to help reduce the appearance of acne blemishes and pimples by regulating skin pH, killing acne causing bacteria, and shrinking the pores (it is a natural stringent) while reducing the oiliness associated with acne cysts, pimples, whiteheads, etc.
- Smash a couple garlic cloves using mortar and pestle.
- Add 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar.
- Combine the ingredients thoroughly, then apply the mixture all over the affected areas of the face.
- Massage it in for a couple minutes, then leave it to dry on the skin.
- Once dry, wash the paste off with water, then pat the skin dry with a clean towel.
- Use this garlic treatment for acne once daily for best results.
3. Honey, Comfrey, and Garlic for Pimples Overnight Treatment
Both honey and comfrey leaves are touted to help heal acne pimples and cysts while rejuvenating the skin. They can help boost the efficacy of garlic for acne treatment. For overnight treatment with these three ingredients, follow the steps outlined below:
- Crush 3 cloves of fresh garlic.
- Warm some honey in a small pot.
- To a handful of freshly pounded comfrey leaves, pour in enough honey and garlic to make a paste that is easy to work with.
- Wash your face and pat it dry with a clean towel.
- With the help of a clean washcloth, apply the garlic paste as a mask all over your face and allow it to work on the pimples overnight.
- If you don’t want to cover your entire face, you can apply the paste on individual pimples.
- In the morning, rinse the mask off with warm water.
- Repeat this home treatment regularly until the acne breakout clears.
4. Garlic and Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is lauded for its skin regeneration and healing abilities. It also helps to moisturize the skin and keep it supple.
- Mash 3 cloves of fresh garlic.
- Pour it into ½ cup of water.
- Mix 2 tablespoons each of the resulting garlic juice and aloe vera.
- Dab the resulting solution onto the acne afflicted areas of the skin suing a cotton ball.
- Massage the treatment areas for a couple minutes and then allow the solution time to dry in.
- Wash your face with water
- Do this frequently to clear your skin of the pimples and blemishes.
5. Yoghurt, Honey and Garlic for Pimples Removal
Yoghurt contains lactic acid which is believed to help with skin exfoliation. One popular way to use it to treat acne breakouts is in a combination treatment with honey and garlic. This combination treatment is particularly advisable for people whose skin is too sensitive to withstand the sting hat result from applying garlic on pimples and scars.
- Crush a couple garlic cloves.
- Add in ½ teaspoon of honey followed by 2 tablespoons of plain yoghurt.
- Apply the mixture all over your face as a mask.
- Allow the mask 20 to 25 minutes before washing it off.
- Do this regularly until you achieve the desire results.
- You can also substitute garlic cloves with 3 drops of garlic oil or ½ teaspoon of garlic powder which rare widely available in most health food store.
6. Garlic, Turmeric, and Manuka Honey Acne Mask
The curcumin in turmeric has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties while Manuka honey is lauded for its strong antibacterial properties which makes it very beneficial to acne pimples and cysts. These two can significantly increase the effectiveness of garlic for acne pimples treatment when used in the face mask outlined below:
- To 6 crushed cloves of garlic, pour in 3 teaspoons of raw Manuka honey and ¼ teaspoon of turmeric powder.
- Mix the ingredients thoroughly to obtain a well-blended paste.
- Apply the paste all over your face.
- Allow the face mask time to dry completely, then wash it off with warm water.
- Pat the skin dry gently with a towel.
- Use this pimples treatment regularly to attain clear skin.
Read more: Manuka Honey for Acne
Read more: Turmeric for Acne
7. Garlic for Blackheads
Blackheads on the nose. Courtesy: David Shankbone |
Blackheads form when the dead skin cells, sebum (skin oil) and other debris in the clogged hair follicles get exposed to the air and get oxidized. Garlic can help get rid of blackheads when used as explained below:
You will need:
- 3 cloves of fresh garlic
- 1 tablespoon of oatmeal powder
- 2 drops of tea tree oil.
- ½ teaspoon of lemon juice
- Raw honey
Directions
- Mix all the other ingredients with enough honey to form a paste with thick consistency.
- Cleanse your skin and pat it dry with a towel.
- Apply a thin layer of the paste all over the skin.
- After 3 to 5 minutes, massage your face gently with your fingers to exfoliate the skin.
- Finally, wash the mask off with warm water.
- Use this blackhead garlic remedy every other day until your skin gets cleared.
8. Garlic Oil for Acne Scars
- Apply a couple drops of garlic oil to the acne scars.
- Allow it to work on the scars for 15 minutes, then rinse your skin with water. You can also leave it on overnight if you like.
- Repeat the process once daily until those pesky scars go away.
9. Garlic, Olive Oil, and Honey Remedy For Acne Scars
Olive oil helps to nourish, moisturize, and soften the skin and thus promote the regenarion of new skin cells. Honey is also deeply moisturizing and is rich in nutrients essential for optimum skin health. These two make good companions for garlic for acne scars removal.
- Cleanse your face with gentle soap or cleanser and water.
- Crush 2 fresh garlic cloves and mix with ½ teaspoon of water.
- Apply this to the affected area of your face.
- Massage the paste in for 3-5 minutes, then splash warm water all over your face.
- Now crush a couple more garlic cloves.
- Add 2 teaspoons each of honey and olive oil and mix thoroughly to attain a paste with uniform consistency.
- Apply the paste on the areas of the skin afflicted with scars.
- Wash the paste off with warm water after 2- to 25 minutes.
- Moisturize your face.
- Repeat this home remedy for acne scars regularly until you get the desired results.
10. Eating Garlic for Acne
Is eating garlic good for acne? Yes. In fact, as mentioned earlier on, oral (dietary) intake of garlic is the most effective acne treatment option.
Cooking (and microwaving) at high temperatures however reduces the concentration of allicin in garlic. This explains why the typically strong flavor of garlic goes away progressively when cooking. For this reason, most experts recommend eating raw garlic for more effective acne treatment.
Below are different ways in which you can add garlic to your diet for pimples and scars alleviation:
Method I
- Crush a few peeled cloves of fresh garlic to obtain a fine paste.
- Add this paste to your food; in the last stages of preparation or at the table. (What do you think about garlic bread for example?)
- Make the garlic paste part of your meal but avoid eating too much; you don’t want to overheat your body or secrete garlic-smelling sweat, do you?
- If you find using garlic for acne as explained in this method leaves you with too strong a garlic-smell or taste, soak the cloves in cold milk for about one hour before crushing them. This helps to soak it away.
Method II
- Slice a couple cloves of fresh garlic into small pieces.
- Eat these slowly in the course of the day.
- You may also want to consume some of them in salads, soups etc.
Method III: Drinking Garlic Juice for Acne Treatment
- Drinking garlic juice is as effective as eating garlic paste or pieces in treating pimples and scars.
- Grate or crush a couple peeled garlic cloves.
- Mix the resulting paste with water or v8 juice and stir thoroughly.
- Drink the resulting juice slowly by slowly before going to bed.
- Once done, brush your teeth to alleviate the garlic smell.
- Repeat this remedy once daily for a week.
11. Garlic Supplements/Pills for Acne
As more and more people discover the health benefits of garlic, it is increasing in popularity. You no longer have to crush garlic cloves at home yourself if you so wish. All you got to do is pick one of the many garlic supplements; usually in the form of garlic powder packaged in pills or capsules.
Garlic supplements are widely available in health food stores and some drugstores (pharmacies), and on Amazon but the question is, what should you look for when shopping for garlic pills or capsules with which to treat acne?
You will want to pay close attention to the concentration of allicin in the specific products. Generally speaking, higher allicin means higher potency in treating acne.
Among the most popular garlic supplements are:
- Allimax: This garlic supplement is rich in stabilized allicin and is the first choice for acne treatment. It is also available in the form of a cream.
- Garlicin: This is yet another powerful garlic supplement from Nature's Way. It is specially formulated to reduce garlic smell in sweat.
Garlic Side Effects and Precautions
Ayurvedic medicine practitioners consider using garlic potent for removal of not only active pimples but also scars due to the breakouts. You will however need to be aware of and keep the following side effects and precautions in mind before using garlic for acne treatment:
- Garlic may cause a burning sensation especially for people with sensitive skin. Undiluted garlic paste is especially likely to cause the problem.
- Garlic may leave you with an offensive smell in the mouth and sweat. Soaking the cloves in milk helps to get rid of garlic breath according to a study published on the Journal of Food Science. Using garlic together with lemon juice or honey also helps to stop the smell and so does brushing teeth. To avoid the “garlic-sweat”, take it slow with eating garlic.
- Garlic loses its anti-oxidants with time – after cutting or crushing. So, use your preparation as soon as possible.
- Excessive use of garlic for acne treatment or otherwise can cause thinning of blood and make you susceptible to bruising and excessive bleeding. It is thus not advisable to use garlic if you are pregnant or recently had (or will have) surgery.
- Some people are allergic to garlic. Garlic allergy causes skin rashes and respiratory complications.
Garlic for Acne Before and After Pictures
The best way to wind this up would have been to include a couple photos showing subjects with acne scars and pimples before (left) treatment and after (right) treatment with garlic acne remedies.
At the moment we have not been lucky enough to find appropriate pictures but as soon as we get some, we will include them in this section.
Closing Remarks
Garlic is a powerful pimples and scars remedy but it won’t cure acne. Garlic acne treatment will also not give you overnight results. Regular use over a period of time is required to get positive results.
Over to you!!
Have you ever tried using garlic for acne? Would you consider applying garlic to your face? Do you have any garlic acne benefit or trick for using garlic that you would want us to add? Please let us know in the comments.
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