There are so many OTC (over the counter) acne medications that some stores haven't enough room to display them all. Prescription medications for acne are plentiful, too, as well as costly. What if you didn't have to spend all this money on your acne? Well, you don't because healthy, natural and effective remedies for acne are right in your own kitchen and garden.



Most acne medications use harsh chemicals to treat the symptoms of acne. You can have healthier skin by using natural ingredients to combat the causes and symptoms and save money, too. You probably have everything you need in your kitchen cupboards or your refrigerator.

We all know that regular cleansing of the face will stave off acne infections. Witch Hazel, a plant-based astringent that's gentle to the skin, is about the only thing you'll have to get from a pharmacy if you want to treat your acne naturally at home. It's available for a fraction of the cost of harsh commercial astringents and won't harm the delicate pH balance of your skin. By using it once a day, ideally at bedtime, you'll be able to clear your pores of dirt and oil without triggering your glands' production of more oil.

Everyone knows fruit is good for you but it's even better for your skin! Kiwi mixed with yogurt in your blender makes a wonderful facial cleanser. Lemon juice is an effective spot treatment for trouble spots and very beneficial when left on the skin overnight and rinsed off in the morning. Honey and cinnamon in equal amounts makes a great facial mask; just rinse off after about twenty minutes for glowing, soft skin and your tender acne-stricken areas will be soothed and less inflamed.

Ivory soap is the purest soap make and excellent for acne. If you prefer a lotion, simply grate the Ivory into a double boiler. Add some glycerin, rose water, a little lemon juice and optional essential oils for a nice scent and you have one of the healthiest, well-balanced soaps you can use on your face.

Anyone seeing the price of those complexion strips that are supposed to pull away dirt and oil from the pores would think it's a great idea but almost prohibitively expensive. You can achieve the same result with a bottle of Elmer's Glue for less than a dollar. Apply Elmer's to the area you need to cleanse, let it dry and peel off. (For those who live in the Southwest, this is also the ideal way to remove those miniscule Prickly Pear spines.)

One of the best home remedies for acne is to add brightly colored vegetables high in anti-oxidants to your diet. Anti-oxidants allow your cells to oxygenate and improve circulation, making your complexion glow with good health and reducing the incidents of acne by balancing your pH. In addition, of course, replacing carbonated beverages with water is a cure in itself.