Using natural OTC home remedies like vitamin supplements, diet, and ingredients in our pantry are safer and less expensive treatments for hormonal acne.

How do we get pimples? Pimples are caused by an increase in androgens (male sex hormones) that make our sebaceous glands (oil glands) produce too much sebum/oil which gets mixed in with dead skin cells and clogs our pores. These over the counter home remedies for hormonal acne treatment can be very effective when used properly and are very accessible as well as many of us already have these ingredients in our cabinets!

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is one of the least inexpensive home remedies for pimple treatment. ACV can be used as a toner to reduce oiliness, cleanse pores, and balance the body’s pH levels. It can also be drank to help regulate blood sugar as unstable blood sugar levels are a cause of blemishes due to the hormonal fluctuations it can have on the body. Drinking it may also aid in weight loss.

Natural Honey & Oatmeal Mask

Making a honey and oatmeal mask is very simple to do and has many great benefits for our skin. Honey contains antioxidants which help prevent cell damage and also have anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-septic properties. Oatmeal can help relieve itchy skin as it may balance our skin’s pH and also helps exfoliate our skin and gets rid of any dead skin cells that can clog our pores.

Even just smearing honey on our face can help fight blemishes! By making a paste with honey and cinnamon or orange peel we can experience anti-microbial effects that help kill fungus and bacteria as well as lightening dark spots and shrinking our pores to avoid clogging.

Apple cider vinegar and honey is also a common natural home remedy to detoxify the body which can get rid of waste and toxins that may build up in our skin to cause pimples. These two ingredients have strong antibiotic and antiseptic properties which help fight bacteria.

Essential Oils – Tea Tree Oil

There are many natural essential oils that help acne as they regulate hormones and fight bacteria but the most common natural oil for treating breakouts is Tea Tree oil. Tea tree oil has been shown in studies to be as effective as benzoyl peroxide and has less side effects as well when used correctly. This essential oil works by killing bacteria, reducing inflammation, and drying out the skin.

Tea Tree oil is not the only essential oil for hormonal acne treatment as there are many others including manuka oil, eucalyptus oil, and neroli oil.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil has numerous uses other than being an oil to cook with. It is also used for moisturizing our skin, reducing inflammation and treating pimples naturally. Coconut oil contains vitamins and has other beneficial functions that can help us treat and prevent blemishes.

Vitamin A

This vitamin for hormonal breakouts also regulates how our skin sheds cells. Vitamin A makes sure we shed skin at the right amount so we do not get a build up which can clog our pores and cause blemishes. The best way to obtain this vitamin for hormonal acne is by eating it either by cooking with coconut oil or receiving it from colorful vegetables as they contain beta-cartoene which converts into Vitamin A in our bodies.

Vitamin K

Vitamin K is important for helping to clot blood but has effects on our appearance as well as it helps skin elasticity by reducing the appearance of wrinkles and dark under-eye circles. Other sources of Vitamin K include kale and other green leafy vegetables.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E has antioxidant effects that help protect and repair our skin. It also helps with skin elasticity and reducing acne scars. This vitamin is contained in nuts like almonds and hazelnuts as well as fruits like avocados.

Saturated Fat

Saturated fat may sound bad but not all saturated fat is the same as the kind that is in coconut oil is actually extremely good for us. In the 1930’s a dentist named Dr. Weston Price took note of the diet of those in the South Pacific and found that they were healthy and fit as well as having no sign of heart disease or any other health problems because of the coconut products they ate (source).

Because coconut oil keeps us healthy it also aids in our skin because it moisturizes, helps get rid of waste in our body and may even reduce the appearance of acne scars when used topically. Make sure to use virgin or extra virgin coconut oil because if it is not virgin that means it is refined and will clog your pores.

Vitamin Supplements for Hormonal Acne

Natural herbs and vitamin supplements like basil, oregano, Niacin and Vitamin B5 are a safer way to treat acne that other over the counter acne treatments that contain chemicals we can’t even pronounce. Taking hormonal acne vitamins individually may lesson acne blemishes however taking a supplement that contains a blend of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids like Acnetame which work synergistically to effectively treat acne especially hormonal blemishes as it detoxifies, regulates hormones, and drys out the skin.

Use Lemons in Your Water and For Your Skin

Lemon juice is one of the most common home remedies for acne treatment. Lemon helps kill bacteria, lightens dark spots, and may help reduce the appearance of acne scars. It is recommended to stay out of the sun after applying lemon juice as sunlight can cause hyperpigmentation.

Citrus fruits like lemon are classified as astringents which are great for those with oily skin because astringents help reduce oil production by tightening pores.

Get Rid of Those Processed Foods!

It is not a myth that there is a connection between acne and diet as dairy, sugar, and high-glycemic foods have been shown in studies to cause acne mostly because foods containing these ingredients spike blood sugar levels. Dairy for instance can contain bovine hormone which is injected into cows to increase milk production however has a negative effect on the human body as it increases another hormone called IGF-1. When we have increased IGF-1 levels we can experience increased oil production from our sebaceous glands.

Sugar also increases IGF-1 levels as well as inflammation as antioxidants are drained from the skin which are needed to help relieve inflammation. High-glycemic carbs like cereal and white bread may also cause hormonal fluctuations leading to acne as they do not contain much fiber. Fiber helps to slow the digestion process and keep us full for a longer period of time causing a steady stream of energy throughout our body rather than an extreme spike in energy followed by a crash.

Many times we do not get the right kinds of fats in our diet like omega-3s. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential to our skin as they help reduce inflammation, regulate hormones, controls sebum production, and acts as an antioxidant to help protect our cells from damage from free radicals.

Get Some Sun

If you have pimples that are inflamed, go out in the sun! This study shows that UVA and UVB rays are effective for killing P.Acnes which is bacterial acne that clogs our pores. If you have ever gone in a tanning bed with acne it is very likely that any blemishes you have look better the next day as inflammation has gone down and they look less red.

If we take into consideration our diet, how much sun we are getting, and what vitamin supplements we are taking for our hormonal skin and acne we can decrease our chances of getting a breakout of pimples and reduce inflammation in existing blemishes as well. Using these over the counter home remedies and best acne pills can save us a lot of time and money and still get the same effect if not better than synthetic topical treatments and medications.
Do not forget that everyone reacts differently to these products and foods even if they are natural so always make sure to talk with a doctor before using these treatments if you are unaware of how your body may react.