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4 Natural Ways to Get Rid of Pimples as

Fast as Possible

Written by Kayla McDonell, RD on February 12, 2018

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Acne is a common skin disease that affects an estimated 85% of people at some
point in their lives.

Symptoms include pesky pimples, which can be frustrating and difficult to get rid
of.

While conventional treatments can be effective at getting rid of pimples, they are
often associated with adverse effects, such as skin irritation and dryness.

Because of this, a lot of people have turned to natural alternatives. There are a
lot of natural acne remedies out there, but only a handful are scientifically proven
to help.

Here are 4 natural remedies that have been proven to get rid of pimples fast.
1. Spot Treat With Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is extracted from the leaves of the tree Melaleuca alternifolia, which
is native to Australia.
It’s well-known for its ability to fight bacteria and reduce skin inflammation.
Specifically, tea tree oil helps fight P. acnes and S. epidermidis, two types of
bacteria that can cause pimples (1, 2Trusted Source, 3Trusted Source).

One study found that 5% tea tree oil gel was almost four times more effective at
reducing acne lesions and almost six times more effective at reducing acne
severity than a placebo (4Trusted Source).

In another study, a gel containing 5% tea tree oil was proven equally effective at
reducing pimples as a lotion containing 5% benzoyl peroxide, a common acne
medication (5Trusted Source).

The tea tree oil treatment also resulted in fewer adverse effects than benzoyl
peroxide. These include dryness, irritation and burning.

It’s important to note that tea tree oil is very potent and can cause redness and
irritation when applied directly to the skin. For this reason, it should be diluted
with water or a carrier oil.

You can purchase both tea tree oil and a carrier oil online.

How to Use Tea Tree Oil for Acne

1. Combine one part tea tree oil with nine parts water.

2. Dip a cotton swab into the mixture and apply it directly to pimples.

3. Apply moisturizer, if desired.

4. Repeat this process one to two times per day, as needed.

SUMMARYTea tree oil fights inflammation and acne-causing bacteria. Applying it

to the skin has been shown to reduce pimples.
2. Spot Treat With Other Essential Oils

In addition to tea tree oil, there are many other essential oils with antibacterial
and anti-inflammatory properties that can help clear up pimples quickly.

A large scientific review found that essential oils of cinnamon, rose, lavender and
clove fight acne-causing bacteria, S. epidermidis and P. acnes (6Trusted
Source).

Rosemary and lemongrass were also shown to effectively inhibit P.

acnes (7Trusted Source).

One study compared the acne-fighting abilities of clove-basil oil, 10% benzoyl
peroxide and a placebo. Both the 2% and 5% clove-basil oils were found to be
more effective and faster at reducing pimples than benzoyl peroxide (8Trusted
Source).

Another study found that a gel containing acetic acid, orange and sweet basil
essential oils resulted in a 75% increase in the healing rate of pimples (9Trusted
Source).

Like tea tree oil, these essential oils are very concentrated and can cause
irritation if applied directly to the skin.

A wide variety of essential oils are available online, including clove oil.

How to Use Essential Oils for Acne

1. Combine one part essential oil with nine parts water.

2. Dip a cotton swab into the mixture and apply it directly to pimples.

3. Apply moisturizer, if desired.

4. Repeat this process one to two times per day, as needed.

SUMMARYOther essential oils including cinnamon, rose, lavender, clove and
rosemary have been found to inhibit acne-causing bacteria. Applying these oils to
the skin may help reduce pimples.

3. Apply Green Tea to the Skin

A lot of people drink green tea for its health benefits, but it can also be helpful
when applied directly to the skin.

Green tea contains flavonoids and tannins, which are known to help fight
inflammation and bacteria that may cause pimples (10, 11).

It is also high in the antioxidant epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), which has

been shown to fight inflammation, reduce sebum production and inhibit the
growth of P. acnes in people with acne-prone skin (12Trusted Source).

Multiple studies have shown that people with acne experience significantly less
sebum production and pimples when they apply a 2–3% green tea extract to their
skin (13Trusted Source, 14Trusted Source, 15Trusted Source).

There are a handful of skincare products on the market that contain green tea,
but it is very simple and cost-effective to make your own mixture at home.

You can get a quality green tea online.

How to Use Green Tea for Acne

1. Steep green tea in boiling water for 3–4 minutes.

2. Allow the tea to cool.

3. Apply it to your face with a cotton ball or spritz it on using a spray bottle.
 4. Leave it on for 10 minutes or overnight, and then rinse your face with
water.

5. Apply 1–2 times per day, as needed. It can be stored in the refrigerator for
up to two weeks.

SUMMARYGreen tea is high in antioxidants that help reduce inflammation and

fight bacteria. Applying it to the skin has been shown to significantly reduce
pimples.

4. Moisturize With Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is a tropical plant with leaves that produce a clear gel.

When applied to the skin, aloe vera gel has been shown to help fight bacteria,
reduce inflammation and promote wound healing (16Trusted Source, 17Trusted
Source, 18Trusted Source).

Because of this, it’s a popular treatment for a variety of skin conditions including
psoriasis, rashes, cuts and burns.

There are limited studies on the ability of aloe vera to fight pimples specifically,
but existing research is promising.

Aloe vera contains lupeol, salicylic acid, urea nitrogen, cinnamonic acid, phenols
and sulfur, all of which inhibit bacteria that might cause pimples (18Trusted
Source, 19).

In one study, varying concentrations of aloe vera gel were added to clove-basil
oil lotion and evaluated for anti-acne properties. The higher the concentration of
aloe vera in the lotion, the more effective it was at reducing pimples (20).
Another study found that using 50% aloe vera gel with tretinoin cream was
significantly more effective at clearing up pimples than tretinoin cream alone.
Tretinoin cream is an acne medication derived from vitamin A (21Trusted
Source).

Although aloe vera gel on its own was not effective at treating pimples, it
enhanced the anti-acne effects of clove-basil oil and tretinoin cream.

While there’s a possibility that aloe vera gel could help clear up pimples on its
own, it may be more effective when combined with other remedies or
medications.

How to Use Aloe Vera Gel for Acne

1. Scrape the gel out of the aloe leaves with a spoon.

2. Apply gel to the skin at the same time as other acne treatments. You may
want to try mixing it with your other treatment, and then apply this to your
skin. Or, you can apply the other acne treatment first, with the aloe gel
over top.

3. Repeat 1–2 times per day, or as desired.

You can also purchase bottled aloe vera gel online, but make sure it is pure aloe
and does not contain added ingredients.

SUMMARYApplying aloe to the skin can help treat burns, heal wounds and fight
inflammation. It has been shown to increase the anti-acne effects of other
treatments, but more research is needed on its effects when used on its own.
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Longer-Term Acne Remedies

Several other natural acne treatments have been shown to be effective with
consistent, long-term use.

Although the remedies below might not get rid of pimples quickly, they can help
prevent and heal acne over time.

Take a Zinc Supplement

The mineral zinc plays a role in wound healing and can help reduce
inflammation.

Because of this, it has been studied as a possible treatment for pimples.

Research has indicated that people with acne tend to have lower levels of zinc in
their blood than those with clear skin (22Trusted Source).

Taking a zinc supplement has been shown to help. In fact, several studies have
found that taking 30–45 mg of elemental zinc per day can significantly reduce
pimples (23Trusted Source, 24Trusted Source, 25).

In one particular study, 48 people with acne took zinc supplements three times
per day. After eight weeks, 38 of them experienced an 80–100% reduction in
pimples (26).
Zinc is available in many forms, each containing a different amount of elemental
zinc.

Regardless of what form you choose, it’s probably best not to take more than the
recommended upper limit of 40 mg of zinc per day.

Taking too much zinc may cause adverse effects, including stomach pain and gut
irritation (27Trusted Source).

You can buy zinc supplements online. Get a smaller dose so that you don't
exceed the recommended limit of 40 mg.

Consume Brewer's Yeast

A specific strain of brewer's yeast called Saccharomyces cerevisiae Hansen

CBS also seems to help decrease pimples when consumed by mouth.

Brewer’s yeast tends to be a good source of B vitamins, chromium, copper, iron

and zinc. However, its ability to treat pimples is most likely due to its antibacterial
effects (28Trusted Source, 29Trusted Source).

One study compared the effectiveness of brewer’s yeast with that of a placebo
over five months.

Pimples were healed or considerably improved in more than 80% of people

taking the yeast preparation, while only 26% saw improvement in the placebo
group (30Trusted Source).

Studies have shown brewer’s yeast to have no side effects, but a few people
have reported mild gas, bloating or headaches after consuming it.

You can find brewer's yeast for purchase online.

Try a Fish Oil Supplement

Fish oils contain the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and
docosahexaenoic (DHA).

Studies show that consuming EPA can help manage oil production, prevent
pimples and help the skin maintain adequate hydration (31Trusted
Source, 32Trusted Source).

High levels of EPA and DHA have also been shown to decrease factors that
contribute to inflammation, which may ultimately reduce the risk of pimples
(33Trusted Source).

In one study, taking omega-3 fatty acid supplements containing both EPA and
DHA daily for 10 weeks significantly reduced pimples in all 45 participants
(34Trusted Source).

You can also get omega-3 fatty acids by eating walnuts, chia seeds, ground
flaxseeds, salmon, sardines and anchovies.

However, the plant sources above contain the omega-3 fatty acid alpha-linolenic
acid (ALA) and little to no EPA or DHA (35Trusted Source).

Taking a supplement with concentrated omega-3s can help you take in higher
amounts of EPA and DHA to better treat pimples. You can find fish oil
supplements to buy online.

SUMMARYTaking brewer’s yeast, zinc or fish oil orally may help prevent and
reduce pimples over time. These supplements may not get rid of pimples quickly,
but studies evaluating their long-term use show great promise.
Other Ways to Help Reduce Pimples

Although people have been using natural acne remedies for years, research on
the topic is still emerging.

The remedies listed below may benefit acne-prone skin, but no studies exist on
their ability to treat pimples:

 Witch hazel: Applying witch hazel to the skin has been shown to fight
bacteria and reduce inflammation, which could help prevent pimples
(36Trusted Source, 37Trusted Source).

 Apple cider vinegar: The organic acids in apple cider vinegar may help
kill acne-causing bacteria and reduce the appearance of scars (38Trusted
Source, 39Trusted Source, 40Trusted Source, 41Trusted Source).

 Limit dairy intake: Two large studies reported that people who drank
more milk tended to have more pimples, but more research is needed
(42Trusted Source, 43Trusted Source).

 Try a honey and cinnamon mask: Honey and cinnamon have

antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, so they may
benefit acne-prone skin when applied to it (44Trusted Source, 45Trusted
Source).

 Reduce stress: Some studies have linked stress to an increase in acne

severity. Ask your healthcare provider about relaxation techniques and
lifestyle changes that might help you reduce your stress levels (46Trusted
Source, 47Trusted Source).

For even more tips, here are 13 powerful home remedies to get rid of acne.

SUMMARYA few other remedies may help you fight pimples naturally, including
applying apple cider vinegar to the skin, limiting your dairy intake and reducing
 stress levels. However, these have little or no research behind them, so more
studies are needed.

The Bottom Line

Pimples are a common problem that can be frustrating to treat.

Conventional treatments can cause redness, dryness or irritation, and many

natural alternatives just don’t seem to work.

The home remedies listed in this article are supported by science as the most
effective, natural ways to reduce pimples.

Applying various essential oils, green tea and aloe vera to the skin seems to be
the quickest way to get rid of pimples, while supplements may require longer-
term use.

The remedies in this article might not work for everyone, but could be worth a try.

If you live with severe acne, you may still want to consult a dermatologist.

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