Expert Tips: How To Get Rid of Acne With Honey

How To Get Rid of Acne With Honey

Are some of your skincare products slowly giving up on you?

It’s like your face just won’t clear up no matter how religiously you apply your medications.

Your stubborn zits just won’t go away no matter how careful you are.

If that’s the case, here’s a good news.

You don’t actually have to rely solely on chemical-based products to treat your acne. There are safer, equally effective and cheaper solutions to those annoying zits.

One good example is honey.

Containing anti-inflammatory and moisturizing properties, this natural ingredient is a powerhouse when it comes to treating acne.

Expert Tips: How To Get Rid of Acne With Honey

Don’t believe it?

Well, here are 6 really effective home remedies for acne you can do with honey.

1. Honey and Baking Soda Face Mask

how to get rid of acne with honey

Frequency: Twice or thrice a week

How To Do It:

  • Combine just the right amounts of honey and baking soda in a small bowl.
  • Mix them well until you end up with a smooth paste.
  • With your fingertips, apply the mixture to affected areas using circular motions.
  • Allow it to sit for about 5 minutes before rinsing it off.

Why It Works:

Baking soda acts as an exfoliator to remove dead skin cells, preventing your pores from getting clogged. It can also kill acne-causing bacteria so your pores won’t get infected.

Partnered with honey, this remedy can work not just on acne but acne scars, too.

Tip: Do not scrub the mixture too hard as that can irritate your skin.

2. Honey and Turmeric Face Mask

how to get rid of acne with honey

Frequency: Once a day until you see results

How To Do It:

  • Mix a tablespoon of honey and a dash of turmeric in a small bowl.
  • Carefully apply the mixture all over your face.
  • Wait for at least 20 minutes before washing it off.

Why It Works:

​Turmeric has a lot of skin benefits. It’s been used for years in Chinese medicine and Ayurveda for its healing and antiseptic properties.

​It directly targets the P. Acnes bacteria, one of the main reasons you suffer from breakouts.

Apart from that, turmeric can also help control sebum production, making it a great remedy for those dealing with oily skin.

Additionally, it contains curcumin to reduce the swelling and redness that come with acne. Turmeric also blocks NF-kB, the protein complex involved in the body’s response to inflammation.

Tip: Wear an old shirt and make sure the mixture doesn’t touch the counter when doing this method. Turmeric stains anything it touches.

3. Honey and Cinnamon Face Mask

how to get rid of acne with honey

Frequency: Once a day until you see results

How To Do It:

  • Add 1-2 teaspoons of honey and a teaspoon of cinnamon in a small bowl.
  • Mix the two ingredients together until you end up with a smooth consistency.
  • Apply the mixture to affected areas and wait for at least 15 minutes before rinsing it off.

Why It Works:

Cinnamon is known for its long list of health benefits. Like honey, it has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, too.

And you know what else?

Cinnamon can also help with wound healing. It can make your acne spots heal faster so you won’t have to worry about how to cover them up all the time.

Tip: Perform a patch test before doing this mask, particularly if you have sensitive skin. To do this, apply a small layer of the mixture on your inner arm and wait for a few minutes to see how your skin will react.

Take note that the cinnamon in this mask can make you feel a slight burning sensation. That is completely normal and should go away in just a few minutes.

4. Honey and Aspirin Face Mask

how to get rid of acne with honey

Frequency: Every other day

How To Do It:

  • Take 2 to 3 aspirin tablets and crush them until you get a fine powder.
  • Place the powder into a small bowl and add a teaspoon of water and a teaspoon of honey.
  • Mix them well until you end up with a fine paste.
  • Apply the mixture to acne-prone areas and wait for 10 minutes before rinsing it off.

Why It Works:

Aspirin is great for acne since it contains acetylsalicylic acid. It is an anti-inflammatory agent that can soothe any swelling and redness.

While aspirin calms down your acne, honey fights bacteria and assists in faster healing.

Tip: Apply a layer of moisturizer after doing this method to avoid drying out your face.

5. Honey and Oatmeal Face Mask

how to get rid of acne with honey

Frequency: Daily until you see results

How To Do It:

  • Cook the oatmeal in a saucepan as per the pack’s instructions. Remove from heat once cooked and let it cool down.
  • Scoop half a cup of the oatmeal into a small bowl and add 1 to 2 teaspoons of honey.
  • Mix them thoroughly until you end up with a gooey consistency.
  • Apply the mixture all over your face and rinse it off after 25 minutes.

Why It Works:

​Oatmeal acts as a buffer to exfoliate the skin and a moisturizer to keep it soft and supple. It supplements the effects of honey by making your zits less angry.

Another great thing about this ingredient is that it works really well even on sensitive skin. It has saponins which make it a great cleanser and phenols that protect the skin from the sun’s rays.

Tip: Always wear a non-comedogenic moisturizer after using this mask.

6. Honey and Sugar Face Mask

how to get rid of acne with honey

Frequency: Once a day

How To Do It:

  • Add a teaspoon of sugar and a tablespoon of honey in a small bowl.
  • Mix the two together until you end up with a grainy consistency.
  • Gently massage the mixture on your face and wait for 15 minutes before rinsing it off.

Why It Works:

Sugar works as an exfoliant to reveal a fresher layer of skin. It penetrates deep into the pores to free them from any impurities that can lead to blemishes.

By adding it to honey, you’re practically making sugar a lot less damaging to the skin. Apart from that, honey also works as a moisturizer to help your skin regain its balance after exfoliation.

Tip: Choose brown over white sugar when making this mask. Brown sugar has smaller crystals which means it is gentler and less likely to cause skin irritations.

Conclusion

​You don’t need expensive treatments just to clear your skin.

Nature has given us ingredients that can fight this condition without the risk of side effects. They are as effective as store-bought ones and far cheaper, too.

And this list of acne remedies using honey perfectly demonstrates that. Just make sure to be consistent and patient if you want to see dramatic results.

How do you use honey to treat your acne? Let us know in the comment section below!

Dr Kathleen May Eusebio-Alpapara

A board-certified dermatologist who practices both medical and cosmetic dermatology

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