How to Treat Acne in Ayurveda with Herbal Remedies?

Acne is a skin condition that leads a condition in which inflamed papules are formed on facial skin, shoulders and some time in the back region.

Acne is a common skin condition. Acne is also known as Acne vulgaris and is defined as a long term skin disease that occurs when hair follicles are clogged with oil and dead skin cells from the skin. It commonly occurs in adolescence. Around 80-90% of teenagers are affected by this.

It is caused by bacteria Propionibacterium acne. It creates a problem when a pore becomes blocked. Pores get blocked due to excess oil secretion gets mixed with dead skin cells to form a plug. In some cases, acne forms scars. The common sites where acne is found in the chest, back, neck, upper arms, and buttocks.

Propionibacterium acne becomes problematic and needs medical attention. 3 out of ten people with acne suffer from this serious condition which should be managed properly and should be prevented from scarring of the skin permanently.

Acne usually worse in males than females and more common in dark-skinned people than a lighter one.

Acne mostly affects people age 12 to 25 years. its a peak time for puberty both in cases of males and females. most common is a hormone imbalance in such age group people.

Causes of Acne

• Excess production of oil
• Bacteria build up in pores
• Excess activity of a type of hormone
• Humidity or exposure to dust
• Stress/anxiety
• Hormonal changes in both men and women
• Genetics
• Accumulation of dead skin cells in pores
• Certain medications, such as certain birth control pills or corticosteroids
• Excessive intake of diet that is rich in refined sugars or carbohydrates, such as bread and chips
• hormonal imbalances in case of PCOD in women
• menstrual problems in females
• sleep anomalies
• excess use of cosmetic and facial products
• over secretion of the male hormone testosterone.

Signs & symptoms

While whiteheads and blackheads are the most common lesions seen in acne, but symptoms can vary from person to person. Scarring of the skin occurs due to Inflammatory lesions. These include:

• Formation of papules – These are small, red, raised bumps caused by inflamed or infected hair follicles.
• Formation of pustules – These are small red pimples that have pus at their tips.
• Formation of nodules – Nodules are solid, often painful lumps beneath the surface of your skin.
• Formation of cyst – Cysts are large lumps found beneath your skin that contains pus and are usually painful.
• Low self-esteem
• Depression
• Dark spots on the skin leading to permanent scarring.

Ayurveda view

According to Ayurveda, Acne is termed as ‘Yauvan Pidika,’ mentioned in Charaka Samhita which is compared to Salmali(cotton tree) and is believed to be a manifestation of an aggravated Pitta dosha.

Good health is considered to be a perfect state of balance between Vata, Pitta and Kapha doshas. Acne is caused when there is an aggravation of pitta dosha along with rakta dhatu(RBS’S), which acts under the skin and leads to heated toxins, further breaking out as acne.

Due to Vata imbalance pimples or acne caused which is characterized by dry skin. it occurs due to poor digestion and toxins accumulation in the body.

Things to be avoided

• Oily, greasy makeup which in turn clog pores and leads to a skin infection
• Intake of hormonal pills should be avoided
• Picking and squeezing of acne spots. it leads to inflammation and causes permanent scarring
• Wearing tight clothes like hair bands, caps and tight undergarments cause undue accumulation of sebum steroids should be avoided
• Over consumption of sugar and milk products.

Good habits to be practiced

• wash your face twice daily not more. Washing, again and again, cause unnecessary skin irritation and dryness
• prefer antiseptic facial washes
• use a water-based moisturizer to keep the skin hydrated and free from excess oil secretion.

Home remedies

1. Tulsi

Tulsi is considered a holy herb in Ayurveda for acne due to its amazing healing properties. it is one of the best herbs to treat pimples, acne, and blemishes naturally. Take some fresh and clean tulsi leaves, crush them and take out its juice and do gentle massage on face. Let the face absorb the juice of 15-20 minutes and then wash off.

2. Amla

Amla is considered an elixir for skin and helps in the removal of excess sebum, oil, and fights against bacteria causing acne and prevents scarring. take an amla paste and apply it on your face. Rinse it off after 15-20 minutes of application. one can also have amla juice for acne daily for skin treatment. it has an abundant amount of vitamin C as compared to orange juice. It possesses antioxidant properties.

3. Honey

Honey has numerous benefits and acts as a miraculous natural ingredient and is useful in the treatment of acne and pimples. Apply a few drops of raw on the scars or the pimples and wash off after 5-10 minutes. Use it regularly for the best results.

4. Turmeric

Turmeric has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties which are used as Ayurvedic remedy to prevent bacterial breakouts and acne. It is also anti-allergic and removes toxins from the pores of the skin.

5. Neem

Neem for pimples has antibacterial, antiseptic properties. Make neem leaf paste and apply over pimples and let it dry and then wash it off.

6. Herbal Mixture

Make a powder consist of fennel, coriander seeds, turmeric, basil, and amla in equal parts. All of these ingredients packed with antioxidants that help to treat inflammation of the skin. Take half teaspoon of this powder 15 minutes before lunch and dinner, and take hot water.

7. Melon

Take some melon and rub some melon on the skin at bedtime and leave it for a whole night. Its cooling anti-pitta quality will help heal acne.

8. Coriander-cumin fennel herbal tea

Take fennel, cumin, coriander tea to keep the body calm and cool as it removes all toxins from the body. have this tea 3 times a day.

9. water and lemon

Tone up your skin every single night with a herbal tonic made from lemons and distilled water. Squeeze take two lemons, squeeze it and add 2 teaspoons distilled water. Apply this tonic all over your face using a cotton pad and leave it overnight

Treatment

Chandigarh Ayurved Centre had made a wonderful kit that includes 6 products that are very effective in curing acne of its root cause. Name of the products are – Neem soap, Twak detox powder, Twak churna, Aloe vera juice, Aloe vera gel, and Panchatikta ghrita guggulu. The kit for acne is purely herbal and mainly made to pacify the Pitta dosha and can be used by every individual of any age.

1) Neem Soap

Neem herb is widely used to cure acute to chronic skin problems. It is such a wonderful herb that is easily available and contains many medicinal properties. Neem soap is natural and herbal handmade soap prepared from the extract of neem that protects the skin from various infections. It restores the health of damaged skin and acts as a natural moisturizer for the skin.

Method of Application – Use for daily bathing purposes.

2) Twak Tailam:

Twak tailam is used for those who have acne-prone skin, skin discoloration and equally good for all skin types. It includes – Wrightia tinctoria, Coconut oil. This oil has been subjected to less intense refining, lower temperature with no chemicals. It has pacifying or cooling properties which further beneficial for improving the skin’s elasticity. In one single step, the skin is deeply cleansed as well as moisturized. It seeps into the pores and hydrates deeply and the molecules present in the oil ensuring the repair of the collagen layer.

Recommended Dosage: For external application over the affected area.

3) Aloe Vera Gel:

Aloe Vera Gel is formed with the pure extract of herb Aloe Vera and the mixture of rose petals. Thus this wonderful composition provides a cooling effect on the skin that relieves from burning sensation, itchiness, etc. The gel helps in maintaining healthy skin and repairing skin damage.

Recommended Dosage – Gently apply over the affected area of the skin.

4) Panchatikta Ghrita Guggulu:

The tablets are very beneficial in curing skin diseases as it contains the Pitta pacifying ingredients such as Shuddh guggulu (Commiphora mukul), Neem (Azadirachta indica), Amrita (Tinospora cordifolia), Gajapippali (Piper chaba), Shunthi (Zingiber officinalis), etc. The tablet is Tridoshahara, thus is very effective in maintaining the hormonal level in the body.

Recommended Dosage – Take 2 tablets twice daily with normal water.

5) Skin Care tablet:

Skin care tablet is herbo mineral and purely ayurvedic formulation. It contains various herbs like Haridra khand, Panchnimba churna, Panchatikta guggulu, Patol patra, Ajmoda, Khadir chhal, Chirayta, Mulethi, Manjistha, Chopchini, Gandhak, etc. Skin care tablet is a blood purifying. It cools and detoxifies the blood, dissolves obstructions in the blood flow that further increase blood circulation of the skin. It minimises the blemishes, lighten sun tan, delay ageing of skin and heal skin problems. These tablet also act as a skin moistuirizer, Improves blood circulation, Remove blemishes, Reduce itching and burning sensation of skin, Prevent acne and pimples, Relieves leucoderma.

Recommended Dosage – Take 2 tablets twice daily with normal water.

6) Detox Premium Powder:

This is a herbo-mineral preparation that contains ingredients like Parwal Pishti, Giloy satv, Shukta Pishti, Kamdudha Ras, Gandhak Rasayan, etc.

Parwal Pishti: This Pishti reduces inflammation, flaking, itching of the skin. The Pishti is composed of natural coral calcium processed with rose water.

Shukta Pishti: It helps to balance the Pitta dosha in the body. All signs and symptoms related to Psoriasis patients are managed with this article.

Giloy Satv: This satv is prepared from the herb Giloy (Tinospora cordifolia). The anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and analgesic properties of this herb deal with psoriasis easily.

Kamdudha Ras: This herbal-mineral classical preparation balances Pitta dosha in the body.

Gandhak Rasayana: This herbal preparation is used since ancient times for all types of skin disorders.

Tal Sindoor: It contains ingredients like Shuddh parad, Aloe vera, Gandhak, etc that relieve redness in psoriasis patients.

Akik Pishti: This Pishti reduces all types of Pitta related disorder hence it gives good results in psoriasis.

Recommended Dosage: Take 1 sachet twice daily with plain water.

What is the Panchakarma Treatment for Acne?

Chandigarh Ayurved Centre offers the best and easiest ways to cure acne with Mukha Lepam and Fruit mukha lepam. The therapies are done by experienced therapists and are proven in having good results.

Mukha lepam – In this, a medicated paste prepared from the best herbs & applied on the face that keeps your facial skin healthy.

Fruit mukha lepam – In this, fruits paste is applied over your face for maintaining natural glow in the skin.