The Truth About Natural Acne Remedies

If you have acne, you've probably heard about one natural acne remedy or another that your friend, mom, or maybe even a Web site claims will clear up your skin. You may be tempted to try one of these remedies if you're not satisfied with conventional acne treatments, you like the idea of a natural, "non-toxic" acne treatments, or you're desperate for anything that will cure your severe acne.
But the truth of the matter is most natural acne remedies haven't proven to be effective, and some can even make acne worse.
Unproven Natural Acne Remedies
Among the home remedies that you may have heard about or used are:

• Colloidal oatmeal. "Colloidal oatmeal has long been touted as a mild anti-inflammatory agent," says Richard Antaya, MD, medical director of Yale Dermatology Associates at the Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Conn. But Antaya says that oatmeal probably doesn't have a very significant effect as a natural acne remedy.
• Nettle. While some claim that using the extract of the stinging nettle plant can help clear up acne, there are no studies to confirm this.
• Mint. The essential oils of the mint leaf are thought to help alleviate swelling and have an anti-inflammatory effect on skin conditions such as acne, but there are no published studies that support this.
• Lemon juice. The essential oils in lemon have been shown to have an antibacterial effect, which may be why some people believe lemon juice can help treat acne. But there have been no studies demonstrating that lemon juice can clears up your skin; in fact, some studies have shown that lemon-peel oil can cause irritation to the skin.
• Aloe vera. In some cultures, aloe is thought to be a cure-all, according to Dr. Antaya. However, one study found that aloe vera gel had a minimal effect on acne, compared to a placebo gel.
• Vinegar. Some people believe the antibacterial effect of the acid in vinegar makes it an effective natural acne remedy, but there are no studies to back this up.

Natural Acne Remedies That May Work
Tea. In a small, two-month study involving 60 patients, 64 percent of those who used a 2-percent topical tea lotion showed good improvement in their acne, and 24 percent showed moderate improvement.
Silicic acid gel. In a small study in the United Kingdom lasting eight weeks, those who used a silicic acid gel on mild to moderate acne found improvement, though not on acne lesions that showed inflammation.
Brewer's yeast. A German study from 20 years ago found that people whose acne was treated with a preparation of brewer's yeast experienced significantly better results than people who were treated with a placebo. But more studies are needed to confirm this finding.
An Acne Diet That Could Help
The one natural acne remedy that Antaya stands behind is a special diet.
While removing chocolate from your diet won't clear up your acne, Antaya says there is some evidence that cutting some sugar out of your diet could help your skin. "Low carbohydrate diets [diets that are low on the glycemic index] actually may be beneficial to acne," Antaya says.
"I do recommend a low carbohydrate diet to my patients who are really having a hard time with their acne and getting nowhere," says Antaya, who suggests cutting back on potato chips, starches, sodas, and simple sugars to keep your blood sugar levels in check and help control your acne.
Is a Natural Acne Remedy for You?
There is no substantial data to support most of these so-called remedies, says Antaya, and many gain their reputations not because they are actually effective, but because people try them and their acne coincidentally goes away.
What's more, says Antaya, you may have an allergic reaction to a natural acne remedy or it may irritate your skin and make your acne worse. If you have acne and are set on using a natural acne remedy, you should speak with your doctor first.