Acne is a nightmare for many people, especially young ones, as it causes aesthetic issues and discomfort due to swelling and pain. Besides skincare products for acne treatment, a popular home remedy is using garlic. So, is garlic effective for treating acne?
1. Is garlic effective for treating acne?
Besides being a familiar spice in Asian and Vietnamese cuisine, garlic has many other benefits that not everyone knows about, such as preventing cardiovascular diseases, fighting cancer cells, treating colds, reducing risk factors for diabetes, and enhancing digestive function.
Additionally, using garlic to treat acne is a popular application of this spice with quite high effectiveness. So, why is garlic effective for treating acne?
- Some studies have shown that garlic contains many active ingredients such as allicin, diallyl disulfide, and sulfur, which have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory properties, and reduce redness in acne-prone areas. Using garlic to treat acne helps pimples heal quickly, reduces pain, and makes acne disappear.
- Garlic also contains vitamins like B and E, which help restore damaged skin, reduce dark spots, prevent acne scars, and bring about brighter skin.
- Garlic is rich in minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium, which help strengthen the skin's resistance, protecting it from harmful external factors like sunlight, dust, and bacteria in the air.
- Garlic also contains antioxidants, which help prevent acne and improve skin aging. The high antioxidant content helps eliminate free radicals, slowing down the aging process and reducing the severity of cystic acne.
Therefore, using garlic to treat acne is scientifically valid. The next important issue is how to use garlic to increase its effectiveness in treating acne.
2. Effective methods of using garlic to treat acne
2.1. Using fresh garlic
This is a simple method to treat acne with garlic. Prepare one fresh garlic clove, peel it, crush it, and mix it with a little clean water.
- Clean your skin with clean water before applying fresh garlic.
- Use a cotton swab to apply the prepared garlic juice to each pimple.
- If acne appears all over the face, apply it like a mask.
- Keep the fresh garlic juice on your skin for about 15-20 minutes, then rinse with water.
2.2. Using garlic combined with honey
Honey is effective in treating acne due to its components like fatty acids, amino acids, and antioxidants. These substances have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial properties, prevent dark spots, and fight aging. Therefore, using garlic and honey together doubles the effectiveness when anti-acne ingredients are combined.
Steps:
- Prepare ingredients including 2 peeled fresh garlic cloves and 1 tablespoon of honey.
- Crush or blend the garlic and mix it well with honey.
- Clean your face and apply the mixture to the acne-prone skin.
- Finally, rinse your face with clean water.
2.3. Using garlic and turmeric
Turmeric has over 300 different components, with curcumin being the most notable for its strong antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. Therefore, fresh turmeric is commonly used in acne treatment products, reducing dark spots or freckles. Combining fresh garlic and turmeric will bring high effectiveness and noticeable changes to the skin.
Steps:
- Prepare ingredients including 2 fresh garlic cloves, 1 tablespoon of turmeric powder, and a little water.
- Peel the garlic, crush it, and mix it with turmeric powder and water to create a blended mixture.
- Clean your skin and apply the prepared mask mixture.
- Leave the active ingredients on your skin for about 15 minutes, then rinse with clean water.
2.4. Using garlic and aloe vera
Aloe vera is familiar to beauty enthusiasts and is an ingredient in many skincare, acne treatment, and dark spot removal products. Aloe vera is rich in vitamins A, B, C, E, and other acids and minerals like zinc and magnesium.
Therefore, aloe vera has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory properties, restores damaged skin, treats dark spots, and brightens the skin. The combination of aloe vera and garlic is very effective in treating acne and preventing dark spots after acne.
Steps:
- Ingredients: a little garlic and aloe vera.
- Clean, process, and blend the two ingredients.
- Mix them together to create a mixture.
- Clean your skin and apply the garlic and aloe vera mask mixture.
2.5. Using garlic and olive oil
Olive oil, besides being used in cooking, can also be applied to the skin to provide benefits such as removing deep-seated dirt and oil, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties. Additionally, olive oil provides nutrients for the skin, slows down aging, and quickly restores acne-prone skin. Therefore, the combination of olive oil and garlic is an effective acne treatment method that also nourishes healthy skin.
Steps:
- Prepare: 2 tablespoons of crushed garlic and 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
- Mix the two ingredients together.
- Clean your skin with warm water, then apply the mixture to your skin for about 20 minutes, then rinse with clean water.
3. Some notes when using garlic to treat acne
Using garlic to treat acne is relatively safe and gentle. To achieve the best results, besides following the above methods, users should note the following to avoid unwanted effects:
- Do not apply undiluted fresh garlic juice directly to the skin; dilute it with water.
- The duration of applying the garlic mask should only be about 20 minutes; leaving it on too long can cause skin burns due to the high acid content in garlic.
- People with very thin or sensitive skin should consider using garlic to treat acne because the acid in garlic can make the skin more prone to thinning and weakening.
- The frequency of using garlic to treat acne is about 2-3 times a week.
- Combine with sunscreen to protect the skin from environmental factors like sunlight, dust, and bacteria.
- Be patient with garlic acne treatment each week; do not rush as garlic only affects the epidermis layer of the skin, requiring a long time to achieve the best results.
- Avoid spicy, hot foods, fast food, or alcohol.
Additionally, users should supplement with various vegetables, fruits, and foods rich in protein, vitamins E, C, and B to help the skin recover and support acne treatment from within.
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