Acne is a common skin disease that affects an estimated 85% of people at some point in their lives.
Symptoms include pesky pimples that can be frustrating and difficult to get rid of.
While conventional treatments can get rid of pimples, they’re often associated with adverse effects, such as skin irritation and dryness.
As such, a lot of people have turned to natural alternatives to get rid of pimples fast. However, while there are a lot of natural acne remedies out there, only a handful are scientifically proven to help.
Here are 4 natural ways to get rid of pimples fast, although they may have limited research supporting their effectiveness for this purpose.
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.
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.
The tea tree oil treatment also resulted in fewer adverse effects, including 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 a carrier oil.
According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, only a small amount of research has been conducted on the topical use of tea tree oil for health conditions, and a limited amount of research indicates that tea tree oil might be helpful for acne.
If you choose to try please it, use it safely, and always perform a test patch on your skin, as tea tree oil can be very irritating and should never be applied undiluted to the skin.
You can purchase both tea tree oil online.
You can purchase carrier oils online.
How to use tea tree oil for acne
Combine 1 drop of tea tree oil with 1 teaspoon carrier oil.
Dip a cotton swab into the mixture and apply it directly to pimples.
Apply moisturizer, if desired.
Repeat this process 1–2 times per day, as needed.
SUMMARY
Tea tree oil fights inflammation and acne-causing bacteria. Applying it to the skin has shown that it may reduce pimples in some instances.
2. Spot treat with other essential oils
In addition to tea tree oil, many other essential oils with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties can help clear up pimples quickly.
A large scientific review found that essential oils of cinnamon, rose, lavender, and clove fight the acne-causing bacteria S. epidermidis and P. acnes (7Trusted Source).
Rosemary and lemongrass were also shown to inhibit P. acnes (8Trusted 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 (9Trusted 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 (10Trusted Source).
Like tea tree oil, these essential oils are very concentrated and can cause irritation if applied directly to the skin. Be sure to dilute all essential oils with a carrier oil, perform a test patch before regular use, and discontinue use should irritation develop.
A wide variety of essential oils are available online, including clove oil.
How to use essential oils for acne
Combine 10 drops of essential oil with 1 ounce (30 mL) of carrier oil.
Dip a cotton swab into the mixture and apply it directly to pimples.
Apply moisturizer, if desired.
Repeat this process 1–2 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 the bacteria that may cause pimples (11, 12).
It’s 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 (13Trusted 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 (14Trusted Source, 15Trusted Source, 16Trusted Source).
There are a handful of skincare products on the market that contain green tea, but it’s 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
Steep green tea in boiling water for 3–4 minutes.
Allow the tea to cool.
Apply it to your face with a cotton ball or spritz it on using a spray bottle.
Leave it on for 10 minutes or overnight, and then rinse your face with water.
Apply 1–2 times per day, as needed. It can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
SUMMARY
Green 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 (17Trusted Source, 18Trusted Source, 19Trusted 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 (19Trusted Source, 20).
In one study, varying concentrations of aloe vera gel were added to a clove-basil oil and evaluated for anti-acne properties. The higher the concentration of aloe vera in the lotion, the more effective it was at reducing pimples (21).
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 (22Trusted 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 aloe vera gel may help clear up pimples on its own, it may be more effective when combined with other remedies or medications.
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How to use aloe vera gel for acne
Scrape the gel out of the aloe leaves with a spoon.
Apply the gel to your skin when you apply 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, adding the aloe gel over it.
Repeat 1–2 times per day, or as desired.
You can also purchase bottled aloe vera gel online, but make sure it’s pure aloe and does not contain added ingredients.
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