The American Academy of Dermatology pulled out a statistics according to which acne is the most common skin problem in the US, and it affects about 40-50 million people. Given the fact that acne is a common problem of modern society, it sure does not come a surprise that the Big Pharma uses this to profit.

Their acne treatment is actually a billion dollar industry. Unfortunately, the most popular acne products contain artificial and aggressive chemicals, which makes them unacceptable choice for individuals who are worried about their health. (1)

Well, we have some good news for you. Nature has a perfect solution to your problem. Actually, it comes in two -- aloe vera and coconut oil. These have proved to treat acne without damaging skin or causing side effects.

Aloe Vera

It is a succulent and mucilaginous plant with green, spear-shaped leaves. It is widely used for its ability to soothe, heal and rejuvenate skin. Yes, pretty much all cultures that have contact with this plant recommend its skin-boosting properties, and it is still one of the best natural remedies for eczema, psoriasis, burns and rashes.(2)

The Journal of Dermatological Treatment published a study according to which aloe vera is super effective in treating acne. The study involved 60 individuals with mild to moderate acne problems, and the trial lasted for eight weeks.

Scientists treated participants with a formulation of tretinoin cream and aloe vera topical gel or tretinoin cream and a placebo. The trial showed some pretty amazing results:  The combination TR/AVG was well tolerated and significantly more effective than TR and [the placebo] for the treatment of mild to moderate acne vulgaris.” (3)

If you are dealing with acne, all you have to do is apply aloe vera gel on your affected skin area every day. This daily treatment will reduce swelling, redness and inflammation caused by acne, and also prevent any outbreaks.

Coconut Oil

Same as aloe vera, coconut oil is praised for its skin-boosting properties. It is widely used as an anti-aging cream, natural sunscreen, lip gel, moisturizer and a massage oil. Coconut oil has shown to be effective in treating skin disorders, blisters, pimples, sores, rashes and other problems. (4)

As experts say, there is no skin condition that coconut oil cannot at least relieve, and this applies to acne as well. In 2009, Chinese researchers found that lauric acid, a saturated fatty acid contained in coconut oil, has strong antibacterial activity against acne when compared to palmitic acid or oleic acid.

Moreover, lauric acid packed with liposomes, or vesicles that administer nutrients, has shown to “fuse with the membranes of P. acnes and release the carried [lauric acid] directly into the bacterial membranes, thereby killing the bacteria effectively.” (5)

These results were published in the journal Biomaterials. They prove that when applied topically, coconut oil can help in treating acne. For optimal benefits, use raw coconut oil, preferably cold-pressed and extra virgin oil. This kind of oil will smell of coconut, meaning it has undergone minimal processing.

Source: Natural News

Sources for this article include:
(1) http://www.aad.org/media-resources/stats-and-facts/conditions/acne
(2) http://www.newhealthguide.org/Aloe-Vera-For-Face.html
(3) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23336746
(4) http://wellnessmama.com/5734/101-uses-for-coconut-oil/
(5) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19665786
http://science.naturalnews.com/aloe_vera.html
http://science.naturalnews.com/coconut_oil.html

About the author:
Michael Ravensthorpe is an independent writer whose research interests include nutrition, alternative medicine, and bushcraft. He is the creator of the website,Spiritfoods, through which he promotes the world’s healthiest foods.