Tired of the regular zits that keep popping up ever so often? Wondered if there’s a natural solution that doesn’t involve harsh chemicals or complicated regimens? For me, the answers came in the form of Ayurveda treatment for acne.
Ayurveda is a holistic system of healing that originated in India over 3,000 years ago. This system believes in treating a problem at its core rather than covering it with temporary quick fixes.
This means the results stick around for a long time, sans both harsh chemicals or wallet-busting skincare rituals. And it’s all rooted in some very comprehensive science, which is recognized by all the top medical institutions, including John Hopkins and Mount Sinai.
Recipes that came to me from my great-grandmother’s books. Yes, she was an Ayurvedic doctor. And yes, as I said, each of these skincare recipes also has a strong scientific underpinning (because you know I need that!).
So, time to give some simple Ayurvedic home remedies a try for clearer, smoother skin?
Ayurveda treatment for acne #1: Honey, I shrunk the pimples
Add enough honey (Manuka versions are most potent) to a tablespoon of cinnamon powder to make a paste. Apply a thin layer of this paste to your pimples before bed at night. Wash off with warm water in the morning; repeat for a fortnight.
Why does this work? Honey is antibacterial and anti-fungal, thus speeding up the healing process of acne. It also helps detox the skin by literally mopping up impurities from within your pores. Plus, it’s loaded with antioxidants and moisturizers to repair damage and prevent scarring.
Cinnamon, in the meantime, is anti-fungal, anti-viral and anti-microbial. It’s also chockfull of powerful antioxidants that help prevent the premature destruction of healthy skin cells.
Ayurvedic and acne #2: The deep cleanse
Grind 10-15 neem leaves (or buy the powdered version) and mix with a pinch of turmeric powder. Add enough raw milk or warm water to make a paste and apply this on your pimples; wash off after 20-30 minutes. Repeat as required.
We already know all about the anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, antibacterial, antioxidant, and detoxifying benefits of turmeric. Add in neem leaves, which contain quercetin — the power ingredient that reduces inflammation and redness while cooling the skin, and you have a potent recipe against acne.
Also, neem contains hefty doses of salicylic acid, which has a strong antibacterial effect against skin infections. So, you can imagine why Ayurveda loves it for tackling breakouts.
Ayurvedic treatment for acne #3: Try nutmeg
Take 2-3 pieces of nutmeg (jaiphal in Ayurvedic lingo) and grind into a paste with some raw milk. Apply this paste on the acne spots; wash it off after about two hours. Repeat as required.
Given nutmeg’s potent anti-inflammatory qualities, this paste is perfect for those under-the-skin pimples that hurt like crazy and refuse to subside!
Ayurveda treatment for acne #4: Make it minty
Soak a handful of mint leaves for 4-5 hours and grind them into a paste. Apply this paste on your face for half an hour before washing off with plain water.
Why does this Ayurveda treatment for acne work? Mint has a cooling, astringent, and detoxing effect, which helps your skin counter stubborn acne and steer clear of scars.
Ayurveda and acne #5: Fine with fenugreek
Grind a handful of fenugreek (methi) leaves into a paste. If you can’t find the leaves, two tablespoons of fenugreek seeds, soaked for 4-5 hours and ground into a paste, will have the same effect. Apply this paste on your acne every night, washing off after 15 minutes.
While some may find fenugreek stinky (I do!), there’s no denying it’s an excellent skin healer. Not only is it antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, but fenugreek also flushes out toxins accumulated underneath the epidermis and tones the outer layers of the skin.
Plus, fenugreek helps combat free radicals, repairs damaged skin cells, and boosts the regeneration of new ones, thus reducing cystic acne and preventing scars.
Ayurvedic treatment for acne #6: Heal your digestion
In Ayurveda, what you put into your body is just as important as what you put on it. And every single practitioner I’ve spoken to strongly recommends this simple detox tea to deep cleanse your insides while strengthening your digestion — both of which are vital for healing chronic acne. In fact, drink it regularly for three months, and you’ll reap the rewards of much more than just beautiful skin!
Making this Ayurvedic treatment for acne is simple: Boil 5 cups of water in a covered saucepan and add a half-teaspoon each of whole cumin seeds, coriander seeds, and fennel seeds to the liquid.
Let the seeds steep for at least 10 minutes in the boiling water with the lid on. Finally, strain out the seeds and bottle the liquid. Sip small quantities of this liquid throughout the day and watch your skin begin to glow.
For best results, make a fresh batch of tea every morning.
Have you ever tried an Ayurveda treatment for acne? How was your experience?
Anubha Charan is a powerhouse in the luxury beauty industry, with over 15 years of expertise shaping the global beauty narrative. As the former Beauty Director at Marie Claire, she worked with the magazine's French headquarters to craft cutting-edge beauty content for international audiences.
Anubha's bylines have appeared in some of the world’s most prestigious publications, including Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Travel + Leisure, WebMD, and Architectural Digest. She is also the co-author of Paris Bath & Beauty, a Simon & Schuster book on French beauty rituals.
Tera says
Hi, I found remedy #6 is so cool. Does it work if i drink it cold?
What if I prepare it the night before and leave it refrigerated to drink the next day?
Divya singh says
Hi tera
Well you can soak all this spices overnight in a glass bowl and next day you can boil,strain and drink immediately
Nadia says
Hi I’ve started using raw honey and cinnamon for my acne the last week and I feel like my acne is getting worse. Could it possibly be that my skin is flushing out the toxins or am I doing something wrong?