Homeopathic Acne Treatment

What is Acne?

 Acne is a general term for pimples and deeper pustules that are clogged pores. If severe enough acne can leave permanent scars.

Acne is an inflammatory skin disorder of the skin's sebaceous glands and hair follicles that affects about 80% of people between the ages of 12 and 24. During puberty high levels of hormones are produced in both girls and boys. This leads to the production of large quantities of sebum. Sebum is an irritant that can clog the pores and form a pimple which may become infected and form a pustule. Hormones don't go away after adolescence. Many women still get premenstrual acne from of the release of progesterone after ovulation.

Acne is a disease that affects the skin's oil glands. The small holes in your skin (pores) connect to the oil glands under the skin. These glands make an oily substance called sebum. The pores connect to the glands by a canal called a follicle. Inside the follicles, oil carries dead skin cells to the surface of the skin. A thin hair also grows through the follicle and out to the skin. When the follicle of a skin gland clogs up, a pimple grows. Most pimples are found on the face, neck, back, chest, and shoulders. Acne is not a serious health threat but it can cause scars.

 Homeopathic Treatment of Acne

Homeopathy treats the person as a whole. It means that homeopathic treatment focuses on the patient as a person, as well as his pathological condition. The homeopathic medicines are selected after a full individualizing examination and case-analysis, which includes the medical history of the patient, physical and mental constitution etc. A miasmatic tendency (predisposition/susceptibility) is also often taken into account for the treatment of chronic conditions. The medicines given below indicate the therapeutic affinity but this is not a complete and definite guide to the homeopathic treatment of acne. The symptoms listed against each medicine may not be directly related to this disease because in homeopathy general symptoms and constitutional indications are also taken into account for selecting a remedy. To study any of the following remedies in more detail, please visit our Materia Medica section. None of these medicines should be taken without professional advice.

Reportorial rubric:

[Kent] skin, Eruptions, Pimples
[Murphy] skin, Acne
[Boericke] skin, Face, Eruption on face, Acne rosacea/Acne simplex
[Boennighausen’s] Face, Acne

Homeopathic Remedies for Acne

Sulphur, Sanguinaria, Kali bromatum,  Antimonium crudum, Asterias Rubens, Belladonna, Hepar Sulphur, Calcarea Silicata, Nux vomica,  Arsenicum iodatum, Causticum, Chelidonium majus, Graphites, Psorinum, Sabina, Calcarea phosphoricum, Thuja occidentalis, Ledum palustre, Nitricum acidum, Bovista, Tuberculinum.

Materia medica

Sulphur

Is perhaps the remedy most often indicated in this affection, especially if chronic. The skin is rough and hard and the acne is associated with comedones and constipation; great aggravation from water is the characteristic leading to Sulphur in skin affections. Face is Pale, sickly color. Heat and spotted redness of face. Black pores. Itching intensely in evening and from warmth. The acne punctata is the variety corresponding most nearly to Sulphur. Simple forms yield to Belladonna or Pulsatilla. Acne rosacea yields to Arsenicum iodatum or Sulphur iodide.

Sanguinaria

It is another useful remedy in acne, especially in women with scanty menses and irregular circulation of blood. Other remedies for acne dependent on sexual disturbances of women are Calcarea carbonica and Aurum muriaticum natronatrum.

Kali bromatum

Acne on the face, neck and shoulders. We frequently find acne in Epileptics who have been maltreated by bromides. This remedy is especially adapted to the acne simplex and the acne indurata, especially in hyperaesthetic, nervous females. Face flushed. Acne of face, pustules. General failure of mental power, loss of memory, melancholia, anesthesia of the mucous membranes. Suicidal mania with tremulousness. Itching of skin worse on chest, shoulders, and face. Anesthesia of skin. This remedy may be given if Asterias Rubens fails. Dr. J.H.Clarke says, "I know of no remedy of such universal usefulness in cases of simple acne as Kali bromatum 30," and the late Dr.A.M. Cushing recommended Arsenicum bromatum 4x as very efficacious.Thuja is one of our best remedies for acne facialis. Calcarea picrata is also a useful remedy for acne; clinically it has been found one of the good remedies. Calcarea sulphurica is indicated where the pimples suppurate.

Antimonium crudum

Small red pimples on face, acne in drunkards with gastric derangements, thirst and white-coated tongue. Face with sad expression Fat, fretful, cross and peevish; cries if looked at, touched or washed. Ecstatic, dreamy, sentimental. Pustules.

Antimonium tartaricum.

Obstinate cases, with tendency to pustulation, are curable with this remedy.

Berberis aquifolium

It is useful where the skin is rough and the acne persistent.

Natrum muriaticum

It acts especially on the sebaceous glands, and is a very helpful remedy in acne. In this affection attention must be directed especially to the patient's type, temperament and tendencies and the general symptoms are far mores important than the local ones.

Asterias Rubens

Pimples on the face at the age of puberty. A remedy for the sycotic diathesis; flabby, lymphatic constitution, flabby with red face. Nervous disturbances. Pimples on side of nose chin and mouth.

Belladonna

Acne rosacea. Alternate redness and paleness of the skin. Skin dry, hot and swollen, pustules on face. Face is red, bluish-red, hot, swollen, and shining. Patient is restless and talks fast. Acuteness of all senses.

Hepar Sulphur

Papules prone to suppurate and extend. Acne in youth. Suppurate with prickly pain. Easily bleed. Unhealthy skin; every little injury suppurates. Cannot bear to be uncovered; wants to be wrapped up warmly. Sticking or pricking in afflicted parts. Great sensitiveness to slightest touch. Constant offensive exhalation from the body Face, Yellowish complexion. Suits especially scrofulous and lymphatic constitutions that are inclined to have eruptions and glandular swellings. Unhealthy skin. Great sensitiveness to all impressions. The lesions spread by the formation of small papules around the side of the old lesion. Chilliness, hypersensitiveness, splinter-like pains, craving for sour and strong things are very characteristic.

Calcarea Silicata

Pimples, comedones. A deep, long acting medicine for complaints which come on slowly and reach their final development after long periods. Hydrogenoid constitution. Skin Itching, burning, cold and blue, very sensitive. very sensitive to cold. Patient is weak, emaciated, cold and chilly, but worse from being overheated; sensitive generally.

Nux vomica

Acne; skin red and blotchy. Body burning hot, especially face; yet cannot move or uncover without feeling chilly. The typical Nux patient is rather thin, spare, quick, active, nervous, and irritable. Nux patients are easily chilled, avoid open air. Very irritable: sensitive to all impressions. Ugly, malicious. Does not want to be touched. Face Pale, yellowish, earthy or livid countenance. Yellow about nose, mouth or eyes. Red, swollen.

Arsenicum Iodatum

Acne hard, shotty, indurated base with pustule at apex. It will be indicated by a profound prostration, rapid, irritable pulse and severe cases of acne vulgaris. Great emaciation. Skin is Dry, scaly, itching. Debilitating night-sweats.

Causticum

Acne rosacea. Acne in groups, aggravated by heat. Acne especially on nose Adapted to persons with dark hair and rigid fibre; weakly, psoric, with excessively yellow, sallow complexion; Ailments from suppressed eruptions. Burning pimple with itching.

Chelidonium Majus

Painful red pimples and pustules; especially on nose and cheeks. Wilted skin. Dry heat of skin with itching. Painful red pimples and pustules. Face red, without heat. Itching over entire face and forehead. Depression and sadness, even to weeping. Restlessness and solicitude concerning the present and future.

Graphites

Pimples and acne; itching. Skin is Rough, hard, persistent dryness of portions of skin. Unhealthy skin; every little injury suppurates. Patients who are rather stout, of fair complexion, with tendency to skin affections and constipation, fat, chilly, and costive, with delayed menstrual history, take cold easily. Has a particular tendency to develop the skin phase of internal disorders. Anemia with redness of face. Tendency to obesity. Timid. Unable to decide.

Psorinum

Acne rosacea. Greasy face. Pale, sickly look. Skin is yellow, dirty, and greasy. Roughness of knuckles. Pimples with black points in center. Small numerous pustules, itching unhealthy. Itching, after scratching vesicles arise, when touched. Acne worse during menses, from fats, sugar, coffee, meat.

Sabina

Hypochondriacal dejection. Low spirited and joyless, with a feeling of general exhaustion. Acne. Face is pale, with lusterless eyes encircled by blue ring. Black pores on nose and face.

Calcarea phosphoricum

Acne in anaemic girls at puberty, with vertex headache and flatulent dyspepsia, relieved by eating. Skin is dark - brown, yellowish. Red, with prickling like nettles after a bath.

Thuja occidentalis

Pimples on face. Face glowing redness of whole face, with a fine network of blood vessels, as if it were marbled. oily skin. Burning heat and redness of. Flushes of heat in. Sweat on, especially on side on which he does not lie. Pimples on upper lip and chin. Lips, etc. All eruptions burn violently after cold washing. Corrosive itching. Better scratching, but then followed by burning. Painful sensitiveness of affected part. The skin symptoms better by touch.

Ledum palustre

Angry mood. Love for solitude. Great seriousness. Face, Alternatively pale and red. Dry pimples like millet seed on forehead. Red nodules Boils on forehead. Skin Dry, want of natural perspiration.

Nitricum acidum

Anxious about his complaints, with fear of death. Sadness and despondency. Face yellow. Sunken eyes encircled by yellow. Dark yellow, almost brownish complexion. Pimples on forehead and temples. Skin with Black pores.

Bovista

Acne from the use of cosmetics; especially during summer. Pale swelling of cheeks. Skin itching, especially when getting warm, better not scratching. Sadness, with restlessness. Easily offended: takes everything in bad part.

Tuberculinum

Acne simplex in the tubercular children. Rapid breakdown . Takes cold easily; ends in diarrhœa. Fits of violent temper. Craves cold milk, or sweets. Drum belly. Skin dry, harsh, sensitive, easily tanned; itching in cool air. Chilly; yet wants fresh air. Flushes of heat.

Skin care to prevent acne

§ Clean skin gently- Gently wash your face with a mild cleanser [according to the type of your skin], once in the morning and once in the evening, as well as after heavy exercise. It is also important to shampoo your hair regularly. If you have oily hair, you may want to wash it every day. Wash your face with plain water frequently.

§ Avoid frequent handling of the skin. Avoid rubbing and touching skin lesions. Squeezing, pinching or picking blemishes can lead to the development of scars or dark blotches.

§ Shave carefully- Shave gently and only when necessary to reduce the risk of nicking blemishes.

§ Choose cosmetics carefully.

§ Self-care measures and over-the-counter medicine have not helped after several months; Your acne is severe or getting worse; then contact your dermatologist.

§ Products such as facial scrubs, astringents and masks generally aren't recommended because they tend to irritate skin, which can aggravate acne. Excessive washing and scrubbing also can irritate skin. If you tend to develop acne around your hairline, shampoo your hair frequently.

§ Try over-the-counter acne lotion to dry excess oil and promote peeling. Look for products containing benzoyl peroxide, resorcinol or salicylic acid as the active ingredient.

§ Avoid irritants. You may want to avoid oily or greasy cosmetics, sunscreens, hair-styling products or acne concealers. Use products labeled "water-based" or "noncomedogenic."

§ Protect yourself from sun. For some people, the sun worsens acne.