There is nothing that annoys a person more than the appearance of Acne. It’s a sign of hormonal changes and bad skin care regimes.

There are some wonderfully effective home remedies that save money as well as save your skin from the onslaught of counter-productive chemicals.

TEA TREE OIL: Dab a couple of drops of tea-tree essential oil on a moist cotton pad and pat onto blemishes to discourage infection and speed healing. Research has found that 5% tea-tree oil is as effective against acne as a 5% benzoyl peroxide solution.

CHASTEBERRY TEA: For acne that flares at that time of the month, drink one to two cups of chasteberry tea a day. Some studies show that this herb helps regulate female hormones. Give the herb two or three months to work. And don’t drink copious amounts of the tea to hasten the results—it may make your skin look worse.

LEMON & VINEGAR TO THE RESCUE: Dab vinegar or lemon juice on pimples. All vinegars contain acids that can help flush out pores—so does lemon juice.

OLD FASHIONED HONEY & TURMERIC: An old folk remedy for healing pimples is to use a mixture of organic honey and organic turmeric on them. Combine 1 teaspoon each, and apply it to the pimple. Leave on for 20 minutes, then wash off. There’s no proof that this helps, but both are known to have antiseptic properties.

ALOE VERA: Apply aloe vera to the affected area. One study found that 90 percent of skin sores were completely healed with aloe vera within five days.

ZINC ALERT: People with acne tend to have lower than normal zinc levels. Zinc supplements produce visible improvement in about a third of people who take them. You’ll need high doses, though—between 200 and 600 milligrams daily—so take it only under your doctor’s supervision.

EPSOM SALT: Boil a mixture of one teaspoon Epsom salt and 3 drops of iodine in half a cup of water. Store and use as a wonderful skin cleansing solution. Appy with cotton pads to clean pores.

Happy soul has a whole range of incredible chemical free products that cater to every kind of skin type and skin issue. Visit our HAPPY FACE section.

Prevention is better than cure: Avoid foods that trigger acne like refined grains, refined sugars, whey protein powders and chocolates.

Over cleansing can cause acne by making your sebaceous glands produce more oil. Forgo granulated cleansers and over cleansing your face to try and clean pores. Avoid washcloths that can be abrasive and can accumulate bacteria.