I have been interested in natural cures for 30 years and feel that no pharmacy can improve on what Mother Earth has provided. I have cured a number of health problems myself with natural remedies and feel that any disease we have can be cured with what is available from nature.

To give an example of one problem I had that I cured naturally – I had a rash on my legs for over 10 years. It itched terribly and I would even wake up in the middle of the night scratching until my legs were raw. I went to doctor after doctor and nobody knew what the problem was. Then, I woke up one morning and realized the rash was completely GONE. After going through in my mind what could have caused this miraculous cure, I realized it was GARLIC. I later found out that what I had was a fungus and garlic is an antibiotic.

And this is only one of many natural remedies I’ve used over the years and is the reason I’m so passionate about using what nature has provided us.

Over-the-counter medications are expensive and they ALWAYS have side effects. Two of the most popular OTC methods used to treat acne are benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid.

Benzoyl peroxide destroys acne causing bacteria and salicylic acid causes the top layers of dead skin cells to slough off. New skin cells are then formed, thereby reducing the likelihood of the pores being blocked. This, consequently, lessens the chance for another acne breakout.

Benzoyl peroxide can cause redness, dryness and skin irritation. It also causes free radicals to form, therefore sun exposure should be avoided and sunscreen should be used. Salicylic acid can also cause dryness and skin irritation.

What are some alternatives to these two medications?

To destroy acne causing bacteria, why not try apple cider vinegar? It is absolutely one of nature’s best overall products. Simply dilute one part vinegar to three parts water and apply it to your skin with a cotton ball. After ten minutes, rinse it off. This should be done three times a day, and with severe acne it can be left on overnight. Not only does the vinegar help to remove excess oil, it helps destroy the bacteria as well as helping to maintain your skin’s pH. Many people have reported seeing very quick results using apple cider vinegar – some within just a few days!

And if you want to remove the top layers of dead skin cells, why not try an exfoliating agent? Oatmeal makes an excellent exfoliate. Put it in a blender and pulverize it, then add enough water to make a thick paste. Just by rubbing the paste around your face it will remove dead cells. You can also leave the paste on your face for 10-15 minutes before rinsing it off. The oatmeal helps to draw out excess oil and impurities from your skin.

Garlic can also be used on your face. You can rub fresh garlic on your acne or puree the garlic and rub it on your face. Do this daily and you will see an improvement of your skin. Another variation is to puree 3 or 4 cloves of garlic and soak them in milk for half an hour (this helps remove the smell), then rub the mixture on your acne. As I said previously, garlic is an antibiotic and some people have reported great results using garlic.

So before you try those expensive, over-the-counter products, you may want to look at some acne natural remedies to try and clear your acne. While there is no one treatment that will work for everyone, there is bound to be one or two that will help to improve the condition of your skin without the drastic side effects of those over-the-counter medications.