Neem for Acne – Guide on How to Use It to Get Benefit

Acne is very stubborn skin disease which occurs due to skin inflammation and clogged pores. When it comes to treating acne through aryurvadic herb, ‘neem’ can do wonders.

Known for its powerful antibacterial property, this leaf has been used to treat different kind of skin issues. Besides it’s leaf other parts of ‘Neem” tree has therapeutic purpose against various skin, hair and even teeth ailments.

Here we will discuss about neem leaf and its effect on acne related problems. Let’s take a look on ayurvedic properties of neem leaf that different concoctions and combinations in your kitchen to treat acne and acne related skin inflammations.

How And Why Neem Treats Acne?

• Neem has strong antioxidant properties, which reduce skin inflammation and infections.
• Neem is also, antifungal and antibacterial and it strengthens our immune system, so it not only reduce acne occurrence, it protects us against chances of infection break-out.
• Neem is a natural astringent, and it contains quercetin. Quercetin fades scars and keeps skin smooth.
• Neem has salicylic acid, high functional anti-bacterial agent.
• This salicylic acid reduces inflammation, swelling, redness and tenderness caused by acne.
• Neem also balances oil production and don’t sebum glands to produce excess sebum.
• Neem is also an excellent moisturizer
• Carotenoids, fatty acids, ascorbic acid and vitamin E in neem helps to heal acne, prevent future occurrence, scarring.
• Neem is an excellent exfoliating herb, which draws toxin from the skin and tightens pores to stop bacterial infections that cause acne.

How to Use Neem to Prevent Acne?

Acne, as we already know can be an incurable disease, if not treated well. Here as we are discussing about neem’s multiple usages to get rid of acne related problems.

It can also be used in combination with other natural ingredients to fight acne. Try these methods below, and find out what works best for you. But they all are equally effective.

1. Neem Paste

• Get some fresh neem leaves and clean them properly.
• Crush those leaves to make a soft paste. You may add water if necessary.
• Clean your face, and use a cotton ball to apply the paste on affected skin.
• Leave the paste on for 30 minutes, then rinse with water and pat dry.
• Repeat daily.

2. Neem Oil

Neem oil should always be diluted with other mild oils, like coconut oil, olive oil to avoid itching or stinging.

• Mix few drops of olive or coconut oil with few drops of neem oil.
• If it’s enough for you, clean your face properly and apply the oil mixture with cotton ball on affected areas.
• Massage gentle on all over the face for at least 2 minutes.
• Leave on until dry, preferably overnight
• Rinse with water
• Repeat regularly.

3. Neem with Multani Mitti (fuller’s earth)

• Mince 1 tablespoon of neem leaves.
• Mix it with 1 tablespoon of multani mitti
• Add enough rose water to make a smooth paste.
• Apply on acne and acne spots.
• Leave on 15 minutes, and then rinse with lukewarm water.
• Repeat daily.

4. Neem with Yogurt

• Take neem powder and mix 1 tablespoon of neem leaf powder with 1 table spoon of gram flour
• Add enough yogurts to make a fine paste.
• Clean your face properly
• Apply the paste all over your face, neck and other affected areas.
• Let the paste dry, and then rinse with lukewarm water.
• Repeat daily for best result.

5. Neem with Turmeric

• Take some fresh neem leaves, and wash them properly.
• Mince those leave and mix it with equal parts of turmeric powder
• Add enough water to make a paste
• Use cotton ball to apply the paste.
• Leave until it gets dry
• Wash your face with lukewarm water or mild cleanser
• Repeat daily for best result.

6. Neem with Sandalwood

• Mix equal part of neem powder and sandalwood powder
• Mix the mixture with enough water to make a paste.
• Apply the paste mainly on affected portions of your face.
• Leave until dry
• Rinse with lukewarm water, and repeat dry for best result.

7. Neem Water

• Boil 2 cups of water and stir in fresh neem leaves.
• Reduce heat and let it cool
• Strain and discard leaves
• Pour the neem water in to a spray bottle
• Sprits with neem water on your clean face
• Repeat twice daily.

8. Neem with Calamine Powder

• Mix neem leave paste or extract with required amount of calamine powder to make a soft paste. You may add water to make the paste smoother.
• Apply the paste evenly on your properly cleaned face
• Leave until dry, then rinse with water
• Calamine powder is a good substitute of sandalwood powder
• Repeat once daily.

9. Neem, Turmeric and Coconut Oil

• Make a soft paste by mixing water and organic turmeric powder
• Make neem leaf paste by boiling the leaves and then crushing
• Mix required amount of turmeric and neem paste together
• Apply it on affected area and other parts of your face, evenly
• Leave until dry, rinse with water
• After this treatment follow it up with a mixture of neem oil and coconut oil.
• Mix required amount of neem oil with coconut oil, apply it on your face.
• Leave on overnight
• Repeat nightly.

10. Neem, Turmeric, Yogurt, Lemon and Honey

So we see when all goods come together it’s for the best result. Honey, lemon and neem are equally effective on acne and on the other hand, yogurt soothes irritated skin, and turmeric has antiseptic property and it also helps to give you a glowing skin.

• Take required amount of neem powder and mix it with turmeric powder
• Mix this powder combination with 1-2 tablespoon yogurt, 1 tablespoon honey and 1 teaspoon lemon juice to make a combined paste.
• Apply the paste evenly on your face and neck.
• Leave for 20-25 minutes and rinse with cool water
• Repeat regularly.

11. Neem with Cucumber

• Take a clean and fresh cucumber, peel and chop it into small pieces
• Put those in blender and make a smooth paste
• Mix the blended cucumber with enough neem oil or paste
• Gentle apply the paste on your face and let it dry.
• Rinse with water
• Repeat 3 times weekly.

12. Neem Bath

• Stir a handful of fresh neem leaves and few drops of neem oil with lukewarm water to take a bath
• Get in and soak 15-20 minutes
• Repeat three times weekly.

13. Neem, Eucalyptus, Rosemary, and French Clay

• Mix neem oil, eucalyptus oil, rosemary oil and French clay.
• Apply even on your face and neck
• Rinse with lukewarm water.
• Repeat 2 times weekly.

14. Neem, Apple Cider Vinegar and Grape Seed Oil

• Mix 1 part of neem oil with 1 part of grape-seed oil.
• Mix it with 2 parts of organic apple cider vinegar
• Pour mixture in a small spray bottle.
• Sprits on affected parts.
• Rinse with water and repeat regularly

15. Neem, Lemon Juice and Rose Water

• Mix neem powder with rosewater and lemon juice to make a smooth paste.
• Apple it on your face and neck
• Leave until dry, rinse with water
• Repeat 3 times weekly.

16. Neem, Turmeric and Milk

Milk cleanses and hydrates skin.

• Take required amount of neem- turmeric powder
• Stir in enough milk to create a paste
• Apply on your face and neck
• Leave n till dry, rinse with lukewarm water
• Repeat regularly to clear acne.

How To Care Acne Affected Skin?

No matter how severe your acne problem is, if you adopt a healthy skin care regime, you can totally beat it. This healthy skin care regime had three subsequent steps:

• Cleanses
• Treat
• Protect

Cleanses

A proper cleansing treatment will remove dead skin cells and excess oil. By cleansing your face with mild neem cleanser or soap will clean the pores and don’t let them to get clogged.

For this you can use, Neem cleanser or Mild Neem Face wash or Soap.

Treat

The next step in our daily skin care regime is to treat those acne and their spots. We already have discussed about the treating part. With all those recipes that we have already discussed, your acne will disappear soon.

But in case you are using some over the counter medication for fast results check these following points to make sure it’s the right product for you.

• Always buy prescribed medication. Without consulting a dermatologist. Never buy anything and everything that you see on those counter shelves.
• Buy prescribed medication (lotion or cream) which contains antibiotics, benzoyl peroxide or retinoid.
• If you are already using some prescribed medication, stick to it for the prescribed period before you start trying something else.
• After using a particular product for 6-8 weeks and you don’t see any difference at all. It might be due to resistant strains of bacteria. These bacteria are resistant to that particular antibiotic. Try some different anti-biotic or it’s always safe to try neem. So far no bacteria have developed a resistance to neem.
• If you don’t want to use anti-biotic or any harsh anti-inflammatory substances on your skin, try neem. You can always make some home remedies with neem or can buy OTC neem cleansers or soaps to treat acne.
• Another good option to treat and nurture at the same time is to use neem based moisturizer.

Protect

After we are done with treating acne, it’s time to protect our skin for future break-outs. In order to do so, follow these short tips.

• Do not use oil based make up moisturizers or sunscreen.
• If you are using a sunscreen (which is a must, in case you are going out in sun) use oil-free skin care products.
• You may avoid too much make up altogether. Sometimes moisturizer is also unnecessary as acne prone skin is oily anyways.
• To get rid of excess oil secretion use moisturizer based cleanser.
• If you are using moisturizer, go for neem based one.
• Avoid heavy cream or make up. Use light neem lotion or cream on your face
• Avoid junk or oily food. Eat healthy and try to consume green vegetables fruit juices.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Consume lot of proteins, avoid added sugar and carbohydrate.

Who Should Not Take Neem Treatment?

Neem is a model herb, not only for treating acne, but also for various other skin ailments and for other diseases. But before you start using it, there are some facts that you need to know about it.

• Don’t use it, if allergic to neem or any neem related product. Although it’s very rare, but you never know what can have an adverse effect on your health. So it’s better safe than sorry. Perform a skin test, right before you start using any neem product. If irritation or allergy appears discontinue.
• People who are trying to conceive shouldn’t use neem or neem products. (both gender)
• Pregnant women shouldn’t use neem or neem products.
• Before using neem or neem product on children always consult doctor.

Some Additional ‘Take Home’ Tips:

For desired results, follow these short tips to treat acne.

• If you can’t find fresh and clean neem leaves, use organic neem powder.
• Always wash your face preferably with a neem based mild cleanser before applying any neem-treatment.
• Any neem product must be kept away from children as it can cause Reye’s syndrome in them.
• Always do skin test before start applying any neem product.
• If any treatment or over the counter skin product doesn’t show any sign of making any difference consult your doctor, and then switch product.

Your First Hand Experience With Neem For Acne:

Have you used neem or neem products to treat acne? We would love to hear about your experience .Share your good or bad experience with us in the comment section below. If you have any question related to neem or acne, feel free to ask us in the comment section.

What this is a good idea to use mild neem soap or cleanser?
Cleansing our face is the most basic but crucial step of our skin care routine. But we tend to overlook it. Neem products recommended for acne can be a good addition to your skin care routine, if you are suffering from acute acne issue.

Medicated Soaps And Cleanser Recommended For Acne:

• Medicated cleansers for acne usually contain Salicylic acid or other antibacterial agents.
• Neem cleanser and soaps contain aspirin like substances which is also a strong anti-bacterial agent.

What To Consider Before Choosing Neem Soaps Or Cleansers?

• An ideal cleanser or soap would be mild.
• It shouldn’t contain harsh on skin ingredients or alcohol.
• No scrubbing ingredients, as scrubbing can irritate the affected skin further
• Soaps or cleanser can strip the skin of natural oils, which will lead to dry skin. So always choose a mild soap or cleanser with moisturizer in it.