Are there home treatments for acne? Believe it or not, the answer is yes.

Historically, people have long used herbs to clear up skin inflammations. Before there were laboratories, there were grains. And before there were drugstores, there were herbs that pimply people and the resourceful used as home acne treatments. If you want to try using herbs, start with the three most popular home acne treatments: tea tree oil, witch hazel, and Oregon grape.

witch hazel. This herb works like any antiseptic. It will cleanse your skin and kill the surface bacteria that cause acne. It’s commercially available, so you don’t have to google what it looks like or where to find it.

Oregon Grape. Like witch hazel, Oregon grape is noted for its ability to kill bacteria. You can get it in cream form, so you don’t have to search for Oregon grape yourself or find ways to get the extract.

Tea tree oil. One study compared the effects of 5 percent of this herb and 5 percent benzoyl peroxide, which is the active ingredient that kills acne-causing bacteria. Both were found to significantly reduce pimples. The only difference was that this herb took longer to kick in.

You can dilute the tea tree oil with essential oils such as terpinen-4-ol or water. Or, you can look for gels, creams, cleansers, and lotions that contain tea tree oil. Either way, you can benefit from its antimicrobial properties.

Home acne treatments have varying degrees of effectiveness. However, whichever herb you choose, be sure to test it on a small area of ​​skin first. Herbs can be calming in nature, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be allergic to them. By first ruling out sensitivity, you can ensure you start your herbal journey to clear, healthy skin safely.