Can Lavender Oil Banish Your Acne?

Acne can be a very distressing condition for anyone who suffers from it and can not only be painful but can also lead to low self-esteem. Many sufferers can feel somewhat bombarded by the range of treatments available, ranging from cosmetic treatments, over the counter remedies to prescription therapies. And finding the correct one for you can not only be confusing but trawling through the dizzying range to find the right one can also be extremely costly.

However, many people find that looking to nature can produce an effective treatment for acne without some undesirable side effects of chemically produced remedies. And one of the best natural treatments for acne is a lavender essential oil.

Acne is caused when the hair follicles in the skin become blocked. In cases of acne, sebaceous glands next to the follicle produce too much sebum (the oil that is normally produced to stop the skin from drying out and to lubricate the hair follicle) which then mixes with dead skin cells to form a plug which then acts to block the follicle. It is this plug that causes spots, along with the action of the normally harmless P. Acnes bacterium, which lives on the skin. When there is an overproduction of sebum, this bacterium is caused to become more aggressive, resulting in inflammation and pus.

A lavender essential oil can be very useful in treating acne as it has a number of beneficial effects. Firstly, lavender oil has excellent antibacterial properties and so can help to clear the infection of some spots and also to avoid other becoming infected. Secondly, lavender has soothing and healing properties which can help to reduce the redness, pain and swelling of acne. And thirdly, lavender oil is effective at healing scars, which can sometimes be left behind after cases of acne.

Can Lavender Oil Banish Your Acne?

It is estimated that acne affects between 70% and 90% of all teenagers and young adults, but there has also recently been a rise in the levels of adult acne. Acne can be painful, unsightly, and can also seriously influence the sufferer’s self-esteem.

There is an absolutely baffling array of acne treatment products on the market, just take a look down the skincare aisle of your local supermarket or pharmacy, and you’ll see just how many products are devoted to treating problem skin.

However, in many cases, this huge choice can actually do more harm than good. Firstly, having to select the right product for you can be completely overwhelming, but also finding a product that isn’t full of harsh, chemically synthesized ingredients can be almost impossible.

So is it possible for you to treat acne simply and naturally using essential oils?

There are a number of natural essential oils that can be used to treat acne, including tea tree, clary sage and juniper; however, since we are the Jersey Lavender Farm we are going to look at how you can use our amazing lavender essential oil to treat acne.

There are a number of ways that you can use our Jersey Lavender Essential Oil to treat the symptoms of acne:

Direct topical application – this is particularly useful if you want to treat an individual emerging spot or acne scar. Simply dip your finger in a drop of lavender oil and tap directly onto the spot twice a day, and the spot or scar should start to fade within a matter of weeks. If itching or excessive dryness develops then dilute the oil as below.

Lavender Facial Cleanser/Toner – there are some facial cleansers and toners on the market that include lavender oil in the ingredients, however, it is cheap and simple to make a very effective lavender skin cleanser yourself, and it has the added benefit that you know exactly what has gone into it! Simply mix 200ml pure witch hazel with 10 drops of our lavender essential oil, give the mixture a shake and then apply to the skin with cotton wool. We recommend making this in small batches and storing in a dark bottle or place for optimal efficacy.

Lavender Facial Steam – simply add a few drops of lavender essential oil to a bowl of hot water and allow your face to steam under a towel for approx. 10 minutes. This will not only open your pores, allowing the easier cleansing of the plugged follicles, but the lavender volatiles will also be able to get to work on the infection-causing bacteria.

Antibacterial – lavender oil is naturally antibacterial, and so can act against the bacteria that are often the cause of acne.

Healing – lavender oil speeds up your skin’s natural healing process and so can help to reduce redness and any scarring associated with acne.

Soothing – lavender oil has soothing and calming properties that can be very effective against the irritation and pain that is caused by acne. Also, many experts believe that the rise in adult acne is due to increased stress levels, so using lavender oil can not only treat the acne but help to treat the cause of it too.

Anti-inflammatory – frequently acne causes the skin to become inflamed, lavender oil has anti-inflammatory properties which can act against that.

There are a number of methods, and it may be worth experimenting to find which one is right for you. These include:

1. Applying lavender oil directly to spots – simply soak a cotton bud in a few drops of lavender oil and apply this directly to any spots or pimples.

2. Add 1 or 2 drops of lavender oil into your usual moisturiser to boost its anti-acne effect.

3. Make a lavender skin toner – mix 10 drops of lavender oil into 100ml of boiling water and when cooled apply to the skin using cotton wool, as you would a regular toner.

4. Add a few drops of lavender oil to a bowl of hot water and steam your face over this twice a day. The steam will open your pores and dissipate any sebum build up so that the vaporised lavender oil will be able to get to work deep in your skin.

So wave goodbye to scouring the aisles for the wonder acne clearing product – simply click your way to Jersey Lavender!

 

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