Struggling with pimples is frustrating. How many times have you walked into a beauty salon and asked to use chemical treatments for pimples? Or someone random person in Walmart suggested you a magical ointment that worked for her. Plenty, I’m sure!
I hate the idea of smothering your face with chemicals morning and night to wake up with skin peeling all over. I got tired of all the visits to dermatologists and drug stores. So I decided to do my own research and came up with a list of home remedies for pimples that I would try.
After years of research, I realised while most medicines want to fix what is on the skin without considering what is happening inside the body.
These Ayurvedic home remedies for pimples are 100% natural and boy do they work. These remedies are a combination of topical and oral remedies.
Now that you are convinced that it’s not just the pimples that need fixing. You need to fix your body from the inside.
What you need is a holistic treatment that heals you from the inside out. Now, Ayurveda is a complex system, especially if you are not a native user.
Ayurveda works on the principle of the five elements, Earth, Water, Fire, Air & Space. Everything in nature is made up of these five elements. These elements together, in different combinations, form the mind-body constitution of an individual, called doshas. If you are new to this concept of doshas some dosha resources for you,
What are Ayurvedic doshas and how do they impact you?
Ayurvedic diet for acne- What you should eat for your dosha?
These doshas define your personality and your body functions. Sometimes these doshas go out of balance (there can be multiple reasons).
The second factor that causes pimples is toxins accumulated in the body over the years from food, environment and emotions.
These home remedies for pimples brings your doshas back in balance and eliminates stored toxins.
Using deeply researched Ayurvedic remedies, I was able to cure pimples and get rid off the scars too. If pimples scars are troubling you can read more about removing pimples scars naturally here.
To make it easy for you, I have compiled this exhaustive list of 17 authentic Ayurvedic home remedies for pimples.
Each one of these is healthy, natural, and recommended by Ayurveda. You will start to see results even if you manage to follow a few of these.
We know this to be true because most chemical treatments target symptoms. But, Ayurveda heals the root causes—poor diet, weakened digestive system, and toxic food combinations.
Let’s get started.
Ayurvedic home remedies for pimples
Ayurveda uses food and plants as medicine. If you eat well, you will likely have a glowing skin. But when your diet and sleep cycle is disturbed, your body will store a lot of toxins.
These toxins lead to the formation of pimples, acne and other skin conditions. Ayurveda recommends detoxifying your body and mind in order to treat your pimples.
Here are some ayurvedic home remedies for pimples that work wonders.
Oral ayurvedic home remedies for pimples (Choose one or two)
1. Drink Aloe vera juice first thing in the morning
Aloe vera juice is a wonderful ingredient to add if you want to improve your health. It is a great antibacterial and anti-inflammatory source to boost your immunity. You can take it every day on an empty stomach in the morning.
The enzyme Aloin in this juice is a great laxative for people suffering from constipation or IBS. It cleanses your intestines and the development of toxins halt. This reduces pimples and inflammation.
Aloe vera juice is alkaline in nature and reduces the acid levels in your digestive system. Pitta or acid in your body is one of the main causative factors of pimples in Ayurveda.
Aloe vera juice works for people with all doshas, Vata, Pitta and Kapha.
Most aloe vera juices in the market come in two variants, with or without fibre. I prefer the one with fibres as it helps in keeping the colon clean.
I love Lily of the desert aloe vera juice. It comes with a lot of pulp and I enjoy it like that.
There’s another interesting option called Aloe water from Geroge’s. Now, this is a distilled variant of aloe vera juice and tastes just like water as per the comments. I am yet to try it but the reviews are pretty rave.
2. Start your day with a blood purifier
Another traditional remedy is to purify your blood. Your blood and fats carry the toxins generated in your digestive system.
Treating pimples caused by these toxins is difficult with antibiotics and topicals.
A good blood purifier like Neem and Moringa detox drink removes toxins from the blood. This improves your skin tone and helps you get rid of your pimples too.
While there are so many advantages of it, there’s a downside as well, it’s taste. No one likes the astringent and bitter taste of blood purifiers.
The herbs used in these purifiers are responsible for the taste. If you can ignore the taste, the befits are immense.
A few traditional blood purifying herbs like Chirata are also potent blood purifiers.
3. Drink bitter gourd juice an empty stomach
The bitter it is the better. Drinking bitter gourd juice every morning on an empty stomach can help with a lot of problems.
The astringent and bitter properties enhance immunity and serve as an antibiotic, thereby killing germs inside the body. It is especially beneficial for fungal infections on the skin or inside your body.
The bitters and alkaloids in the juice make for great blood purifiers, thereby removing the toxins effectively.
Applying a paste of bitter gourd on your face is one of the best ayurvedic remedies for pimples. It will lower the inflammation quickly and reduce scars and blemishes.
4. Chew neem leaves on an empty stomach
Baby neem leaves are a powerhouse of nutrients. They purify the blood and promote immunity if eaten every day on an empty stomach.
It will improve your oral health too. The strong antibacterial and antifungal properties remove toxins from your blood. This promotes glowing and pimples-free skin.
But if the taste bothers you, chew the leaves with a teaspoon of honey.
A paste of neem leaves is also an effective remedy for pimples. When applied topically it fights against the pimples-causing bacteria.
1 teaspoon fuller’s earth
1/2 teaspoon honey
4-5 fresh leaves of neem
Apply for 15 mins and wash with lukewarm water.
5. Drink Gooseberry juice on an empty stomach
Gooseberry is a green coloured berry with immense antioxidants packed in small fruit. Drinking the juice of gooseberry diluted with water boosts vitamin C levels.
This promotes defence against free radicals. It is also a rich source of iron and will keep a check on your haemoglobin levels.
You can buy a gooseberry juice bottle online or you can even make it at your home if you prefer that. It might not be feasible for some people as Gooseberry is not a native fruit in many countries.
6. Drink Fennel tea once or twice a day
Your stomach and digestive system need internal cooling if you suffer from pimples. Fennel being alkaline in nature reduces heat in the body.
Fennel protects from the oxidation of cells. It is rich in antioxidants and promotes the development of new cells. This reduces scarring and signs of ageing.
You can also use fennel topically to soothe the inflamed skin
A paste of,
1 teaspoon fennel powder(ground fennel seeds),
1/2 teaspoon honey
1 teaspoon fuller’s earth
Keep it on for 15 mins. You will notice an immediate reduction in inflammation.
7. Ginger lemon drink after your meals
Ginger is a very good digestive and acidity regulator. Mix it with lemon and honey to enhance the properties.
t contains over 40 antioxidants which fight with free radicals and reduces ageing.
But, do not overdo it. Excess of ginger in your diet can cause severe acidity. One to two cups of ginger along with lemon and honey is enough for the body.
Or, you can add a small( ½ inch) piece of grated ginger for making your tea.
Topical ayurvedic home remedies for pimples
7. Neem bark on face
Another effective and often ignored remedy is the bark of the neem tree. A paste made of neem bark is extremely beneficial in removing pimples and boils.
And the best part, it helps in removing scarring too. To some people, the fresh leaves are not available.
The dried bark is a great replacement then. If you are thinking about a serious detox, drink a teaspoon of the powder with water. Dried neem bark powder is very easily available online.
8. Turmeric on face
Turmeric, also known as curcumin is a yellow coloured herb used for cooking as well as for medicinal uses. Turmeric is a great antiseptic and sucks out the toxins from your skin.
Take a few precautions while applying turmeric on your skin though. A pinch of turmeric is enough for your entire face.
If you go beyond that, chances are either you will burn your skin or turn it yellow.
Mix a pinch of turmeric can be with honey and apply on the affected area.
Turmeric Face-mask (Highly Recommended)
1 teaspoon of fuller’s earth
1 teaspoon honey
A pinch of turmeric
Mix well and leave it on your face till the mask dries. It will take around 10-15 minutes. Wash it off with lukewarm water.
This reduces pimples in 10 days of regular use.
Note: Do not use any soap on your face while using turmeric. It causes darkening of the skin.
9. Honey on face
Honey is anti-inflammatory and antiseptic. It can be used both orally and topically to reduce pimples. But, don’t put honey in boiling water. It makes it toxic.
Honey hydrates dry pimple-prone skin and reduces inflammation and redness. Mixing honey with neem, fuller’s earth or turmeric increases its efficiency.
Instead of a daily soap-based cleanser, wash your face with honey. This will give you a soft, hydrated and glowing skin.
Use organic honey only. It will be a little pricey but it is the best quality honey in the market. I prefer this Organic Raw Manuka honey from Wedderspoon.
10. Sandalwood
Sandalwood is a rare plant now and a pretty expensive one too. But if you can get a hold of a few sticks then nothing like it.
It smells amazing and is very soothing and cooling. The cooling properties are beneficial for pimples and a lot of other skin disorders.
It is very potent against pimple-causing bacteria and removes scarring and blemishes too.
To make a face mask, I would recommend going old school.
Mix this with fuller’s earth and some rose water and leave on the face for 15-20 minutes for amazing results.
11. Fullers earth
Fuller’s earth is a gorgeous looking clay and is easily available across the world. It is probably the most inexpensive remedy for pimples.
This powerful clay holds beneficial minerals to help fight against pimples-causing bacteria. It also absorbs excess oil, toxins, and heat from your skin.
Mix it with any herb like turmeric, aloe vera, sandalwood, coriander, neem, etc. to prepare to mask.
It allows the skin to absorb the beneficial juices from these herbs. The absorbed juices speed up healing and provide vitamins and minerals to the skin.
Make a paste of,
1 tablespoon fuller’s earth
1 teaspoon sandalwood powder
Rub it on your abdomen and allow to dry. In Ayurveda, this is used to release excess heat from your digestive system.
My favourite fullers earth is from MB herbals. You can buy it here on Amazon.
12. Mint and coriander
Mint has a high proportion of salicylic acid and antioxidants. These are known to treat pimples and blemishes. A lot of pimples cleansers contain salicylic acid too.
Mint and coriander can be mixed together as a paste along with fuller’s earth to create an effective face mask. This also acts as a wonderful scrub to get rid of the dead skin.
The anti-oxidants leaves your face feeling fresh and tight instantly. Coriander too is rich in antioxidants and vitamin c. This gives your face a hydrated and glowing appearance instantly.
You can also make some detox water with a few mint and coriander leaves and sip it throughout the day. It allows for better digestion and keeps the digestive system alkaline.
13. Rosewater
Rosewater is a beauty powerhouse. It has high levels of antioxidants, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory properties. This soothes the skin and calms down irritation and rashes.
The powerful ingredients help in unclogging the pores and removes dirt. This prevents the formation of further pimples.
Use it every day on your face like a toner and as a mist to rehydrate your face. Put it in face masks instead of tap water for better results.
I highly recommend this organic rose hydrosol by Mary Tylor.
14. Cinnamon and nutmeg
Cinnamon and nutmeg are known for their powerful antibacterial and antifungal properties. Cinnamon, should be used in a very small quantity to avoid skin burning.
A pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg when mixed with honey, becomes a wonderful face pack to treat pimples and scars.
If you only have scars, rub this mask to exfoliate the dead skin off. This will change your skin forever.
16. Kumkumadi facial oil
Kumkumadi oil is a blend of a lot of herbs and oils. It is made after following a tedious process. The effects are amazing.
I have used this Kumkumadi oil for over two years now and my skin is completely transformed.
The oil contains exotic lotus flowers and saffron flowers. These are mixed with rose water and rich oils later.
It helps in removing pimples, scars, hyperpigmentation, tan and also works as a sunscreen too. Massage your face with 2-3 drops of this oil every night. You will wake up with glowing, gorgeous skin.
Breathing Exercises
17. Pranayama
It the only remedy that’s free and most effective of all. Pranayama or breathing exercises should be done daily in the morning.
It can give you instant relief from stress and take your body out from the fight and flight response. Start with a daily practice of Kapalabhati (skull shining) pranayama and Anulom-Vilom(alternate nostril breathing).
It can help you clear out your face without any artificial lotions and potions. It also helps in balancing the hormones.
This will make you glow from the inside. Pranayama plus a few ayurvedic remedies for pimples given above can work wonders to your skin.
Ready to say goodbye to your pimples?
I hope this gives you a lot of perspective about using herbs to heal pimples in Ayurveda.
There are tons of other ayurvedic home remedies for pimples but you have to choose the ones that suit you. These here, are the simplest, easily accessible and highly effective remedies.
Along with these remedies, a good diet sans junk is very effective for treating pimples. Make a diary of what you eat and write down the triggers for your pimples.
Using this method I found dairy to be the trigger for mine. Now I practice annual home-based Panchakarma detox and avoid dairy.
I also have a very simple 4 step routine I used to get rid of pimples naturally.
Have you tried any of these? What natural home remedies for pimples worked for you?
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Chakshu is a US alliance certified yoga teacher, a biotechnologist and an Ayurveda evangelist. Her passion is to help people live a toxic-free life, emotionally and chemically. She loves reading self-help books. When she is not writing, she is busy thinking about life.