How To Treat Acne and Some Other Skin Conditions with Garlic

So you’re interested in getting rid of your acne, and now you want to know if garlic can save you. Don’t worry; you might be just about to have clear skin. Treating acne will maintain healthy skin, prevent scarring, and boost your confidence overall. Who does not want that?
Now let’s start with a word of caution, do not apply garlic directly on your skin because it will burn your skin. Your skin is already sensitive and inflamed with acne, so the last thing you want to do is cause another irritation.
Well, I’m not a dermatologist, just an ordinary consumer. What I’m going to share with you is based on research and my personal experience. We’re going to start by briefly defining acne, how garlic treats acne, how to prepare a garlic mask to treat acne and simple clear steps of how to use garlic to treat acne.

What is Acne?

Acne is a common skin condition that occurs when hair follicles become clogged with oil (sebum), dead skin cells, and bacteria. This can result in pimples, blackheads, whiteheads, and other types of lesions on the skin. Acne can occur anywhere on the body, but most commonly appears on the face, chest, back, and shoulders.
Acne can be caused by a variety of factors, including hormonal changes (during puberty, menstrual cycles, pregnancy, and menopause) genetics, and, environmental factors such as pollution, stress, poor hygiene, medical conditions, medications, skin or hair products, etc.

How Does Garlic Treat Acne?

According to studies, garlic contains a very powerful compound called allicin which has antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and antiseptic properties. Allicin helps kill the bacteria causing acne, reduces swelling and inflammation, improves blood circulation, and drys out acne. Garlic also has thiosulfinates, which can act as an antimicrobial that many believe with regular use, reduces redness, spots, and clear skin.

Garlic has been shown to have other vitamins and minerals that are believed to combat acne, like vitamin C, vitamin B-6, selenium, copper, and zinc (used to control oily substances). 

Other Topical Benefits of Garlic

It’s also a powerful anti-oxide helping to fight free radicals in your skin. Free radicals slow down skin repair and, the healing of acne, so consuming garlic and including it in your skin care regimen will increase the healing properties of your skin and promote brighter clearer skin.

Topical application of garlic extract could beat psoriasis, alopecia areata, keloid scar, wound healing, cutaneous corn, viral and fungal infection, leishmaniasis, skin aging, and rejuvenation.

Garlic can be applied topically or consumed. Personally am not fun of chewing garlic. But 2 to 3 gloves in your food or diluting one crashed glove in a glass of warm water will do.

How Do I Prepare a Garlic Treatment Mask?

• Get 1 glove of garlic, cut it into smaller pieces, and smash the pieces to make a paste.
•  Add 2 tablespoons of white clay. If the clay is not available, use wheat flour. Personally, I use wheat flour because it’s easily accessible. Wheat contains a variety of minerals, such as zinc, iron, and magnesium, that can help promote healthy skin.
•  Add 3 tablespoons of honey. Personally, I’m allergic to honey so I use Aloe Vera gel or cooked rice water.
•  Mix to make a paste. I love my paste thinner for easy spread.

What Steps Do I Take Using Garlic Treatment Mask?

In my skin care routine I do skin treatment in the evening, and treating acne is one of them.

Double Cleanse

Oil Cleanser

I put 3 to 4 drops of a blend of almond and rosehip oil onto my palm and then apply to face and massage to break down dirt, oil, sunscreen, and waterproof makeup. I love this oil because I’m sure it will not tear my eyes or cause breakouts but instead has some other added benefits. After massaging for about 30 seconds, I use a towel or cotton pads to wipe the dirt.

Form or Gel Cleanser

• So then you want to follow with a water-based cleanser that will remove dirt that is easily erased by water. Massage the cleanser onto your face for about 30 seconds and then cleanse with clean water. Dermatologists advise the CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser for oily skin and then Cetaphil Cream to Foam Face Wash, Hydrating Foaming Cream Cleanser for dry skin.

Treatment

• Start with a patch test on your arm where your skin is most tender to test for any sensitivity. If I can’t tolerate the stingy burning sensation, I add more gel depending on what I used, or water to reduce the acidity. If the paste is tolerable enough, I proceed with the mask on the face. Don’t mind the paste getting thinner. The effect will remain. If you are allergic to garlic, discontinue use.
•  I apply the thin layer of mask on cleansed skin, focusing on troubled areas and avoiding the eye area.
•  Wait between 10-15 minutes, then wipe with a towel. It is better if it doesn’t dry completely, at least 75%.
•  Use a damp towel to wipe the mask off. Wipe until you don’t see any residue. Rinse with water. No need to use a cleanser or soap. So now the skin is clean, treated, and damp.
•  You may want to moisturize your skin immediately after this because garlic is drying.
•  You will be able to see a great difference the following morning, like reduced inflammation and others. My acne dried completely after 3 applications.

I do this treatment once every week. Garlic can be quite drying, so you want to regulate it to once a week. Too much of anything good may bring bad results.

Remember to be consistent with this until you don’t see any acne.

Protect

I follow with my simple morning routine. Cleanse, Moisturize, and, Sunscreen.

Who Should Not Use Garlic Topically.

Those who are allergic to garlic should not use garlic topically. Consult your doctor first.

A garlic allergy is rare but possible. Allergy can result when your body’s immune system mistakenly identifies garlic as being harmful and produces anti bodies in an attempt to fight it off.

A skin rash (contact dermatitis) sneezing, hives, itching, or redness of the skin, and tingling or itching of the mouth. If those persist then it’s wise to stop.