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Hormonal acne is the name given to the type of acne that is a result of hormonal fluctuation or hormonal imbalance in the body. More women than men suffer from hormonal acne. The acne is characterized by presence of nodular, postular and popular formations along with cysts and blackheads. The hormonal acne is a result of overproduction of oil in the skin glands. More than 50% of women experience hormonal acne as one of the symptoms of PMS.

Hormonal acne can be treated using herbs. In this article we will share with you some of the most effective herbs for dealing with hormonal acne.

Herbal Remedies for Treating Hormonal Acne

Milk Thistle

Milk thistle has been popularly used as a herbal medicine since the Middle ages. It is a very effective remedy for boosting the immune system and for de-toxifying the liver and the gall bladder. Consumption of milk thistle is known to help speed up the production of bile. Bile is a liquid compound that is released by the liver. It helps in the disintegration of fatty acids present in the small intestine. However, the production of bile also helps in the removal of ingredients that make up testosterone. It is this hormone that is responsible for the formation of hormonal acne.

The seeds of milk thistle are used for preparing herbal tea. 150ml of milk thistle tea should be taken thrice a day to get rid of the byproducts of testosterone from the body. This herbal concoction has no side effects and can be safely taken by pregnant women as well as nursing mothers. However, the herb should not be taken by women who are on birth control pills as they negate the effectiveness of the pills.

Licorice

This herb has been used since ancient times because of the effectiveness of its medicinal properties. The herb is grown in Europe and certain parts of Asia and is particularly known for its sweet taste. The root of licorice is used in the preparation of many Ayurvedic medicines. Studies have shown that licorice is anti-inflammatory in nature and is very useful in balancing out the hormonal levels in a woman’s body especially estrogen.

This hormone is responsible for the acne outbreak in women. Drinking licorice tea can reduce the frequency of acne associated with hormonal imbalance. The herb is also available in tincture, pill and capsule form. Licorice is a very powerful herb and should never be used in combination with other medicines. Always check with your doctor first before starting with any herbal treatment.

Chasteberry

The herb is also known as monk’s pepper because it was used by monks during ancient times to treat various ailments including inflammation and pain caused by injuries. These days the herb is used mainly for correcting hormonal imbalance in women to treat infertility. However, since the herb can also be used for treating the acne caused as a result of the hormonal imbalance. The active ingredients present in chasteberry help in correcting the level of certain hormones in the body.

Not many studies have been done to support the cause of chasteberry in treating hormonal acne. However, there are many people who give testimony to the usefulness of chasteberry in remedying acne. The herb has been used successfully for treating acne in both men and women. Drinking one cup of chasteberry tea every day will keep you acne-free forever. But pregnant women should not use the herb.

Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree essential oil is a very popular ingredient in most of the skin care products. The reason is that tea tree has antibacterial and antifungal properties, which make it very effective in clearing various skin infections including acne. In fact, the effectiveness of tea tree oil in removing acne has often been compared to that of benzoyl peroxide.

Tea tree oil should never be consumed. Mix 10 ml of tea tree oil with 6 ml of olive oil and apply it on the acne affected areas to clear the skin in no time. Most women are aware that hormonal acne mainly attacks the chin and the jaw. Hence, you should make it a point to include tea tree oil as part of your every day skin care routine in order to prevent the formation of acne in the first place.

Saw Palmetto

The fruit of saw palmetto resembles the berries and this herb is popularly used by the natives of South America for treating inflammation. The herb is also very useful in the treatment of hormonal acne because it contains polysaccharides. This is a type of sugar that has anti-inflammatory action on the acne. The herb helps balance out the level of testosterone in the female body.

Goldenseal

The herb is also popularly known as orangeroot and has been used since centuries for treating various skin infections. Goldenseal has antibacterial and antifungal properties that are useful in the treatment of hormonal acne. It can be used topically to treat the acne.

It helps bring down the inflammation of the acne and also dries up the acne by drawing the extra oil present in the pores. Prepare anti-acne oil by combining dried root of goldenseal with tea tree oil. Dot the affected areas of the affected skin with this treated oil. Leave for 20 minutes and then clean the skin using warm water.

Burdock

The roots of burdock herb are used for treating many health conditions as well as skin infections. The uniqueness of this herb lies in its taste; it is both bitter and sweet at the same time. The herb is mainly used for de-toxifying the body. Getting rid of the harmful toxins from the body is the first step of treating many conditions and diseases.

Clearing the body of the toxic material not only helps maintain a healthy body but also gives you a clearer and brighter skin. Detoxification of the body also helps balance the hormonal levels in a woman thus reducing the occurrence of hormonal acne. The herb can be taken in tincture form or as a tea. It is also available in capsule form.