The average adult is covered in about 20 square feet of skin and with that much surface area, there’s bound to be a stretch mark, pimple or some other blemish. While you may do everything in your power (and use every over-the –counter product you can find) to combat acne, the truth is it’s going to happen. Hanna recommended several foods and herbs to help treat acne on the face or body and each of her recommendations are non-toxic! (what a concept!) Read on to learn how you can use items found in your kitchen to address acne on your body or face. 

Hanna’s Natural Remedies for Acne

Buttermilk and Honey: Boil buttermilk and, when thickened, add honey so it becomes a thick cream. Apply wherever needed, allow to dry then rinse with warm water.

Nutmeg: Use 1/3 teaspoon nutmeg (freshly ground is best), 1 teaspoon honey, and ½ cup hot water. Drink 3 mornings in a row, then 3 mornings without. Repeat this 8 to 9 times for best results.

Epsom Salt: Make a brine of Epsom salts and pat on the face or body with a cotton ball and let dry before going to bed. Do this until the acne is dried up. Rinse with warm water in the morning.

Dandelion, Nettles, Strawberry Leaves: Add to foods or blend to make a strong tea. Drink this a few times a day for several days.

Onion: Make a poultice of raw, grated onion and apply to acne to bring it to the top of the skin.

Lemon Verbena Tea: Dampen a clean cloth with the tea and scrub your face. Repeat for 9 days.

Hanna’s Foods to Eat to Combat Acne

Cucumber: This is a skin cleanser. Apply directly to skin’s affected area and increase your intake of cucumber with meals or snacks.

Strawberries: Hanna referred to these as a “skin” berry. You can improve the condition and appearance of your skin with strawberries so, eat up (just make sure they are organic- strawberries are one of the most heavily sprayed conventional crops)!

Other Tips to Consider for Acne

In the shower: Try a natural sponge or loofah to help exfoliate dead skin cells from your body. By clearing those away you assist your body in the natural process of eliminating them and increase the chance of having happier skin. You can also try homemade recipes for making body scrubs from items in your home like this Wake-Up scrub made with coffee grounds!

Acne tips for while you shower and after!

Out of the Shower: Be sure to use lotions or oils that agree with your skin type; try to avoid irritation from perfumes or dyes as often as possible. Choose oils that are derived from nature, rather than those created in a laboratory. (to read more about how important it is to choose non-toxic cosmetics for the health of your skin, see a recent post here.)

Chocolate or No? I think we’ve all heard, at some point in our life, to avoid chocolate to keep our faces clear but is this true? Not really says most research completed recently. Dark chocolate has so many health benefits and milk or white chocolate is fine in moderation. There can be no exact link between chocolate and acne so, go ahead… enjoy a little piece!

By the age of 70 the average person will have lost about 105 pounds of skin! While it’s on our bodies, let’s take care of it and enjoy youthful, healthy skin. Everyone experiences a blemish every now and then so try not to worry and instead focus on taking excellent care of your skin as you age. Be sure to drink plenty of water, use non-toxic sunscreens, and try to address your skin’s needs with each season. For some winter skin wellness tips, check out these lists from Whole Living Magazine for ways to treat or prevent dry skin.

Find these remedies and foods in Hanna’s book “Ageless Remedies from Mother’s Kitchen”; a fantastic addition to any home library for natural health and healing.