Exposed Acne Treatment Actives
Natural Ingredients
Green Tea
Green Tea may be one of the most effective natural ingredients to treat acne. While most natural ingredients in acne products may be good for your skin, green tea actually has been shown to effectively kill acne bacteria* Green tea also contains very high amounts of antioxidants shown to have healing and protective properties. For these reasons Green Tea is a highly recommended ingredient for all skin care products and an essential one for acne treatments.
*A research study done by the University of Miami in April 2009 and published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology reported that a topical 2% green tea lotion applied twice a day on affected areas significantly reduced mild to moderate acne lesions after a period of six weeks. The researchers concluded that topical green tea was an effective, well tolerated and cost efficient treatment for acne.
Read more at Suite101: Does Green Tea Treat Acne?: Polyphenols in Green Tea may Help Prevent and Treat Acne http://naturalmedicine.suite101.com/article.cfm/does-green-tea-help-acne#ixzz0ld3ab3bB
Passion Flower Extract
Passion Flower Extract (Passiflora Incarnata) has been used for centuries as a supplement to treat many different ailments, but in skin care it is used to soothe the skin. Much evidence has shown that it has strong anti-inflammatory effects. These properties can be very effective in offsetting and preventing the redness and irritation often resulting from the use of acne treatments and acne medication.
Aloe Vera
You will find Aloe Vera in many skin care products from lotions, sun care creams, and even face and body washes. So what benefits does it have in an acne treatment? Aloe is highly regarded for its soothing and moisturizing qualities as well as commonly used for speeding the healing wounds and for burns*. Aloe itself isn’t will not effectively treat acne but it does deserve its place in quality skin care formulations.
*http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~db=all?content=10.1080/10590500600614303
Sage Extract
Sage Extract, along with Gotu Kola, are probably two of the most essential natural extracts that one should look for in a natural acne solution. Studies have shown Sage to have natural anti-inflammatory effects.* This can be highly beneficial when treating acne by reducing the redness and irritation caused by the acne itself or by topical acne medication. Sage Extract is known to promote health skin and prevent dryness and is also a powerful antioxidant that protects skin cells from free-radical damage.
*http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17713873
Licorice Root Extract
Licorice Root Extract is an age old treatment for many ailments. The benefits if its topical application: reduced inflammation, scar lightening, and reduced redness.