Since the beginning of time, men and women of all ages have suffered from acne. This embarrassing and sometimes painful skin disease can be caused by hormones, a poor diet or genetics. Regardless of the cause, those who suffer from acne simply want to find a treatment that can rid their face of uncomfortable and unsightly pimples.
With so many skincare products available, it can be difficult to determine which are actually effective. Many of these products promise to rid the face of acne but are incredibly expensive. Many of them also contain cheap filler ingredients that can actually aggravate acne instead of treating it.
Luckily, one of the oldest acne remedies remains one of the most affordable and effective. Peppermint essential oil has been proven by science to be highly effective in the treatment of acne.
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What is Acne?
Classified as a skin disease, acne is caused by infected pores. The skin on the face contains tiny pores that release sebum, or oil, onto the skin’s surface. When these pores release excessive amounts of sebum, they can become clogged and consequently infected. Acne can become severe as the bacteria inside the infected pores spreads to other parts of the face (source).
The production of excessive sebum has many causes. Some people are genetically prone to acne. Hormonal changes such as puberty can also trigger an overproduction of sebum.
How Peppermint Essential Oil Treats Acne
Peppermint oil contains a unique combination of very powerful antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Acne is simply a bacterial infection that results in severe inflammation of the skin. By applying peppermint essential oil to the affected areas of the face, acne will decrease.
Antibacterial
Thanks to its powerful antibacterial properties, peppermint essential oil is an effective spot treatment for acne. This oil can kill bacteria quickly, killing pimples and preventing the spread of more bacteria across the face.
Peppermint essential oil’s antibacterial properties are so powerful that the oil is frequently used in oral care products as a method of killing a variety of bacteria that can lead to dental problems (source).
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Anti-Inflammatory
When the pores are clogged with sebum, they become infected. As a result, the pores becomes swollen with pus, red and inflamed. As the pimples swell, the skin surrounding them become red and inflamed as well. This can cause the skin to become extremely painful. Plus, the appearance of inflamed skin caused by acne can be extremely embarrassing for the sufferer.
Luckily, peppermint essential oil is capable of quickly and effectively reducing inflammation caused by acne. Its high level of anti-inflammatory properties can calm down redness, swelling and irritation when applied topically (source).
Part of peppermint oil’s ability to reduce inflammation associated with acne has to do with menthol, peppermint’s leading ingredient. This potent chemical can soothe skin by getting deep beneath the skin’s surface and relieving inflammation (source).
How to Apply Peppermint Essential Oil
Peppermint essential oil is applied topically to the face when used as an acne treatment. Thanks to its powerful antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, you can simply apply a single drop of the oil directly to the affected area.
Another method for topical application is dilution. By diluting the oil in a carrier oil such as olive oil, you can easily spread peppermint oil around your entire face to treat and prevent acne.
Summary
Peppermint essential oil is one of the most affordable, safe and effective acne treatments available. Thanks to the power of peppermint, acne can be a thing of the past.
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Let us know in the comments if you’ve ever used peppermint essential oil for acne. If you know anyone who would enjoy this article, feel free to share.