Acne And Pimples
When dirt, dead skin cells, and other toxins clog pores, oil gets trapped beneath the skin, resulting in bacterial infections that cause acne breakouts on the face, neck, chest, and back.
Causes Of Acne/ Pimples
Acne is caused by over-production of sebum—the skin’s natural oil, which is triggered by hormonal imbalances, poor diet, poor hygiene, medications, and other factors. Almost everyone will experience acne at some point in their lives, but that doesn’t make it any less embarrassing.
Ice For Pimples
Fortunately, you can get rid of acne once and for all using a simple, natural home remedy that doesn’t come with unwanted side effects or a high price tag. It’s ice. We’re about to tell you exactly how to use it, but first, take a look at the reasons why it’s such an effective treatment for acne.
Is Ice Good for Pimples?
Benefits Of Ice For Pimple Treatment:
- Ice reduces redness, swelling, and inflammation.
- It shrinks the pores, and by extension, the size of the breakout.
- With regular application, ice keeps pores small so they’re less likely to get clogged. This also makes skin firmer and smoother.
- It diminishes the size of skin pores by constricting the blood vessels underneath the skin . Smaller, tighter pores means bacteria are less likely to get in and cause infections that lead to acne.
- It washes away dirt, dead skin cells, and other impurities that clog pores.
- Ice makes the surface of the skin more permeable so that topical acne treatments become more effective.
- Ice relieves pain, itching, and burning.
How To Use Ice For Acne?
Ice can be used alone and in combination with other natural ingredients that heal and prevent acne breakouts. Try all the methods below until you find the one that works best for you.
Home Remedies For Acne
1. Ice Pack
- Wash your face with a mild cleanser, rinse with warm water, and pat dry with clean towel.
- Do not scrub vigorously as this spreads bacteria to other pores.
- Place ice cubes in a plastic bag or clean towel.
- Hold against skin for 5 minutes, remove for 5 minutes, and replace for 5 minutes.
- Continue alternating between ice and no ice until your ice cubes melt.
- Repeat 3 times daily.
Note: You can pour few drops of any of the essential oils like lemon, lavender and tea tree oil on cloth and place it on the pimple.
2. Ice Cube Massage
- Wash your face with a mild cleanser, rinse with warm water, and pat dry.
- Gently massage your entire face with an ice cube, rubbing in circular motions.
- Once ice has melted, pat skin dry.
- Apply topical acne medication products that have salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide.
- Repeat 3 times daily.
3. Green Tea Popsicles
Green tea contains anti – oxidants that protect against the free radicals that cause acne, and it helps heal breakouts.
- Brew green tea using a store-bought organic tea bag.
- Stir in the oil from 2 vitamin E capsules.
- Allow tea to cool in the refrigerator.
- Pour tea into ice trays and freeze.
- Wash your face with a mild cleanser, rinse with warm water, and pat dry.
- Use green tea ice cubes to massage skin, rubbing in circular motions and concentrating on breakouts.
- When ice has melted, pat dry.
- Repeat 2-3 times a day.
4. Rose Water Popsicles
As a natural astringent, rose water tightens pores, evens skin tone, and reduces the size of breakouts.
- Pour rose water into ice trays and freeze.
- Wash your face with a mild cleanser, rinse with warm water, and pat dry.
- Use rose water popsicles to massage skin, rubbing in circular motions and concentrating on breakouts.
- Once ice has melted, wait 5 minutes, then rinse with cool water and pat dry.
- Repeat 2-3 times a day.
- Rose water can be replaced with cucumber juice or mint, chamomile, or parsley tea.
5. Lemon Juice Popsicles
Lemon juice kills the bacteria that cause acne, and it bleaches away acne scars.
- Mix the juice of 4 lemons with 2 cups of water.
- Pour into ice tray and freeze.
- Wash your face with a mild cleanser, rinse with warm water, and pat dry.
- Use lemon popsicles to massage skin, rubbing in circular motions and concentrating on breakouts.
- Once ice has melted, wait 5 minutes, rinse with cool water, and pat dry.
- Apply sunblock if you go outside right after using this treatment.
- For added benefit, mix 2 tablespoons of raw honey into your lemon-water before freezing.
- Honey kills bacteria, relieves inflammation, and moisturizes skin.
6. Ice Pack with Multani Mitti Paste
This paste kills bacteria and removes toxins from pores.
- Wash your face with mild cleanser, rinse with warm water, and pat dry.
- Do not exfoliate, as this spreads bacteria to other pores.
- Mix 1 teaspoon of sandalwood powder, 1 teaspoon of fresh lemon juice, and enough multani mitti or fuller’s earth to make a paste.
- Apply paste to breakouts and leave on until dry as it shrinks the pimple’s size and stops new breakouts.
- Use an ice cube to massage gently in circular motion for 5 minutes.
- Wait for 5 minutes again massage with ice for 5 minutes.
- Wash your face with water and pat dry.
- Repeat daily to get relief from pimples.
7. Ice Cubes with Lavender Oil and Lemon Juice
Lavender oil soothes and moisturizes while lemon juice kills bacteria and shrinks breakouts.
- Mix 1 tablespoon each of fresh squeezed lemon juice and lavender oil.
- Apply on the acne affected skin, massaging gently in circular motions for 5 minutes.
- Leave on 15 minutes.
- Use an ice cube to massage skin, rubbing gently in circular motions.
- Once ice has melted, rinse with cool water and pat dry.
- Repeat daily.
8. Ice Cubes with Baking Soda
Baking soda balances the skin’s pH levels and exfoliates to remove oil, dead skin cells, and other toxins that clog pores. It also dries and shrinks breakouts.
- Mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda with enough water to make a thin paste.
- Wash your face with a mild cleanser, rinse with warm water, and pat dry.
- Apply paste to skin, focusing on breakouts.
- Leave on 25 minutes, then rinse with cool water, massage with an ice cube, and pat dry.
- Repeat 3 times a week.
9. Ice Cubes with Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is anti – bacterial, anti – fungal, anti – septic. It kills bacteria and regulates oil production.
- Mix 5 drops of tea tree oil with ¼ cup water.
- Wash your face with a mild cleanser, rinse with warm water, and pat dry.
- Use an ice cube to massage skin, rubbing in circular motions and focusing on breakouts.
- Once ice has melted, pat dry.
- Use fingertips to massage tea tree oil mixture into breakouts.
- Leave on 5 minutes, then rinse with cool water and pat dry.
- Repeat daily.
- Before using tea tree oil on your face, do a patch test to find out if you are allergic to it.
Tips And Precautions:
For best results, follow the advice below when using ice to treat acne.
- Topical acne products will be more effective when applied after ice massage rather than before.
- Do not apply heat to emerging breakouts as it causes inflammation.
- Ice is an effective tool for treating and preventing acne, but it is best used in combination with other ingredients and other topical acne remedies.
- Ice is most effective when applied 2-3 times per day, especially first thing in the morning and right before bed.
- Massaging with ice before applying make-up lessens the likelihood that make-up will clog pores and cause breakouts.
- Begin massaging with ice right when you notice a new breakout forming.
- Massage with ice for about 2 minutes at a time, but stop once skin feels numb.
- If acne persists after 8 weeks, consult your dermatologist.
- Ice treatments are not for everyone. Results will vary from person to person.
- Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day to flush toxins from the body and prevent breakouts.
- Orange and pomegranate juices are great for treating acne. Try freezing them and using the ice cubes to massage skin.
- When left on skin for too long, ice can cause frostbite and break capillaries beneath the skin.
- As with other acne treatments, ice works best when combined with a healthy diet and regular exercise.
- Avoid excess sugar and carbohydrates and eat plenty of protein and leafy greens.
- Get plenty of sleep and avoid stress.
