Facts About Acne

Looking for herbs for treating acne? Two herbs are especially useful for clearing up skin infections, but not everyone should use them. Here’s how to use them effectively.

A study conducted at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in New South Wales, Australia, found that a 5 percent tea tree oil solution was as beneficial as a 5 percent benzoyl peroxide cream in reducing the number of pimples. Benzoyl peroxide got faster results, but tea tree oil had fewer side effects. Tea tree oil is antibacterial against 27 of 32 strains of Propionibacterium acnes, the infectious agent most commonly associated with the disease.

Tea tree oil may be used at a strength of up to 15 percent for especially severe cases of acne. There are very few reports of problems with tea tree oil, although it can cause allergies and should be kept away from small children.

Calendula and marigold are the same herb. The botanical term calendula is used to name bath products and the common term marigold is used to refer to the plant as a healing herb. Calendula soaps are a very useful complement to tea tree oil. They kill Staphylococcus aureus, a bacterium not affected by tea tree oil. The essential oil in the herb is a potent anti-inflammatory agent, offering about the same degree of pain relief as the over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent indomethacin (Indocin), but without side effects on the digestive tract. Marigold oil applied to the skin with a cotton swab has the same analgesic effect.

About 1 in 500 people is allergic to calendula. Test the soap or oil on a small area of skin before using it on a large patch of skin.