Are you one of the thousands suffering from severe acne in the United States? Like many others, you might be avoiding specialized treatment because of the cost. You groan at the thought of paying for an expensive dermatologist on top of any over-the-counter or prescription medications.

Rather than ignoring your acne problem, however, you could try a variety of cheap home remedies to clear up the inflammation.

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1.) Baking soda. This simple ingredient that nearly every household keeps on hand is a great help for those with acne. For spot treatments, you can mix equal parts baking soda with water until it turns into a paste.

Then, apply to acne or acne scars and leave it on for about 15 minutes.

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You could also mix a half teaspoon with your normal daily facial cleanser for an added scrub. Be aware that baking soda does effectively remove oil from the skin, potentially causing dryness. You should use a moisturizer after any acne treatment.

2.) Aspirin. While this home remedy might surprise you, aspirin actually contains an ingredient that helps clean out and close pores. It also helps to heal redness that often plagues those with acne.

Honey actually fights bacteria on your face while leaving your skin soft and moisturized.

Crush several tablets in at least double the tablespoons of water (1 tablet to 2 tablespoons of water). Mix well; then, apply to your face for 10 minutes. You can use this treatment all over or directly on the acne. Also, try mixing with a few tablespoons of honey for an added acne punch.

3.) Honey. Honey actually fights bacteria on your face while leaving your skin soft and moisturized. In order for honey to improve your acne, though, be sure to buy raw honey. Most other kinds may be too processed to give any lasting results.

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Before you do the honey treatment, cleanse your face gently. Then, spread the honey all over your face for about 15 or 20 minutes. You’ll also want to carefully remove all the honey afterward to avoid having dirt stick to your face from the treatment.

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4.) Lemon juice. For this home remedy, simply squeeze fresh or bottled lemon juice into a bowl. Use a cotton ball to spread the juice all over your face and leave it on for at least 10 minutes. The cleansing power of lemon will get right to work on your acne.

If you have dark skin, most professionals would not advise using lemon juice topically. The lemon may cause dark spots in place of the acne because its juice actually affects melanin-producing cells.

Dr. Manny Alvarez serves as Fox News Channel’s senior managing health editor. He also serves as chairman of the department of obstetrics/gynecology and reproductive science at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey. This Fox News article is used by permission; it also appeared on AskDrManny.com. 

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