19 Best Home Remedies To Get Rid Of Blemishes On Face

Hiding your blemishes with makeup is not a permanent solution. To help you get rid of blemishes permanently, we have compiled a list of ingredients that you can easily find in your kitchen and use without any apprehensions about side effects.

We know blemishes can mess with your self-esteem and also make many socially meek. It is impulsive to hunt down all the commercial beauty products and medicines that claim to make blemish marks disappear. But this practice can make your skin prone to chemical treatments that can cause other allergies, chafing, and dryness. Therefore, trusting natural things is a safe alternative.

From egg whites and baking soda to turmeric and oatmeal, there is a lot you can work with at home without much expense and hassle. You can work on a budget and make sure that your dark spots are taken care of. Keep scrolling for more info!

What Are The Causes Of Blemishes?

Blemishes occur due to one major reason, and that is excessive oil production. They usually happen post acne, and though the pimple goes away, it leaves behind scars that will never let you forget it.

The cause of a blemish is the clogging of pores with dead skin cells and excessive oil, which results in acne. When this happens in the upper layers of the epidermis, we get whiteheads and blackheads. However, when this happens in the inner layers, we end up with acne. Acne leaves our skin red and inflamed, which then turns into a blemish once the pimple goes away.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association(AAD), 50 million U.S. citizens get acne every year. Around 85% of them experience at least minor acne between 12-24. It is also estimated that acne in adults is increasing and affects around 15% of adult women.

Blemishes can vary in size, shape, and color. Check out the next section to learn about the common types of blemishes.

Types Of Blemishes

• Acne: They can appear as blackheads, whiteheads, cysts, and papules. Deep and severe acne often leaves dark spots and scars on the skin.

• Hyperpigmentation: It may appear as freckles and age spots. While age spots may develop due to sun exposure, freckles could be genetic or may develop due to UV damage caused by excessive sun exposure.

• Melasma: It may occur due to hormonal changes during pregnancy or in individuals on birth control pills. This results in excess skin pigment production, which makes the skin appear darker.

• Birthmarks: These blemishes may appear either at birth or shortly after it. Some of them may disappear over time, while others are permanent.

Obviously, waiting for the pimples to vanish and praying that blemishes don’t appear is not the solution. Some things don’t fix themselves, and pimples are one of them. Treating them appropriately is the only way you can make sure they don’t come back to haunt you. Here is how you can remove blemishes (while treating acne) with wonderful secrets from my grandmother’s diary.

How To Remove Blemishes On Face

1. Calamine Lotion
2. Cocoa Butter
3. Baking Soda
4. Egg White
5. Apple Cider Vinegar
6. Aloe Vera Gel
7. Honey
8. Potato Juice
9. Lemon Juice
10. Toothpaste
11. Neem
12. Papaya
13. Shea Butter
14. Yogurt Mask
15. Turmeric Face Mask
16. Tomato
17. Garlic
18. Oatmeal Mask
19. Oils

The Most Popular Home Remedies For Blemishes

1. Calamine Lotion For Blemishes

You Will Need

Calamine lotion

What You Have To Do

Apply this directly to the blemish and leave it on.

How Often You Should Do This

Reapply every few hours.

Why This Works

Calamine lotion is composed of zinc that absorbs excess oil and helps get rid of acne and the accompanying blemishes. Zinc is a common ingredient used for the treatment of acne vulgaris (1).

2. Cocoa Butter For Blemishes

You Will Need

Organic cocoa butter

What You Have To Do

1. Take a very small amount of cocoa butter and massage the affected area with it.
2. Leave it on overnight.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this every night.

Why This Works

Cocoa butter contains antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties that help to fade the blemish.

It also hydrates and moisturizes the skin (2).

3. Baking Soda For Blemishes

You Will Need

• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• Water or olive oil

What You Have To Do

1. Add a few drops of water or olive oil to the baking soda and mix well to get a paste.
2. Apply this paste on the affected area and leave it on for 5-10 minutes.
3. Slowly scrub the paste off and rinse the area with clean water.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this twice a week.

Why This Works

Baking soda neutralizes the pH of the skin and also scrubs away the dead cells that have accumulated at the site of the blemish (3).

This makes the blemish appear lighter. And after multiple uses, your blemish will be completely gone.

4. Egg White For Blemishes

You Will Need

• 1 egg white
• A face pack brush (optional)

What You Have To Do

1. On clean skin, apply the egg white using either the brush or your fingers.
2. Let it dry for about 10 minutes.
3. Rinse it off with water.
4. Pat dry and apply a moisturizer.

How Often You Should Do This

Apply this face mask twice a week.

Why This Works

Egg white contains natural enzymes that tone the skin and lighten blemishes and scars (4).

5. Apple Cider Vinegar For Blemishes

You Will Need

• 1 part apple cider vinegar
• 8 parts water
• Spray bottle

What You Have To Do

1. Make a mix of vinegar and water. Store the solution in the spray bottle.
2. Spritz your face with this and let it dry naturally.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this once or twice daily.

Why This Works

ACV works as an astringentⁱ  A substance or chemical agent that helps shrink tissues and dry up skin secretions to tighten pores and cleanse the skin. and balances the skin’s pH while killing the harmful microbes that may infect the pores. Its mild acids help to lighten blemishes. The excess oil production is also brought under control (5).

6. Aloe Vera Gel For Blemishes

You Will Need

An aloe leaf

What You Have To Do

1. Cut open an aloe vera leaf and extract the fresh gel that is present inside.
2. Apply this on the affected area and massage it in for a minute or two.
3. Leave it on for 10-15 minutes.
4. Rinse it off with water. If it does not feel too sticky, you can also leave it on overnight.

How Often You Should Do This

Apply aloe gel twice a day.

Why This Works

Aloe vera possesses healing and skin rejuvenating properties. It has antioxidants and polysaccharidesⁱ  A major group of biomolecules made from long chains of carbohydrates that are abundant in food. that are responsible for these effects on the skin (6).

7. Honey For Blemishes

You Will Need

Raw honey

What You Have To Do

1. Apply a layer of honey on the blemishes and keep it on for about 15 minutes.
2. Wash it off with normal water.

How Often You Should Do This

Apply honey every day to get rid of blemishes quickly.

Why This Works

The humectant and emollient properties of honey nourish the skin cells and keep the skin in optimum health. Its antioxidants remove free radicals and fade away scars as new cells replace the damaged ones (7).

8. Potato Juice For Skin Blemishes

You Will Need

1 small potato

What You Have To Do

1. Grate the potato and squeeze firmly to extract the juice.
2.  Apply this on the blemish and leave it on for 10 minutes.
3. Rinse with water.

How Often You Should Do This

Apply potato juice 1-2 times daily.

Why This Works

Potato contains enzymes that act as mild bleaching agents on the blemishes when applied topically (8).

9. Lemon Juice For Blemishes

You Will Need

Fresh lemon juice

What You Have To Do

1. Apply the lemon juice on the affected area.
2. Wash it off after about 10 minutes.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this every day.

Why This Works

Lemon juice works as a bleach on the skin, lightening scars, blemishes, and also your skin tone (9).

Caution

If you have sensitive skin, dilute lemon juice with an equal amount of water before applying it.

10. Toothpaste For Blemishes

You Will Need

Toothpaste

What You Have To Do

1. Apply a tiny amount of toothpaste on the blemish or spot.
2. Let it dry for 10-12 minutes and then rinse it off.

How Often You Should Do This

Reapply if required.

Why This Works

Toothpaste dries out the pimple or spot and absorbs the excess oil present there. If it contains essential oils like mint or peppermint, it can also aid the healing of the blemish. Mint contains salicylic acid that may remove excess oil, treating blemishes (10).

11. Neem For Blemishes

You Will Need

• A handful of dried neem leaves
• 1-2 tablespoons honey

What You Have To Do

1. Crush the leaves and mix with honey to get a smooth neem paste.
2. Apply this paste on the affected area or the entire face.
3. Let the face pack dry for 10-15 minutes.
4. Rinse it off with regular water.

How Often You Should Do This

Use this face pack twice a week.

Why This Works

Neem absorbs the excess oil that is being produced by the skin and clogging the pores. It also fades blemishes with regular usage (11).

12. Papaya For Blemishes

You Will Need

A few pieces of green papaya

What You Have To Do

1.  Mash the papaya and apply it on your face for 15 minutes.
2. Rinse off the papaya pack with water.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this 2-3 times a week.

Why This Works

The enzymes found in papaya exfoliate the skin and bring the oil production under control. The accumulated impurities are all removed to reveal a smooth and blemish-free skin (12, 13).

13. Shea Butter For Blemishes

You Will Need

Organic shea butter

What You Have To Do

1. Cleanse your face and pat it dry.
2. Apply shea butter and massage for a few minutes so that it is completely absorbed into the skin.
3. Leave this on and go to bed.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this every night.

Why This Works

Shea butter nourishes the skin and contains vitamin A that is excellent at reducing blemishes and scars.

It will keep your skin smooth and young looking (14).

14. Yogurt Mask For Blemishes

You Will Need

• 2 tablespoons plain yogurt
• A pinch of turmeric
• 1/2 teaspoon gram flour

What You Have To Do

1. Mix all the ingredients and apply the mask on your face.
2. Leave it on for 20 minutes and then rinse with water.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this 2-3 times a week.

Why This Works

Yogurt contains lactic acid that acts as an exfoliant and a blemish lightening agent. It also prevents future acne breakouts that can easily leave scars and blemishes behind (15).

15. Turmeric Face Mask For Blemishes

You Will Need

• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice

What You Have To Do

1. Apply the mixture of the ingredients on the face for 10-12 minutes.
2. Rinse it off first with warm water and then with cool water.

How Often You Should Do This

Apply this every alternate day for best results.

Why This Works

Curcumin, a key phytochemicalⁱ  Chemical compounds found in plants that help protect against free radical (unstable atoms) damage. found in turmeric, possesses antioxidant and skin healing properties. It evens out the skin tone and fades blemishes, scars, and dark spots (16). Turmeric is also a prominent ingredient in ayurvedic remedies to reduce acne, making it a valuable addition to natural acne treatments.

16. Tomato For Blemishes

You Will Need

1 small tomato

What You Have To Do

1. Apply tomato pulp on the entire face.
2. Massage for a minute or two and leave it on for 10 minutes.
3. Rinse it off with cool water.

How Often You Should Do This

Follow this routine once every day.

Why This Works

The antioxidants and vitamin C found in tomato juice remove blemishes and skin tan (17). Your skin will be clear and glowing in just a few weeks.

17. Garlic For Blemishes

You Will Need

• 1 garlic capsule
• 1 tablespoon moisturizing lotion

What You Have To Do

1. Break open the garlic capsule and squeeze the content into your moisturizer.
2. Dab this on the blemishes.
3. Leave it on overnight.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this every alternate night.

Why This Works

With its antibiotic and antioxidant properties, garlic can remove blemishes and acne scars easily bring a glow to your complexion (18).

18. Oatmeal Mask For Blemishes

You Will Need

• 2 tablespoons uncooked oats
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• Rose water

What You Have To Do

1. Mix the oats with the lemon juice and add enough rose water to get a smooth paste.
2. Apply this on your face and let it sit for about 10-12 minutes.
3. Rinse it off with warm water.

How Often You Should Do This

Use this face mask twice a week.

Why This Works

Oatmeal soothes and cleanses the skin and exerts antioxidant effects on the damaged and blemished areas (19). The lemon juice aids in lightening the blemishes.

19. Oils For Blemishes

(a) Almond Oil For Blemishes

You Will Need

A few drops of sweet almond oil

What You Have To Do

On a cleansed face, apply the almond oil and massage it in.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this every night before going to bed.

Why This Works

Almond oil contains skin bleaching agents, along with essential fats, that will lighten your blemishes and also keep your skin hydrated and healthy (20).

(b) Argan Oil For Blemishes

You Will Need

Argan oil

What You Have To Do

Massage a few drops of argan oil on your face before going to bed.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this every night.

Why This Works

Argan oil rejuvenates and hydrates the skin while fighting acne and blemishes (21).

(c) Tea Tree Oil For Blemishes

You Will Need

• A few drops of coconut oil or olive oil
• 1-2 drops tea tree oil

What You Have To Do

1. Mix the essential oil with either coconut oil or olive oil and apply it to the blemishes.
2. Leave it on for as long as possible.

How Often You Should Do This

This is best done every night until the blemishes are gone.

Why This Works

Tea tree oil is an antiseptic essential oil that prevents breakouts as well as the formation of blemishes. It also possesses healing properties that will help in erasing the existing blemishes and scars (22).

(d) Coconut Oil For Blemishes

You Will Need

A few drops of virgin coconut oil

What You Have To Do

Apply coconut oil directly on your blemishes and leave it on.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this twice a day.

Why This Works

The phenolic compounds in coconut oil act as antioxidants and will help to get rid of the blemishes in just a few weeks (23).

(e) Castor Oil For Blemishes

You Will Need

Castor oil

What You Have To Do

Apply a drop of castor oil on the affected area and massage in a circular motion until it gets absorbed.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this twice a day.

Why This Works

Castor oil is an emollient that rejuvenates and heals the skin. It has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties (24, 25).

(f) Olive Oil For Blemishes

You Will Need

A few drops of extra virgin olive oil

What You Have To Do

Massage your face with the oil and leave it on overnight.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this every night.

Why This Works

Olive oil is excellent for topical application. Its anti-inflammatory compounds, antioxidants, and nutrients keep the skin clear, supple, and blemish-free (26).

(g) Rosehip Oil For Blemishes

You Will Need

• A few drops of carrier oil
• 2-3 drops rosehip oil

What You Have To Do

1. Mix rosehip oil with any carrier oil of your choice and apply the blend on your face.
2. Gently massage so that the oil is absorbed by your skin.
3. Leave it on overnight.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this every day.

Why This Works

Rosehip oil can improve the appearance of scars, blemishes, and even pigmented skin as it contains vitamin A, vitamin E, and fatty acids (27).

(h) Jojoba Oil For Blemishes

You Will Need

A few drops of jojoba oil

What You Have To Do

Massage the oil well into the skin and leave it on overnight.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this every night.

Why This Works

Jojoba oil is rich in antioxidants, and it refreshes and rejuvenates your skin. It gets easily absorbed into the skin as it resembles the skin’s natural oils. It heals blemishes and scars and prevents wrinkles as well (28).

(i) Eucalyptus Oil For Blemishes

You Will Need

• 1-2 drops eucalyptus oil
• A few drops of carrier oil

What You Have To Do

1. Make a blend of the oils and apply it on your face. You can use this for spot treatment of blemishes.
2. Keep it on for as long as possible.

How Often You Should Do This

Reapply this essential oil twice a day.

Why This Works

Apart from being a strong antimicrobial essential oil, eucalyptus oil can fasten the healing process of your blemishes as it contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatory substances (29).

(j) Lavender Oil For Blemishes

You Will Need

• 1-2 drops lavender oil
• A few drops of carrier oil

What You Have To Do

1. Apply the mixture of the oils on the blemished area and rub gently with your fingertips for a few seconds.
2. Leave it on for 2-3 hours.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this 2-3 times daily.

Why This Works

Lavender oil is soothing and healing for the damaged cells at the site of the blemish (30).

When used along with a good carrier oil, like coconut oil, olive oil or even jojoba oil, the blemish will fade away soon.

(k) Peppermint Oil For Blemishes

You Will Need

• 1-2 drops peppermint oil
• A few drops of carrier oil

What You Have To Do

Mix the oils and apply the blend just on the affected area. You can also apply it to the entire face.

How Often You Should Do This

Apply this every night, before going to bed.

Why This Works

Peppermint oil has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties that can help you deal with skin irritation and issues such as rashes, scars, blemishes, and acne (31).

Barb Misiuda, a beauty blogger, crafted the Nightime Blemish Busting Stick in her quest for clear skin with sea buckthorn oil. She said in her blog, “I just love the way sea buckthorn oils make my skin look brighter, glowly, and all the good things you want your skin to be. Who am I to argue with those kinds of results (i)!” Entranced by its transformative effects, she favored it over rosehip oil for scar healing. She mixed it with beeswax, sweet almond oil, and Vitamin E and started applying it every night, enhancing her complexion and combating blemishes.

These remedies will work the best when used as soon as the acne breakout occurs or immediately after the blemish surfaces. However, this is one case where we can positively say that prevention is better than cure. Once the acne hits, getting rid of it is a time-consuming process that eventually affects your self-confidence and self-image. So, here are a few simple steps to keep blemishes at bay and simultaneously get an idea of how to prevent acne.

Simple Tips To Prevent Blemishes

• Gently exfoliate your skin every day to remove excess oils and prevent spotting. However, you must consult a dermatologist before using any harsh scrubs on your skin.
• Don’t use rough washcloths, alcohol-soaked pads or sponges on your skin. These can cause irritation that increases the production of oil and creates new blemishes.
• Make the Cleansing-Toning-Moisturizing routine a part of your daily schedule, especially if you have oily skin.
• Moisturize your skin with an oil-free and alcohol-free moisturizer every day after you rinse off your cleanser and before you put on any makeup. A moisturizer with alpha-hydroxy acids may be good for your skin, but you need to ask your doctor first as AHAsⁱ  A group of plant and animal-derived chemical compounds that help exfoliate the skin for a glowing complexion. do not suit everybody.
• skin, but you need to ask your doctor first as AHAs do not suit everybody.
• Don’t poke, probe, squeeze, or otherwise manipulate blemishes or pimples with your fingers, especially if they are dirty. Let your cleanser and exfoliator do the work.
• Use a good sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher whenever you go outside. The sun can make blemishes worse and interfere with certain acne medications and treatments.
• Improve your diet. You should consume fiber-rich fruits and vegetables in plenty. Consuming ginger and garlic is good.
• Include a good balance of foods high in antioxidants and vitamins A, C, and E.
• Detoxifying the body is also very good. Drink about 6-10 glasses of water on a daily basis.
• Moderate exercise helps to detoxify the blood and clears your skin.
• Change your pillow cover every day as the perspiration on it can contain bacteria.

In certain cases of extreme acne, you might need microdermabrasionⁱ  A painless, non-invasive (treatment that does not cut the skin) procedure used to renew skin texture. , chemical peel or even laser surgery to control sebum secretion, and these can be prescribed and done only by a certified doctor. But in a lot of cases, this form of treatment fails us, and that is when we give in to the age-old wisdom of our ancestors and get back to tried and tested natural remedies to attain flawless, radiant skin.

Frequently Asked Questions

What foods cause blemishes?

No foods directly cause blemishes. However, refined sugars, dairy products, processed and oily foods, foods high in omega-6 fatty acids, chocolate and whey protein may cause acne, which can lead to blemishes.

How long does a blemish take to fade?

Blemishes may take anywhere between 3 months to 2 years to fade. However, if those spots are scars, they may take longer to fade and might need cosmetic treatments.

Do blemishes spread?

No, blemishes do not spread, but acne does. And since acne and pimples are one of the most common causes behind skin blemishes, they can lead to more blemishes. Therefore, it is important to find the root cause of your acne and get them treated.

Can blemishes be permanent?

No, blemishes are not permanent and can fade away with time. However, if you suffer from severe forms of acne, like inflammatory acne lesions, they may result in permanent scars. The best approach is to get acne treatment soon after it appears.

Does everyone have blemishes?

No, everyone does not have blemishes. They are most prevalent in people with acne-prone skin. That said, almost everyone may have expired blemishes at least once, as we all are prone to a few breakouts during our teenage years.

Are blemishes genetic?

No, there is no evidence stating that blemishes are genetic. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that lifestyle, hormonal, and genetic factors may play a role in determining whether you are prone to acne, the most common reason behind blemishes.

Is blemish removal painful?

No, blemish removal is not painful. Blemishes are harmless marks on the skin and can be reduced with simple home remedies like aloe vera and honey, or you can get medical treatment for the same.

Illustration: Best Home Remedies To Get Rid Of Blemishes On Face

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