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Tamara is a seventeen year old high school student, petite and friendly. Although she has pretty features, she keeps her head down while she walks, and doesn't initiate eye contact with people she doesn't know. Tamara has acne and she's embarrassed for others to see it.

Many teens suffer from acne, and while prescription and over the counter products are available to help sooth and clear eruptions, there are also some natural remedies from our great grandmother's days that can be tried first.

A good and simple way to clear up a minor outbreak and unclog pores is to steep a large handful of chopped parsley in one cup of boiling water. It is recommended that you use an earthenware bowl to do this in, and cover. Once the parsley tea' cools to room temperature, strain and apply as a compress to the face for about fifteen minutes daily. It is reputed by some to really clear up the complexion.

Applying a paste of baking soda and water is another one to try. Leave it on for five minutes and then rinse it off with apple cider vinegar. You will probably want to use a facecloth rung out, or cotton swabs so that you avoid getting either ingredient in your eyes. After that rinse again, this time with clear water. You can add to the treatment by applying a coat of vitamin E oil to your face before bed (leave on overnight).

Herbs are also good ingredients for the treatment of acne, and thyme in particular is a very good astringent. For a daily facial rinse, pour one and a half cups of boiling water over three or four tablespoons of dried thyme, and let it steep for half an hour before straining. Keep refrigerated.

Peppermint tea is another good astringent when used as a compress. Easy and cheap, just soak a clean cloth in the cooled tea and apply to your face for fifteen minutes or so each day.
There are a myriad of different treatment options that were used before the advent of the commercial products now available. Certainly too many to put in one article, but here's one more for the road:

A really easy facial scrub for blackheads is probably already in your cupboard. Moisten a handful of finely ground oatmeal and rub it into your face for about five minutes before rinsing well. Apply a non-greasy moisturizer.

Consider trying to alleviate your acne symptoms the natural way. If you don't find home treatments effective or to your liking, you can still opt for store-bought methods.

Learn more about this author, Shirley Anderson.
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