There are many over the counter and prescription treatments for acne but most of these are very expensive and some may even have undesirable long-term side effects. If you are looking for some homemade natural acne remedies, read on.

Start with careful cleansing of the skin. It's easy to forget this basic step and start applying some potion or lotion. A clean bacteria-free skin really is the most important step. Was your face twice a dayno more, no lesswith a gentle cleanser or soap. Use your hands to wash and avoid rubbing too hard. Do not use anything abrasive such as a wash-cloth. For an extra deep clean, use a weak alcohol solution which is available at any pharmacy. This has the added bonus of killing bacteria. Avoid using alcohol too often as this can dry out your skin.

Once a week, mix a little honey with some diluted lemon juice. Apply this to your face twice a week and leave for 10 minutes. Remove gently with warm water. This mixture has natural anti-bacterial properties.

If you have a naturally oily skinoften the case with acnemix some oatmeal with water to form a thin paste. Apply this to any oily areas of your face and leave for 20 minutes. The oatmeal will absorb oil from your skin without leaving it too dry.

Avoid oily cosmeticsuse only those that are water based and hypo-allergenic. Look for those marked noncomedogenic if you can. These should not block pores. Use any cosmetics sparingly in acne-prone areas. Remove all makeup thoroughly every evening.

Avoid picking or squeezing pimples. I know it's tempting but all you do is force the bacteria deeper into your skin and this can also leave you with permanent scarring. To reduce the size and redness of a pimple, hold an ice cube directly on the spot and leave it there for 30 seconds or so. In fact, you should avoid touching your face at all unless you are washing.