Acne is a dermatological disease, which may or may not be inflammatory. Its “little” name is the sebaceous hair follicle. It is a canal with very fine hair, almost invisible and containing a sebaceous gland (at the origin of sebum secretion) which affects many adolescents and adults. Its location? Mainly the face, thorax and back. Let's see why honey and acne make a saving duo.
Honey for acne-prone skin
Honey is a sweet substance produced from the nectar of flowers. First, the transformation of nectar into honey begins in the crop of the foraging bee. An enzyme then creates the chemical reaction “sucrose hydrolysis” which produces fructose and glucose.
Then this nectar will be given to a recipient bee. Then, the nectar will be mixed with saliva and digestive juices. Finally, it is regurgitated and stored in the cells of the hive where the ventilation carried out by the ventilating bees will dehydrate the future honey. In fact, only melliferous flowers, that is to say those which are reachable by the bee's tongue, can produce honey.
Some figures on honey
The scientific name apis mellifera means “honey-bearing or honey-producing bees” (1). The Queen is generally at the head of a colony of more than 100 bees. Thanks to bees, a hive produces around 000kg of honey per year (this can go up to 15kg) for 40 to 30kg of pollen. For information, a bee brings back only 50 mg of pollen per trip and it travels up to 20 km around to forage. For 3 kilo of honey, that’s 1 round trips between the hive and the flowers!
While refined white sugar does nothing for the body, honey has many beneficial properties for the skin.
Acne-prone skin are often called “fat”. Excess sebum gives the skin this shiny effect in the T zone and becomes a breeding ground for imperfections. Pores become clogged, the skin has difficulty breathing and imperfections appear in various forms: blackheads, pimples, acne problems. Various factors are the cause of this overproduction: stress, pollution, hormonal disorders, climate change. Learn more aboutadult acne or on thecystic acne.
Treating acne from the inside out with dietary supplements
For more than 9000 years, honey has been one of the most used natural ingredients for skin beauty. It has soothing and relaxing properties effective against nervousness and stress. This superfood also contains many properties that are very effective against acne-prone skin. Hippocrates, in his time, already used it to regenerate the skin since it is indeed very useful for hydrating, restoring tone and radiance but also for treating certain skin problems.
Just like basil, this superfood constitutes the ideal ingredient to promote the disappearance of your scars linked to acne problems, pimples and other imperfections. By tightening enlarged pores, honey regulates sebum production. Coupled with its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and healing properties, honey helps prevent and fight infections and improves the appearance of the skin.
Using honey to fight acne
Here are some easy-to-make mask recipes to take full advantage of the benefits of honey on acne-prone skin.
Honey / Green clay: a winning duo against acne
Thanks to its absorbent properties, green clay also helps reduce sebum and clean the skin. Thus, the facial mask with honey and green clay helps fight acne locally.
To make it, you just need to mix three teaspoons of honey and one teaspoon of green clay. Once the paste is smooth and homogeneous, spread it on your face, paying particular attention to the T zone (forehead, nose and chin). Spray your face regularly with water so as not to let the clay dry out. Leave your mask on for about 20 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water. For skin cleansing, also think about new technologies allowing you to satisfy the cleansing of all skin types.
The honey/cinnamon combo: the sworn enemy of acne-prone skin
Among the best masks for taking care of oily, acne-prone skin, we find honey and cinnamon treatment (2). All you need to do is mix a tablespoon of honey with a teaspoon of cinnamon powder to form a rather compact paste that is still easily applicable. Gradually add the cinnamon to gauge the consistency as you mix.
Apply to the face in a circular motion, this will lightly exfoliate the skin. Be careful though, cinnamon is likely to irritate the skin, so be careful not to leave the mask on for too long (maximum 5 minutes). Rinse with lukewarm water.
The benefits of honey and egg white against acne
If you don't have cinnamon or can't stand the strong smell, you can choose to mix a whipped egg white with a teaspoon of milk and a little honey. Let the mask dry for half an hour before rinsing it off with clean water. The egg white will eliminate pimples and blackheads, removing impurities and excess sebum from deep within. Honey will tighten the skin, making it soft and supple (3).
Fight against acne by combining honey and cupboard funds
Finally, if your cupboard is empty, you can also mix two teaspoons of milk and two teaspoons of honey. Leave the mask on for around twenty minutes then rinse with lukewarm water. This mask has the dual effect of hydrating and reducing spots.
Precautions and choice of honey
Finally, even if honey may seem harmless and above all full of virtues, it nevertheless remains a natural product that can create reactions on sensitive skin or allergic to certain components. We therefore advise you to carry out a test before any skin use.
As for the honey chosen, prefer 100% natural, untreated and unheated honey. You will find more in organic stores (supermarket honeys often contain additives that are not recommended).
sources:
(1) Honey, https://fr.wikipedia.org
(2) Grazia, The benefits of honey on oily and acne-prone skin
(3) Health passport, Egg white mask: tighten pores with this mask
