Be Careful With The Home Remedy With Baking Soda To Treat Acne

Chances are you’ve ever heard someone comment on a baking soda home remedy to treat acne, remove tartar from teeth, remove underarm odor, or even lighten them. You may also have heard someone recommend the same remedy for many other issues.

Sodium bicarbonate is a substance that has been used multiple times in the home, especially in the field of cleaning, since it has proven to be useful as a stain remover, deodorizer and even as a bleach for clothes. On the other hand, it has also been used in the field of home cosmetics, hence it is not uncommon to have heard it mentioned as a remedy for bad smell in the armpits or acne.

A little more about the home remedy with baking soda to treat acne

For many years, the application of sodium bicarbonate (specifically, in the form of a paste) on the skin was recommended to reduce inflammation of the pimples and at the same time, regulate the pH of the skin (so that it was not so prone to presenting excess sebum , pimples and blackheads), remove the layer of dirt and dead cells, and reduce the number of impurities on the face.

In some cases, this paste was mixed with lemon, since in the popular sphere it was commented that its citric acid had antibacterial properties. In others, it was mixed with apple cider vinegar (whose acid is also considered antibacterial and has the ability to regulate the pH of the skin) and tea tree essential oil.

What the experts say

Although in the popular sphere this type of recommendation has been maintained in one way or another because it is considered useful, experts in dermatology and other sciences decided to clarify that bicarbonate (with or without lemon) is not the best option for taking care of the skin. at home. For this reason, they have shared what could cause its use and some recommendations.

Cynthia Cobb, a dermatology nurse and contributor to Medical News Today comments:

Additionally, experts clarify several issues:

1. The amount of water and baking soda used to make the pasta greatly influences the results ;
2. not all skins would tolerate this remedy well, some would experience adverse reactions even when the amount applied is minimal. For this reason, the ideal would be to consult first with the dermatologist before applying it;
3. applying a baking soda remedy to treat acne should never be the only measure to consider. This is because acne is a skin disorder that is influenced by multiple factors;
4. If the specialist gives his authorization to use the remedy with baking soda to treat acne, the ideal is to follow his recommendations. This includes the amount of ingredients to use, mode of application and aftercare;
5. after applying a mask or scrub with bicarbonate, you should always wash your face with plenty of water, dry gently and apply a moisturizing cream (according to skin type);
6. Before applying a home remedy on large areas of the skin, it would be good to do a test on a small spot on the forearm and observe for at least 30 minutes what kind of reactions it produces. Thus, if an unfavorable reaction occurs, the use of the remedy could be suspended.

Discover: 8 steps to eliminate acne

So what to do against acne?

In view of the above, we can see that it is not enough to prepare a baking soda paste in any way to get the results we want. Treating acne involves several steps and it takes time to see the results, so be patient.

Although many times we want a quick and easy solution for acne, the best we can do is consult with the specialist and follow their instructions. At the same time, it is essential that we maintain a healthy lifestyle, since it is the sum of consistent day-to-day habits that is really capable of providing us with the benefits we want, not a specific and isolated action.