Home-Based Skin Care Treatments in 2024
In recent times, a significant transformation has occurred in beauty trends, particularly within the domain of skin care. Since March 2024, numerous individuals have been exploring skin-care do-it-yourself options and testing home remedies to handle common skin conditions—including, but not limited to breakouts, eczema, rosacea, and psoriasis—many of which can be triggered and worsened by stress, as well as other lifestyle habits, diet, and contributing health factors.
Even though you might have been able to return to your trusted dermatologist for treatment, it's beneficial to be acquainted with the most effective at-home acne treatments and tricks for other inflammatory skin conditions for when you're in a predicament. Treating these stubborn skin conditions at home isn't an entirely hopeless circumstance—as long as you follow the advice of the experts.
Home Treatments for Acne
“Ever since the quarantine period, we witnessed a considerable increase in stress-induced breakouts,” remarks Dr. Ava Shamban, a board-certified dermatologist in Beverly Hills, California. “This was partly due to common stress factors such as lack of sleep, a rise in cortisol, and the release of other stress-inducing hormones, which enhance sebum production and cause other imbalances in our skin.” As is the case always, harsh products, excessive skin care, touching the face, and picking can also result in blemishes. (During the pandemic, the introduction of face masks and the increased use of drying disinfectants undoubtedly contributed to breakouts.)
Consult a Dermatologist Through Telehealth
Acne conditions can be easily diagnosed during a telemedicine visit for dermatology, so Dr. Shamban suggests reaching out to your doctor before taking matters into your own hands. “There's no need to guess or attempt 'self-help,' which could potentially worsen the condition,” she elaborates. “An acne flare-up might not seem like a critical emergency, but the body is responding to an issue [and] seeking assistance. It does interfere with the quality of life and should be treated.”
How to Safely Extract Pimples
While it would be difficult to find any skin-care professional who would advocate popping pimples or performing extractions at home, many understand that desperate circumstances may call for desperate measures. If you're inclined to do it, Los Angeles esthetician Candace Marino suggests preparing for it—particularly for whiteheads and blackheads— by:
- Thoroughly washing your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds
- Cleaning the face with mild acids for gentle exfoliation
- Utilizing heat or a DIY steamer, be it hot water or a shower (Marino advises skipping this step if you have melasma or pigmentation.)
When it comes to the actual extraction, “Leave digging tools to the professionals to avoid potential permanent acne scarring, pigmentation problems, and injury,” she advises. Instead, wrap a tissue or cotton ball/swab around your fingers and gently pinch the skin together in an upward motion. “Press only in the direction you want the congestion to go,” Marino cautions. “If you press down into the skin, you're making the situation worse and can potentially spread bacteria beneath the skin.”
After extracting the pimple, it's crucial to cleanse the skin again to prevent any environmental bacteria from entering the open pore. Also, using cold water can assist in calming the area and reducing inflammation. From here, key ingredients for acne-prone skin that can help diminish the size and severity of acne breakouts (through cleansers, spot treatments, lotions, acne medications, etc.) include:
- Salicylic acid (to deeply clean clogged pores)
- Glycolic acid (to remove dead skin cells)
- Retinol (to increase skin cell turnover)
- Benzoyl peroxide (to eliminate bacteria causing acne)
Additionally, in terms of creative DIY acne remedies, the following topical ingredients—which similarly possess anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antibacterial properties—can also be helpful when you require a rapid at-home acne solution:
- Tea tree oil (an essential oil solution to eradicate acne-causing bacteria)
- Green tea (to counter inflammation through antioxidants)
- Aloe vera gel (to soothe the skin and combat redness)
- Apple cider vinegar (provided you dilute it and use it sparingly as a spot treatment)
Depending on the type of acne you have, these ingredients are worth seeking out to incorporate into your daily skin-care routine to combat mild or moderate acne. While they can be effective in preventing and treating acne breakouts, don't forget to restore hydration and moisturize immediately afterward to counter any drying effects.
As a final note, these at-home acne remedies aren't ideal for cystic acne, which requires different forms of treatment that are best implemented under the supervision of a dermatologist.
Related: All the Skin Conditions You Can Get Treated Via Telemedicine Dermatology on Ruli
At-Home Remedies for Eczema
“The most important aspect regarding eczema is prevention,” states Dr. Sapna Palep, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. While the precise cause of eczema remains unknown, the condition is believed to be the immune system's response to an irritant.
Wash Hands Gently for Better Skin Health
“[Many of us are] all scrubbing our hands vigorously and constantly using hand sanitizer,” Dr. Sapna explains. “But if you're at home and not going out, it doesn't make sense to wash your hands and sanitize countless times a day. Just wash your hands for the normal duration and only when necessary.”
Next, a straightforward solution to combat this dryness is to find an alcohol-free alternative. It's also important to use lukewarm water when washing hands and pat them dry instead of rubbing vigorously. Afterward, moisturize with rich hand cream.
Purchase the Right Eczema Products
Even when you're doing everything possible to avoid irritants, episodes of eczema can still occur. When this happens, most people turn to a prescription-grade cream from their doctors, which is still an option thanks to telemedicine. But if you're limited to over-the-counter eczema treatments, try Gladskin Eczema Soothing Cream ($35), which moisturizes while providing anti-bacterial properties, so it can be used therapeutically.
“Using a small amount of over-the-counter hydrocortisone for patches that are beginning to appear can also be beneficial,” says Dr. Palep. “Obviously, we prescribe stronger medications, but if you just want a quick fix for patchy, itchy areas, this is an excellent solution.”
Limit Contact with Common Skin Irritants
Less obvious factors that can lead to eczema include fragrant skin-care products, scented detergent or fabric softener, and overly hot showers, all of which can exacerbate existing eczema flare-ups. “Often, people will experience the first episode of eczema, but they're still engaging in all these activities that worsen it,” the dermatologist notes. “So, if you eliminate these things promptly, eczema will typically heal on its own.”
Rosacea Treatments at Home
“It's truly not clear how or why rosacea exists. It presents a variety of skin manifestations but typically appears as small, red pimples and a reddish complexion with vascularity, enlarged pores, and bumps around the eyes,” Dr. Shamban explains. With that said, you have several choices that can help minimize flare-ups.
Restrict Triggers Through Diet and Lifestyle
Dr. Palep mentions that rosacea triggers include:
- Consuming red wine
- Eating chocolate or spicy foods
- Creating humid conditions by wearing face masks or cooking over high heat
While this list isn't comprehensive and different patients will encounter different contributing factors for rosacea, attempt to limit these dietary and lifestyle triggers.
Employ the Most Suitable Topical Ingredients for Rosacea
Azelaic acid and niacinamide, both available over the counter, can be highly beneficial in treating the condition. Popular skin-care products containing these ingredients include Eucerin Redness Relief Night Creme ($9.69) and The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% ($6.50).
It's important to note that most organic alternatives will only intensify rosacea, so it's advisable to avoid them.
At-Home Remedies for Psoriasis
Caused by an overly active immune system and triggered by stress, psoriasis frequently manifests as flaking, inflammation, and raised or scaly patches of skin. “They claim that 5% of the population has psoriasis, but I actually believe it's much higher than that because most people don't even realize they have it,” says Dr. Palep. “They get it on their scalp and think it's dandruff or on their elbows and think it's just a dry patch, but it's actually psoriasis. I think it's actually one of the most undiagnosed skin conditions.”
Dr. Shamban adds that the condition is essentially “an excessive cell proliferation that can lead to thick accumulations in patches on the face, body, scalp, or even eyes,” but states that psoriasis treatment isn't a one-size-fits-all approach. There are numerous traditional prescription drugs available to psoriasis patients, but she says that certain biologics can actually be more effective in some cases. “They target specific proteins in the immune system that have been proven to be associated with psoriasis. For this reason, they have fewer side effects than less targeted treatments,” Dr. Shamban explains.
Seek the Optimal Ingredients for Psoriasis
The most effective products for psoriasis tend to be those that contain salicylic acid or urea, as they are particularly useful in targeting the scaly rashes caused by psoriasis. Fortunately, there are plenty of cleansers, moisturizers, and toners with these ingredients.
“If you have it on the scalp, using something like Neutrogena T/Sal Therapeutic Shampoo ($8.99) can reduce the scaling. Also, Neutrogena T/Gel Therapeutic Shampoo ($7.99), which is rich in coal tar, can address flaking and itchiness,” says Dr. Palep.
Get Some Sunlight
While spending excessive time in the sun is typically cautioned against by dermatologists, sun exposure can actually be quite beneficial for psoriasis, as vitamin D can reduce inflammation and UV rays can clear or prevent psoriasis plaques. However, the same rule always applies when it comes to sun exposure: don't go outdoors without applying sunscreen first.
