BAKING SODA
Cheap, readily available and not too scary, this one seemed like a great place to start. I blended it with water to form a DIY scrub. Result? My skin turned beetroot red and tingled like crazy.
Dermatologist point of view
Baking soda is highly alkaline.
TOOTHPASTE
This minty fresh paste leaves my teeth gleaming, but what could it do for my skin? Not so much as it turns out. It was far too harsh and drying, my face was left red and flaky.
Dermatologist point of view
Like baking soda, toothpaste is alkaline and will disrupt skin's natural balance. I would not recommend a patient apply toothpaste to his or her face, especially when there are so many targeted solutions available.
COCONUT OIL
I tried this one in winter when my skin was a little dry. Vloggers seem to be going wild about its ability to moisturize. I did find it a bit oily and later read it's pretty comedogenic. Definitely no acne cure.
Dermatologist point of view
Coconut oil is an effective emollient for dry skin, but it is not a targeted acne treatment.
TEA TREE OIL
Online forums are full of praise for this natural anti-septic. To give praise where it's due, it did seem to help with my breakouts, but it just wasn't enough of a comprehensive solution to control my acne in the long-term.
Dermatologist point of view
Tea tree oil has proven anti-septic properties, so you could do worse, but it won't have any effect on the clogged pilosebaceous ducts responsible for acne.
SUDOCREM
I found this one on an online acne forum, people were raving about its spot-calming properties. I applied a thin layer to my blemishes and left it on overnight. In the morning, they were a tad less red, but nothing life-changing.
Dermatologist point of view
Sudocrem is an effective barrier cream, which is useful for cuts and grazes, but it won't address the causes of acne - clogged pores that get infected.
MY CONCLUSION ABOUT
SO-CALLED “MIRACLE” ACNE CURE
As you can see, the take-home message is simple: DIY remedies, weird tricks and "miracle cures" often makes things worse rather than better and they are no substitute for the real dermatological deal. Common sense and targeted treatments backed up by informed skincare choices are always going to trump anything you can find in your parents' kitchen cupboards!