soap for acne

[Nite Hawk]

Was wondering if anyone out there had any ideas concerning a soap for acne, which of course is also often connected with very oily skin.
Now logic says just use a a harsh soap recipe, but I am not so sure, as I am wondering if alot of harshness might also stimulate the oil glands to produce more oil to compensate a drying type soap.
The reason I am thinking along that line is when one has a problem with greasy hair, it seems the more often you wash with harsh shampoos it seems the worse the oil problem becomes..
Maybe different essential oils in ones soap might help??
Any thoughts?

 

[Relle]

http://www.soapmakingforum.com/f34/soap-acne-3927/
http://www.soapmakingforum.com/f11/acne-soap-overkill-13670/
http://www.soapmakingforum.com/f11/acne-soap-26252/
http://www.soapmakingforum.com/f11/soap-acne-27614/
http://www.soapmakingforum.com/f11/acne-soap-34977/

 

[Sapwn]

http://www.soapmakingforum.com/f34/soap-acne-3927/
http://www.soapmakingforum.com/f11/acne-soap-overkill-13670/
http://www.soapmakingforum.com/f11/acne-soap-26252/
http://www.soapmakingforum.com/f11/soap-acne-27614/
http://www.soapmakingforum.com/f11/acne-soap-34977/

Plus, a Sulphur soap :razz:

 

[dagmar88]

Now logic says just use a a harsh soap recipe, but I am not so sure, as I am wondering if alot of harshness might also stimulate the oil glands to produce more oil to compensate a drying type soap.

Yes.
I prefer a high % of olive oil and use a mixture of aloe, tea tree and vit e to gently dab with afterwards.
The oil cleansing method works good too.

 

[Nite Hawk]

thanks- for some reason when I tried "search" nothing showed up, don't know why...

 

[Nite Hawk]

I have heard that milk soap is supposed to be good for acne. ( don't know if that is true or not) also heard that tea tree oil is supposed to be good for acne. Wondered if anyone every made a milk soap with tea tree, or if it would curdle and do "weird' things?

 

[pamielynn]

I make a tea tree soap with coconut milk. Doesn't curdle or anything. Works just like adding any other essential oil.

 

[Nite Hawk]

Real milk is different than coco milk though. For instance when making yogurt if you add lemon juice at
the wrong time it tends to curdle once in a while, (Although yogurt is different than straight milk due to the lactobacteria count)
So was wondering about tea tree oil and its effect on milk, and wondering if the milk / tea tree combination would help acne...

 

[heartsong]

I think a gentle soap would be helpful...I have often heard that a drying soap or harsh ingredients will often stimulate the sebaceous glands (oil producing glands) to produce even more oil...perhaps a nice natural after-cleansing toner with witch hazel might be a thought? here's a simple one: steep 2 tea bags in 10 oz boiling water...I use 1 bag each of chamomile & green tea, let cool & remove bags after squeezing, add 3-4 oz witch hazel (cheap at drugstore) add 2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar (yes, don't be a sissy, cause it works!) and then a few drops of tea tree oil...I like the lemon tea tree oil the best...pour in bottle & keep in fridge...apply with cotton ball to clean face...should keep for about 2 weeks. HTH!

 

[Nite Hawk]

I have wondered about harsh cleaners causing more problems than they cure..
Some acne is caused by bacterial problems. Had one family member to the doctor over an acne issue in one area that refused to clear up, and that was the final conclusion that the bacterial had gone deeper in the skin and turned into infection. That is why I am thinking tea tree oil as it is antibacterial..

 

[pamielynn]

No, tea tree won't curdle any milk in soap. I've soaped with goat's milk, buttermilk, cow's milk, almond milk - ha! just about everything besides yogurt. Don't know what would happen if you mixed an essential oil directly into a milk - maybe you could try that and see what happens. But if you mix it into soap batter, I don't think you would get it to curdle. Honestly, I've never seen tea tree react any differently in a milk recipe than a regular recipe. Give it a try - you'll probably love it!

 

[Nite Hawk]

Thanks for the info...