Can You Use Baking Soda For Acne? Is It Effective?
Anecdotal evidence claims that baking soda is effective for acne. However, there hasn’t been any research to evaluate whether baking soda works for acne or not. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved this popular home remedy for acne. The advocates of this popular home remedy believe that baking soda may help in minimizing your acne, depending on your skin type. It is claimed that baking soda has a drying effect on the skin, and this property helps shrink the zit and reduce inflammation. It is also said to help in the following ways:
Baking soda has anti-inflammatory properties that help soothe swelling and redness. It not only helps calm flare-ups, but also soothes rashes, irritation, and sunburn. Baking soda is a physical exfoliant. It has fine particles that dislodge dirt and dead skin cells from your pores. It also causes relatively less irritation than most exfoliators while being more efficient. It not only helps fight and prevent acne but also minimizes the appearance of acne scars and pigmentation. It helps absorb the excess oil from your skin. This, in turn, dries out pimples and blemishes, helping them heal faster.
If you have oily or extremely oily and acne-prone skin, you may try using baking soda. However, there is no scientific research that proves that baking soda is good for acne or your skin, so you need to be very careful while using this ingredient. Baking soda can cause severe discomfort if it does not suit your skin or if you overuse it. Check them out in the next section.
Are There Any Side Effects Of Using Baking Soda For Acne?
Yes, there are a few risks associated with using baking soda on your skin. Anything in excess is not good for the skin. The same goes for baking soda. If you use it too frequently or if it does not suit your skin, the following side effects may occur:
It might damage the protective barrier of your skin and worsen your acne. This is because the pH of your skin is slightly on the acidic side (which is crucial for maintaining a balance). When you apply baking soda, it removes the acidic protective barrier and leaves it vulnerable to breakouts and bacteria. It can irritate your skin. Baking soda has a drying effect, and if you use it on your skin (or use it too frequently), it may irritate the skin and cause redness, breakouts, rashes, and burning sensation. It might overdry your skin and cause inflammation.
The average natural pH of the skin (without showering and using any cosmetic products) is 4.7. It usually ranges between 4.5 and 5.5. On the pH scale, anything below 7 is acidic and anything above 7 is alkaline. While our skin is acidic, baking soda has a pH of 9, which is alkaline. When you apply an alkaline ingredient to your skin, it naturally strips away its natural oils, leaving it exposed to UV rays, bacteria, and environmental damage. Although it is not recommended, you can try a few baking soda recipes to control inflammation. Make sure that you only use the recommended amount of baking and do not exceed that. Also, do not follow any of these recipes more than once a week.
How To Use Baking Soda For Acne
1. Baking Soda And Lemon
2 tablespoons baking soda 2 tablespoons water 1 teaspoon lemon juice
Lemon juice helps control oil production in your skin while shrinking your pores with the help of its astringent properties (1). It also has antimicrobial properties that may help kill acne-causing bacteria (2). Caution: Lemon juice can make your skin sensitive to sunlight, which may result in sunburns. Hence, make sure to apply sunscreen before you step out.
2. Baking Soda And Water
2 tablespoons baking soda 1-2 tablespoons water (adjust the quantity)
Baking soda removes the accumulated dirt and dead skin cells from the pores. It is also said to dry up the pimples, shrinking them and allowing them to heal faster.
3. Baking Soda And Apple Cider Vinegar
1 tablespoon baking soda 1 tablespoon water 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is said to help maintain the pH balance, keeping the baking soda from making your skin too alkaline. ACV also contains lactic acid that might help reduce acne (3).
4. Baking Soda And Honey
1 tablespoon organic honey 1 tablespoon baking soda Washcloth Warm water
Honey is a humectant that binds moisture to your skin (4). This mask may help prevent acne and give you clear skin.
5. Baking Soda And Aloe Vera
1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon aloe vera gel
Aloe vera has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties (5). This mixture reduces redness and inflammation and helps in fast healing of acne.
6. Baking Soda And Witch Hazel
1 teaspoon baking soda A few drops of witch hazel (adjust the quantity as per need)A Q-tip
Witch hazel is a natural astringent that unclogs your skin pores and tightens them. It also has an anti-inflammatory effect on your skin (5). Thus, it can help reduce the redness and irritation caused by acne.
7. Baking Soda, Yogurt, And Lemon
½ teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon yogurt 1 drop lemon juice or lemon essential oil
Lemon, along with baking soda, helps shrink the skin pores and unclog them. Yogurt helps keep your skin moisturized (6). Note: If you have highly sensitive skin, dilute the lemon juice with water before using it.
8. Baking Soda And Aspirin (For Spot Treatment)
1 teaspoon baking soda 2 aspirin tablets (crushed) Water (as per requirement) A cotton swab or Q-tip
Although no study shows that topical aspirin heals acne, it may help reduce inflammation (7). Aspirin contains salicylic acid (which is excellent for acne) and may help reduce breakouts (8).
If you are using baking soda for acne treatment, make sure that you limit your skin’s exposure to this substance. If you have any more questions, feel free to post them in the comments section below. Is baking soda good for acne scars? According to anecdotal evidence, it seems that baking soda might help reduce their appearance, but there is no scientific proof to back this up. Can you leave baking soda on your face overnight? Absolutely not! It will damage the skin. Is it safe to use baking soda on the face every day? Not really. If you do, it will damage the skin’s protective barrier. How long does it take for baking soda to remove acne? It may take a day or two to reduce the swelling and inflammation. The acne may dry out initially and will eventually heal. How do you make baking soda paste for the skin? Mix a teaspoon of baking soda with warm water to prepare a paste. You may also follow the remedies mentioned above to make a baking soda paste.
