How to Use Garlic for Pimples on Face Skin

Pimples are just annoying, but there’s no way to stop them from popping up. While you can’t prevent it, you can find a way to zap it quickly and painlessly.

In 2016, beauty vlogger and YouTube personality, Farah Dhukai, discovered a beauty hack that involves rubbing raw garlic on a pimple.

According to Dhukai the garlic will flatten a pimple and get rid of it instantly or overnight. This helps answer the question, can garlic remove blackheads?

Garlic has natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that some people believe could help with treating pimples or acne. However, it’s important to be cautious when using garlic on your face, as it can be strong and potentially irritating to the skin.

How to Go About It

To get this done, take a clove of garlic and using a knife make some cuts to extract some juice. Rub the garlic on a pimple and let it sit. For smaller pimples, it will flatten instantly but for large pimple which is beneath the surface, leave the garlic overnight. By morning, it will have disappeared and it may not reappear according to Dukhai.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use garlic for pimples on your face:

1. Patch Test: Before applying garlic to your entire face, it’s crucial to perform a patch test to check for any adverse reactions. Apply a small amount of crushed garlic to a small area of your skin and wait for 24 hours to see if you experience any irritation or allergic reactions.
2. Preparation: Prepare the garlic by peeling and crushing a clove. The active compounds in garlic are released when it’s crushed or minced. Alternatively, you can extract garlic juice by pressing the crushed garlic through a sieve or using a garlic press.
3. Dilution: Garlic can be quite potent and may cause irritation, so it’s recommended to dilute it with a carrier substance before applying it to your skin. Suitable carrier substances include aloe vera gel, honey, or a mild moisturizer.
4. Application: Here’s how you can use garlic for pimples on your face:

• Mix a small amount of crushed garlic or garlic juice with the carrier substance. Aim for a mild concentration to avoid overloading your skin with the active compounds in garlic.
• Apply the mixture to the affected areas using a clean cotton swab or your clean fingers.
• Avoid applying the mixture to the entire face, especially if you have sensitive skin, as garlic can be harsh and cause redness or irritation.

5. Time and Frequency: Leave the garlic mixture on your skin for a short duration, such as 5-10 minutes. Monitor your skin for any signs of irritation during this time. If you experience discomfort or redness, remove the mixture immediately.
6. Rinse and Moisturize: After the designated time, rinse your face thoroughly with lukewarm water to remove the garlic mixture. Follow up with a gentle moisturizer to help soothe the skin.
7. Sun Protection: Garlic can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight, so be sure to apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an adequate SPF if you’re planning to go outside.
8. Discontinue if Irritation Occurs: If you experience any irritation, redness, or discomfort after using garlic, discontinue the treatment and give your skin time to recover.

Does garlic for skin infection Work?

If we go by how viral the post became, we can say it works. Most people who tried garlic for hormonal acne hack came back saying it worked for them. But what do dermatologist say about this discovery?

Dermatologists such as Doris Day, M.D., agree that garlic could work thanks to its antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties thus these claims may be legit. Day is the author of “100 Questions and Answers About Acne.”

However, dermatologist Marie Leger, M.D., Ph.D, claims it is not a “good idea” as she is not convinced by the viral beauty hack. Leager who is NYU’s assistant professor of dermatology, claims that garlic can cause contact dermatitis. People who develop contact dermatitis develop scaly rashes and blisters. Contact dermatitis leaves brown marks that may take months to clear.

Better Methods

Although Day agrees that garlic may help pop a zit, there are better methods that can reduce the appearance of a pimple fast. A simple 1% hydrocortisone cream is a better way to address a pimple.

However, if you prefer a natural remedy, aloe vera is a great alternative. Aloe contains great antioxidant benefits that form a breathable skin on top of the pimple which helps reduce the pain. Another advantage of aloe is that it has no pungent smell like garlic on face side effects.

Honey is another natural remedy that can be used on pimples. Yoghurt is also an alternative and a rich source of alpha hydroxy acids. AHAs are excellent exfoliants that can help loosen and unclog pores. Standard drugstore salicylic acids and benzoyl peroxide are also good alternatives.

When to Visit a Dermatologist

If your pimples are getting worse after attempting to treat with home or drugstore remedies, it is time to visit a dermatologist. According to Leger, the dermatologist will inject the pimple with a small steroid injection which will clear it fast.

Conclusion

Both Doris Day and Mary Leger are against the using of garlic on pimples. The fact that everyone is doing it doesn’t necessarily mean that it is safe. While Day agrees that garlic may work, its potential risks offset the benefits.

Remember that while some people may find garlic to be effective in reducing pimples, it may not work for everyone, and the potential for skin irritation is a concern. If you have persistent acne or severe skin issues, it’s a good idea to consult a dermatologist before using garlic or any other home remedies on your face.

If for some reason or another you still want to go ahead with it, do a patch test first to find out if your skin reacts negatively to garlic. If not, go ahead and join the many Farah Dhukai fans that have tried it out.

Reference;

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4103721/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4211483/