• Celebrity
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Black Beauty Awards 2022
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2022 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • Wellness House
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United

WHERE BLACK WOMEN COME FIRST

Every day we're serving Black women deeply. Come get a plate of goodness! Sign up for daily content and exclusive offers you'll love!

Your email is required.
Your email is in invalid format.
Confirm email is required.
Email did not match.
By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and that you have read our Privacy Policy
Skip to content
SUBSCRIBE
  • MAGAZINE
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Celebrity
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
      • Paint The Polls Black
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Black Beauty Awards 2022
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2022 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • Wellness House
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Home · Beauty

Can Witch Hazel Help Heal Your Breakouts? 

Sure, there's a number of new lotions, potions, and the like that claim to zap pimples fast, but sometimes going back to the basics is one of the most effective ways to treat acne.
Can Witch Hazel Help Heal Your Breakouts? 
Getty
By Erin Lukas · Updated October 26, 2020

This article originally appeared on InStyle. 

Sure, there’s a number of new lotions, potions, and the like that claim to zap pimples fast, but sometimes going back to the basics is one of the most effective ways to treat acne. Case in point: witch hazel.

A bottle of the clear, plant-derived extract was probably a fixture in your bathroom cabinet growing up, and trust us when we say that your mom was onto something.

brightcove-video:5370089722001

“Witch hazel is a shrub. Its leaves and bark has been used for medicinal purposes for many centuries as they contain up to 10% tannins (potent antioxidants including hamamelitanins and ellagitannins),” explains dermatologist Dr. Melanie Palm, founder of Art of Skin MD in San Diego, CA. “It is used to soothe irritated and inflamed skin, as well as reduce swelling and injury of tissue and constrict injured blood vessels.”

Its soothing, anti-inflammatory proprieties is exactly why you find witch hazel amongst the list of ingredients on many acne-fighting skincare products you’ve tried. Most commonly, it’s used as a toner or astringent for acne-prone individuals with oily complexions. “As acne is an inflammatory condition that may cause redness, swelling, and discomfort, the calming and anti-inflammatory nature of witch hazel could be used as a homeopathic accompaniment to prescription topical acne medications,” says Dr. Palm.

If you want to try to incorporate witch hazel into your acne-fighting skincare lineup, Dr. Palm recommends introducing it slowly into your routine so that your skin develops a tolerance for it. “Typically, witch hazel astringents are used once daily after cleansing as a toner. If someone has tolerated this well, the astringent application may be increased to twice daily,” she says. “Witch hazel ointments may be used as a form of ‘spot’ treatment for acne blemishes once to twice daily, if desired.”

For sensitive skin types, the dermatologist suggests doing a spot test on one side of your jaw line first to make sure you’re not going to have an adverse reaction to the ingredient. “Oily skin complexions usually benefit the most from witch hazel astringents,” Dr. Palm says. “Acne-prone individuals without excessive skin sensitivity are most likely to benefit from witch hazel use.”

When to avoid it? If you’re expecting or breastfeeding you should store your bottle in the back of your bathroom cabinet for the time being. “It is potentially toxic in high concentrations due to the high level of tannins available even in commercial products,” explains Dr. Palm. “Therefore, witch hazel should be avoided in excessive use in these women.”

You also skip ingesting witch hazel because it’s only intended for topical use, and doing so can result in liver or kidney damage.

COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now