Most people would not consider using yogurt for treating acne, but some have seen improved results by using it as a regimen for curing their skin conditions.
Yogurt, which is basically a cultured dairy product available in most grocery stores, is believed to be both a natural astringent which also can have moisturizing properties as it is rich in vitamins and minerals that can be good for your skin.
Yogurt is created when milk is fermented and the properties of milk are changed by helpful bacteria that create lactic acid. The high acid content of yogurt in conjunction with naturally high ph levels make it helpful in killing the bad bacteria that causes breakouts on your skin.
Because it does contain helpful bacteria it can also be helpful in combating a build up of yeast which can sometimes overstimulate sebaceous glands.
You can use yogurt in a variety of natural ways. The easiest and most obvious choice is to eat it of course! This is also the safest method of using it, since eating it will likely not cause you any issues. You can find it in most grocery stores and it comes in a wide variety of flavors and styles. Plain yogurt may not be the best tasting, so it is perfectly acceptable for you to choose a flavor that more suits your own personal tastes and preferences. There is strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, peach, chocolate, vanilla, and probably hundreds of other possible flavor combinations you may wish to try.
Of course, the first question is “how much should I eat?” There’s not a right or wrong answer to this, but it does help to know that the USDA recommends only 2-3 servings of dairy products per day. For this reason, we don’t recommend going over 2-3 cups of yogurt per day. It is likely that eating just 2 cups of it per day can make a small difference over time. There are also yogurt probiotic drinks that are supposed to aid in digestion that you can also try if you would prefer that over the custard cups versions.
Another thing that is popular is to create a yogurt face mask to use once a week in helping to cure acne and other skin blemishes. By pasting plain yogurt on your skin and allowing it to sit there for 5-10 minutes before washing it off it can directly work its magic on your skin. Be sure you use the plain version without any sugar or fruits added, as that can be a sticky mess if you are not careful! You will also want to make sure that you very thoroughly clean the yogurt off your face – it is not recommended to leave it on any longer than 15 minutes and if you do not clean it off completely it could actually irritate skin problems further.
While using yogurt for treating acne may not solve all of your skin problems and concerns or be the perfect cure, it can be an additional method for helping you have healthy and clear skin.