Aspirin is an excellent solution for very oily, acne-prone skin

May 19, 2008 10:01 GMT  ·  By
An aspirin face mask will leave your skin looking better and will help clear off acne
   An aspirin face mask will leave your skin looking better and will help clear off acne

Aspirin has been around for at least a century and we're all aware of some or most of its beneficial effects, which mainly have to do with fighting mild pains or fever and reducing the risk of cardiovascular events - including heart attacks and strokes. However, how many of you were aware of just how remarkable aspirin is when used on the outside - particularly on your skin? Well, you'll be surprised. Its wonderful anti-inflammatory properties, coupled with its ability to prevent the clogging of your pores make it a viable and cost-effective alternative for the treatment of acne and any other skin inflammations.

Here are a few suggestions of how to put aspirin to good use. The first one is a recipe for an aspirin face mask to treat oily, acne-prone skin. You'll need between 5 and 10 aspirin tablets, which you'll have to crush to a powder and then mix with a very small amount of water to get a smooth paste. For added benefits, mix the aspirin powder with a pure Aloe Vera gel instead of water. Apply the mixture all over your face, but not before cleaning it thoroughly with your usual face gel or - even better - doing a face scrub. Leave the mask on for about 20 minutes and rinse it off with warm water, then apply a moisturizer.

The mask works well for people with acne and enlarged, open pores. It should be used once a week by those of you who have very oily skin - people who have other skin types can use it as well, but no more than twice a month. Another possibility is to use a smaller amount of powdered aspirin - about 4 or 5 tablets - mixed with a small amount of yogurt to remove any scars or blemishes left by acne and fight blackheads. Keep this mask on for 10 - 15 minutes, wash it off and apply a moisturizer. And finally, one last suggestion is to prepare a cleansing, antiseptic facial toner using ? cup each of distilled water and vinegar and 8 - 10 powdered aspirins. Rinse your face after applying it and follow it up with a light moisturizer, and you'll see the difference in a few days.