Activated charcoal for acne scars

Many people struggle with acne; whether you’re in puberty or middle-aged, male or female, it is completely natural. If you are one of these people, I’m sure you’ve tried a lot of products in your life and spent a lot of money doing so.

Today there are a lot of companies that are after your money and claim they have the best products for you. In today’s world, filled with options and choices, it can be hard to find something that works for you. There are a lot of skin and acne types and causes for it, hormonal or environmental. The activated charcoal trend is relatively new, but it has shown a lot of promise, and the good thing is that it’s a natural remedy!

So if you would like to learn more about it before trying it, here’s some information.

What is activated charcoal?


Did you know that the first documented use of activated charcoal was back in 3750 BC by the Egyptians? They used it for the creation of bronze, intestinal ailments, and writing on papyrus. The first antiseptic properties were discovered in the 5th century BC by the Hindus and Phoenicians, who began using it for the purification of water.

But what is it exactly and how is it made? Activated charcoal is also known as activated carbon, is a form of processed carbon that has a high degree of microporosity. What that means is that it has an increased surface area and small pores that are ready to absorb anything you throw its way. It can be in the form of powder or pills and is made from burning coconut shells, bamboo, peat, coal, olive pits, sawdust, or bone char. It can be physically or chemically produced. The physical activation being the actual burning of the materials, and the latter being the impregnation of carbon with certain chemicals. It is extremely adsorbent, so it binds to molecules, ions, and atoms, therefore, removing them. It removes gas because gas is attracted to the carbon material via the Van der Waals forces. It is considered safe as there are rarely side effects. The most common side effects are nausea, vomiting, constipation, and black stool. If you are taking medicine, charcoal can reduce absorption so consult your primary healthcare physician

What can it be used for?


It has become a vital part of many industries; the medical industry uses it for treating overdoses or poisonings because it has toxin-clearing properties. It can help environmental sciences by removing pollutants from the air or water. In agriculture, it helps with livestock production and winemaking by removing pesticides and disinfectants. By filtering our organism, it helps relieve the load on our kidneys. It also helps with diarrhea and has various oral benefits such as teeth whitening and antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and detoxifying properties. You can use it as a deodorant as it absorbs smells, and it is believed it can control humidity at micro-levels. It can also be used for skincare, for lowering cholesterol, and to help with skin infections.

What can it do for your skin?


The charcoal helps draw out microparticles such as dirt, dust, chemicals, toxins, and bacteria, leaving your skin clean in doing that, it prevents pimples, blackheads, and whiteheads. So it reduces inflammation, helps lighten up the skin for a clearer and blemish-free look; it can also act as an exfoliator in the form of powder. It balances the oils of your face and helps balance your skin tone. Actually, any form of pigmentation can be reduced. If you try the activated charcoal, be sure to apply some moisturizer afterward because it can dry your skin out a bit. Also, be careful to buy the pure version of the product because some research suggests that store-bought face masks can do the opposite of what you desire; they can cause scarring, infection, and hyperpigmentation.

You may be wondering when did something as natural as acne or hair become so stigmatized? If you don’t have a problem with your acne or acne scars, leave them be. If you want to clear them for some extra self-confidence or just because you can, try the natural remedies before consuming or applying harsh chemicals.