Dangerous -- Garlic & skin healing??!! Well, I did it...
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free skin care · Thu May 09, 2013 7:41 pm

Hi everyone,

I have been breaking out very badly lately, I am talking acne... cysts, my face was majorly in pain from all of the red pimples and bumps on my face. I am 35!! What is going on...

So, my mom came up with this idea. I just wanted to run it by you guys and see what you think, because IT WORKED, but I don't want to damage my skin in the long run.

Here is what I did:

I mashed up some fresh, raw garlic and put the mixture on all red spots, taking care to put a lot on the red puss ones that really hurt. I bandaged my face up with gauze and medical tape and went to bed.

I woke up with the parts of my face pink, the next day, skin started peeling and scabs were forming. The area was VERY DRY, I cleaned my skin with witch hazel and put jojoba oil with some tea tree oil on it, I kept it moist and my face bandaged up for 4 days. By day 4 my skin was starting to feel normal again, and guess what... no pigmentation, no pimples, just nice skin. I can actually just use some BB cream instead of foundation and I look like a normal person again.

Now, here is my question. Is this bad for my skin in the long run, I mean, when it is red and scabby, it is ugly. Thank goodness I work from home.

I looked up the PH for raw garlic and it is 5.80... not sure if I should do it again, if I get a pimple.

I am sick of ugly skin and this gives me great skin.

Stop or do it again when I get break out?

Waiting for your advice.

free skin care · Thu May 09, 2013 10:59 pm

That's really interesting bombshellbella. I can't help you because I'm clueless, but I'd be interested in hearing what other people say. No pigmentation?? That's sort of a miracle... I hope it's okay for your skin because it sounds like you have had great results. I do have a feeling that if nothing else, you'll be advised to try to figure out what started the break outs to begin with, you know?

free skin care · Thu May 09, 2013 11:20 pm

I know, I have no clue why I break out. I always have had a bit of acne as a teen, and then my skin cleared up during my pregnancys but for some reason, I have always dealt with acne in a mild or severe form.

But the garlic is helpful. I wish I took before and after.

free skin care · Thu May 09, 2013 11:45 pm

m.....I did something similar before. I had one really bad acne on my chin and I heard about usung garlic to help. I rubbed a halved garlic clove on the spot while I was watching TV (a good one hour) and my skin got burnt. I ended up having a dark dark scar for almost one year. I would recomend you to use the garlic juice to maybe clean your face but putting it on overnight... Iwould not dare to do that again.

free skin care · Fri May 10, 2013 5:02 am

My skin "burnt" too... my I do not have spots left, just normal skin. Isn't that weird?

Fri May 10, 2013 7:40 am

From what I've read, you may want to dilute or buffer the raw garlic with oil, glycerin or petrolatum or gauze when using it topically.

These excepts might be of some interest:

Quote:

Topical garlic can cause skin irritation, blistering, and even third-degree burns, so be very careful about applying garlic directly to the skin.

More here: http://www.med.nyu.edu/content?ChunkIID=21729

Quote:

Skin Problems

Garlic has wonderful antiseptic properties that can be used to treat many skin conditions and external infections. There are a number of options for antiseptic applications, depending on the nature of the skin complaint:

Acne, spots or mouth ulcers
Simply hold a chopped clove against the affected area for a few minutes.

Small areas of skin such as a minor wound, boil, blemish or infection
First apply petroleum jelly to the surrounding area of skin. Crush a small amount of garlic onto a cotton ball or a plaster then stick it in place and leave for 15-20 minutes while it draws out the infection and reduces any swelling. Carefully peel off and rinse with warm water. You can repeat this morning and night for as long as necessary to promote healing.

Larger areas of skin
Make a solution of 100 ml (1/4 cup) warm water and 3 cloves of crushed garlic then dab onto the affected area with cotton wool. Use the solution within 3 hours as it will lose its potency over time. Always make a new solution for each application.

Planter warts
First protect the healthy skin around the wart by smearing it with petroleum jelly before applying the garlic. Thinly slice a clove of garlic then put a slice onto the wart, securing it in place with a plaster or piece of gauze and medical tape. Replace with a fresh slice of garlic daily. This method should dissolve the wart within a week.

Athlete’s foot
This fungal skin infection is incredibly common and can be itchy, but applying garlic paste helps to clear it.

Garlic remedies: garlic paste
Crush a few cloves of garlic into olive oil to make a paste. Leave for 24 hours before applying the oil between the toes 3-4 times a day. You can also soak a cotton ball in the paste and place it between the toes overnight. Put socks on to protect your bedding from garlic aromas! Alternatively, sprinkle powdered garlic daily on wet feet and allow to dry (socks may be worn).

Rashes
Garlic tea, applied cool with a cotton ball or by drinking, will relieve itching, painful rashes caused by poison ivy and poison oak — see the recipe later on in this article (Colds and coughs). It is also good for nettle stings.

Read more: http://www.motherearthliving.com/health-and-wellness/natural-remedies/garlic-remedies-ze0z1211zwar.aspx?ViewAll=True#ixzz2StodfCLt

Quote:

For external application, use caution putting crushed garlic directly against the skin, because it can cause burns. Here are some forms you can use for direct application of garlic as an antibiotic:

Blend up three cloves of garlic in a quart of water and apply as a wash. Make a larger amount of this mixture and use it as a sitz bath or foot bath for infections of the feet or pelvic area.

Crush garlic, and dilute the juice with ten part of water. Use it as nose drops or a gargle.

More here: http://medherb.com/Materia_Medica/Allium_sativum_-_Antibiotic_and_Immune_Properties.htm

Quote:

Leave the application on for about 5 minutes, and then wash it off. Do not leave it on overnight because the elements contained in the garlic juice are so strong they may burn your skin.

Read more: How to Use Fresh Garlic to Cure Acne | eHow http://www.ehow.com/how_2119700_use-fresh-garlic-cure-acne.html#ixzz2Sttwtm87

This is from an animal herbalist but I think it holds true for humans as well:

Quote:

3) If you decide to use garlic as a topical antibiotic, bear in mind that raw garlic juice is very, very strong, and may cause acute reddening and irritation to skin and mucous membranes if applied in undiluted form. Cut the juice with some olive oil, vegetable glycerin, or water; at a starting rate of one part of pure garlic juice to two parts of inert liquid (oil, water, etc.). If irritation still occurs, dilute it more. All of this can be avoided by infusing fresh cloves directly into olive oil— more on this in a minute.

Freshly crushed garlic, or juice can be infused or diluted into olive oil for use as a topical antiseptic for minor injuries, ear infections;, or mites. The rule here is to be sure the garlic is diluted sufficiently— the volatile oils are very strong and can cause burning irritation if applied to the skin in concentrated form. Never… never apply essential oil of garlic to any part of the body; it’s too concentrated. And never use garlic preparations in the eyes.

More here: http://theanimalherbalist.com/?page_id=169

free skin care · Fri May 10, 2013 8:22 am

So will the burnt parts cause premature wrinkling.

Thanks so much everyone!!

free skin care · Sat May 11, 2013 7:36 am

Ha I actually just took garlic cloves and rubbed them on my acne a few years ago. At first it helped a lot but the affect started to wear off,my skin had a weird texture and of course my face smelled...so I guess as a spot treatment everyonce in awhile but I wouldn't recommend putting it all over.

free skin care · Sat May 11, 2013 3:54 pm

Thank you havana, that was very helpful!!

free skin care · Wed May 22, 2013 2:45 pm

I broke out a lot in my early 30s; hormonal imbalances were likely the cause. I now use progesterone cream which seems to help and have learned a lot from reading the articles by a biologist named Ray Peat.

Personally I could not put garlic on my face. I used to use a lot of Milk of Magnesia masks but probably aspirin is better. Also, topical retinoids.

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