Prescriptions drugs to help treat acne can have some severe and unpleasant side-effects. And for some, these medications are too expensive to be a viable option. Fortunately, there are many inexpensive and effective home remedies for treating acne. Not all of these remedies will work for everyone, but as long as you’re not allergic to any of the ingredients, you’ve got nothing to lose by giving them a shot. Complement any acne treatment with drinking lots of water and regular exercise that oxygenates and refreshes the skin.

By using things you might already have around the house, you can treat your acne in an all-natural way. Here’s are some treatments that you can try, probably without having to buy anything:

• Mix together ground nutmeg and milk. Apply to your face and leave on for 1 or 2 hours.

• Apply a paste of honey and cinnamon powder to your pimples and leave on over night. It’s recommended that you do this nightly for 2 weeks.

• Grind some orange peel and add to water. Apply directly on and around your blemishes and leave on for about 20 minutes.

• Apply fresh mint juice to your skin—it can help with acne as well as insect bites.

• Remove blackheads with a paste made from ground radish seeds and water

One way to reduce the physical appearance of acne is to reduce swelling. You can try applying toothpaste (paste, not gel) to your blemishes and leaving it on overnight. You can also “ice down” your blemishes before going to bed.

Another way to start you acne treatment at home, if you prefer not to see a doctor, is to begin a proper, daily face-washing regime. It is possible to over wash your skin, and this will only serve to aggravate your acne. Twice a day is probably is ideal, although others suggest three times.

The first time you wash your face should be when you wake up in the morning. First, make sure your hands are thoroughly cleaned. Then wet your face with warm water and wash with a medicated soap. Washcloths can be havens for bacteria, so don’t use one to scrub with. Instead, rinse your face with clear water and gently pat dry with a soft, clean towel.

Wash your face again before you go to bed. Basically, just repeat the morning cleaning ritual. If you notice dry spots, you can apply a moisturizer that’s formulated for acne. Some people recommend a third mid-day wash, following the same process as the morning wash. You can give it try. It might improve your skin, but you should closely observe the effects it has to make sure it’s not worsening things.