The funniest but certainly not the best homemade acne treatment I ever witnessed was that introduced by Gus Portokalos (played by Michael Constantine) in My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Did you see the movie? If not, here’s a homemade acne treatment that is novel and even makes you smell squeaky clean. In the movie, whenever someone has acne, the dramatic patriarch, Portokalos, chases the afflicted about the house with a Windex® bottle swearing by its instant acne healing properties. The character is just that, quite a character, quirky and self-absorbed, but his well-intended option to this unique homemade acne treatment is understandably honorable.

Those of us who have been or are afflicted by acne don’t find the whole deal all that funny! This is because most of us have used homemade acne treatments until we could open a skin care shop...or at least write a book. I will share with you some of the advice, tricks, and suggestions I have heard about, read about, or tried over the last thirty-plus years.

HOMEMADE ACNE TREATMENT— THE TRADITIONAL And NON-TRADITIONAL

After washing face with better hypoallergenic or low-oil soap and hot water, steam pores open further by dipping head over a pot of boiling water, with a towel tenting head and the pot. Scrub again with soap and hot water, then do an ice cold splash with the coldest water you can face.

* Try rubbing freshly ground garlic cloves (now a paste) into washed skin. * Try zinc pastes and clay masques. * Use fresh lemons after a hot water scrub. Try the same with vinegar instead of lemons. Both lemons and vinegar are astringents. * A clean bowel means as few toxins reaching the skins as possible, so some people do home colonics as part of their homemade acne treatment ritual. * A hot water and face scrub with oatmeal concoction (oatmeal has texture, good for exfoliating dead skin and oils, for example).. * Avoid gorging it on greasy/fried foods, replacing such foods with those that are natural, fresh, and high in vitamins A, B, B5 (highly praised) B6, C, E, and Niacin. * Try taking vitamin supplements with A, B, B6, C, E, and Niacin. * Drink eight glasses of water a day. Or, you could use that Windex... Gus Portokalos’ ultimate homemade acne treatment solution.