22 Common Home Remedies – Find Out What Works!

October 30, 2013
by Bob Frazier

We understand the need for at-home beauty fixes; after all, who wants to spend a bunch of money on products if there’s a cheaper alternative to be made at home? Unfortunately, though, most home remedies err on the side of danger, and by that, I mean irritation. This month, we looked into some of the more popular home remedies to see if they’re tricks or treats. Read on to find out more.

Can You Use Hot or Cold Water to Change the Size of Your Pores?: TRICK

Unfortunately, there really isn’t a way to change the size of your pores. Hot water will increase blood flow to the skin, allowing for easier permeability of ingredients, but that doesn’t actually open your pores. Conversely, using cold water to shrink your pores won’t work, either. According to Dr. Mary Lupo, cold water can stop your sebaceous glands from producing excess oil, but once your pores hit a certain size, there’s no shrinking them.

Can You Use Neosporin, Toothpaste, or Aspirin to Treat Acne?: TRICK (Mostly)

Neosporin is a great ointment for when you’ve got a superficial cut or scrape because it’s an antiobiotic, but it doesn’t mean it works against the same bacteria that causes most acne, P. acne. Plus, most triple antiobiotic ointments (TAOs) contain moisturizing ingredients like olive oil, which can actually clog pores and worsen acne. And if you use too much of a TAO, bacteria can become resistant, creating an even bigger problem.

Toothpaste, on the other hand, contains the irritating and drying sodium lauryl sulfate, which is partnered with another irritating ingredient, triclosan. By putting such a drying combination on your acne, you could further exacerbate your acne lesions.

Aspirin, however, can technically be used to treat acne because it contains acetylsalicylic acid, which will break down into the acne-fighting salicylic acid when mixed with water. Most over-the-counter products that contain salicylic acid at concentrations no greater than 2%, and using a higher concentration without administration by your dermatologist can lead to irritation. So while it would technically work, it’s better to avoid it since you’re not sure how much you’ll be putting on your face.

Can You Drink Water to Hydrate Your Skin?: TRICK

Drinking water is certainly beneficial for your body, so it’s no wonder we’d think that drinking water would also hydrate our skin. Unfortunately, there aren’t many studies on the effects of water consumption and skin as it’s not a novel invention, but what studies do exist compare tap water and mineral water. Unfortunately, tap water isn’t going to do much, if at all, for skin hydration, but mineral water might; one study found that participants drinking mineral water for four weeks saw a statistically significant decrease in skin density, which researchers believe to be an indicator of hydration as the skin holds more water. It must be noted that increases in skin hydration were really only relevant to those who drank almost no water prior to the study and were likey dehydrated. So the real difference in skin hydration is only going to come if you’re already dehydrated and you’re skipping the tap water in favor of mineral water.

Will Using Milk as a Toner Give You Brighter, Smoother Skin?: TRICK

If you’re using whole milk as a toner, you’re getting quite the benefits in terms of fatty acids; linoleic acid acts as an emollient to moisturize your skin, and linolenic acid aids in the production of ceramides, which are responsible for strengthening the skin barrier. But the main reason people use this is because they think it contains lactic acid, an exfoliating yet moisturizing alpha hydroxy acid; unfortunately, this isn’t true. If you’re finding lactic acid in your milk, it’s past its sell-by date. Bacteria in milk break down the sugars (lactose), producing lactic acid. So the more bacteria, the more lactic acid, and the less likely you want to be drinking it or putting it on your face. If you’re trying to get lactic acid from a food source, try a yogurt mask instead.

Can I Eat Gelatin to Strengthen My Nails?: TRICK

This comes from the idea that if you eat protein, you’ll get stronger nails. Unfortunately, the kind of protein matters in this case. Your hair and nails are made of keratin, while gelatin is made of hydrolyzed collagen. Thus far, there hasn’t been any evidence to suggest that consumption of gelatin will strengthen your nails, with the exception of studies from the 1950s that suggested it would benefit those with psoriasis or fungal infections. Of course, these studies didn’t really follow proper research models; for example, they didn’t use controls. One of the only studies in existence tests consumption in horses; researchers found that gelatin had no effect on hoof strength. If you’re looking to strengthen your nails, try vitamin supplements instead.

[Read More: Can Gelatin Strengthen Nails?]

Can You Use Hydrogen Peroxide to Whiten Your Teeth?: TREAT (But Have Your Dentist Do It)

As it turns out, hydrogen perioxide is actually the ingredient used by dentists to whiten your teeth. It works by releasing oxygen radicals, which stabilize themselves by stealing electrons from neighboring pigment molecules to whiten your teeth. Professional bleaching involves about 25% to 45% hydrogen peroxide, and over-the-counter (OTC) treatments contain carbamide peroxide, which yields about 3% hydrogen peroxide. This is the same concentration found in your trusted brown bottle. So while swishing with hydrogen peroxide would work, I’d still avoid it. You’re probably not being very precise in the amounts you’re using and for how long, which will lead to tooth and gum sensitivity. Instead, see your dentist for a professional bleaching or try an OTC treatment.

Will Cool Tea Bags Reduce Eye Puffiness and Dark Circles: TREAT

If you find yourself with puffy eyes the morning of an important event, you might want to reach for cool tea bags to help. The caffeine will work as a vasoconstrictor to reduce the size of veins, while the theophylline will permeate the skin to dehydate skin cells and reduce inflammation. Of course, you have to be careful what kind of tea you choose; Earl Grey can cause irritation due to the bergamot oil, and an herbal tea won’t do anything since it doesn’t contain caffeine. Of course, this is only a temporary fix for a temporary problem, so I’d look into lifestyle changes or an eye cream to reduce the amount of times you wake up with puffy eyes.

Can I Use Strawberries to Whiten Your Teeth?: TRICK

Using strawberries to whiten your teeth comes from the idea that using an acid will work as an astringent to limit stains. Some recommend using baking soda as well, but regardless of what route you’d choose, you’d be doing quite a bit of damage to your teeth. As far as strawberries are concerned, consider the pH level of your mouth, which runs at the neutral level of 7. Adding acids to your mouth will weaking your enamel, and brushing with strawberries will only accelerate that process. And if you add baking soda into the mix, it will neutralize the acidity, but the abrasive brushing of the baking soda granuals and strawberry seeds will stratch up your enamel.

[Read More: Can Strawberries Give You Whiter Teeth?]

Will a Mayonnaise Mask Make Your Hair Healthier?: TRICK

A simple mayonnaise recipe calls for soybean oil, egg yolk, lemon juice, and/or vinegar. Soybean oil is an occlusive moisturizer that contains lecithin and vitamin E, so it’s likely to do great things for your hair and scalp, as will the egg yolk, as it contains oleic acid and vitamins A, D, and E. Unfortunately, mayonnaise also contains vinegar and lemon juice, both of which are acids with a pH of 2. Since your hair has a pH of 4-5, the vinegar and lemon juice will break the hydrogen bonds and salt bridges in your hair, damaging your luscious locks. Plus, acid makes your hair shaft strink, leaving it limp and lifeless. So while the soybean oil and egg yolk will technically benefit your hair, it’s likely to be outweighed by the acids.

Can You Really Lose Weight with Cling Wrap?: TRICK

Wrapping yourself in plastic wrap might help you lose weight, but it’s only temporary. The heat from the plastic wrap will help you shed excess water weight, which could potentially dehydrate or overheat your body. This weight will be gained back once you start drink water or eat food. Additionally, some doctors argue that exposure to potential endocrine disruptors in plastic wrap could be detrimental to your health. If you’re looking to drop water weight, cut back on sodium, which increases water retention, and look to other, more sustainable options, like exercise and a well-balanced diet, if you’re trying to lose more serious weight.

Will Putting Butter on a Burn Help it Heal Faster?: TRICK

If you reach for that cold stick of butter after a burn, you’re going to exacerbate the problem. Applying butter to your burn will trap in heat, increasing the amount of time your skin will continue to burn. Due to its occlusive nature, butter will also trap in contaminants, which could lead to infection. Instead, run your burn under cold water for 20 minutes to reduce swelling, numb the pain, and cool the burn; researchers have also suggested that cold water might also aid in healing, but its mechanisms of action have yet to be determined. Do not apply ice to burns as the extreme temperature difference will further damage burned tissue. Seek immediate medical attention if you are severely burned.

Is Baking Soda Safe to Use as an Exfoliant?: TRICK

Your skin’s pH runs between 4.5 to 6.5. Baking soda is basic, which means that it has a higher pH. When you apply something very basic to your skin, like an alkaline cleanser, you’re disrupting the acid mantle of your skin, which negatively affects the skin barrier. This changes the bacterial flora composition as well as the enzymes in the upper layers of your skin. And the longer you use it, the more cumulative the damage. Even if you’re adding water to baking soda, the pH level is still too alkaline, coming in at a pH of 8. Instead, stick to something with a lower pH, which helps the skin retain moisture. But be careful not to go too low, as stronger acids can cause skin irritation and sun sensitivity, which could lead to hyperpigmentation.

Can Olive Oil Be Used as a Hair Conditioner?: TREAT – BUT…

Olive oil contains vitamins C and E, which will protect your hair against environmental damage caused by UV exposure. It is also an occlusive moisturizer, which means it will trap existing moisture in your hair – great if you already have hydrated hair, but not so great if you’re looking to add moisture. What you need is an occlusive agent plus an emollient, which will add moisture while providing a protective barrier. Plus, olive oil can be a little more than difficult to wash out of your hair. Instead, look to conditioners formulated with olive oil, which will provide your hair with its antioxidant and occlusive properties as well as other benefits from other ingredients.

Can I Use Lemons to Lighten My Dark Spots?: TRICK

In moderation, lemon juice, will provide your skin with many benefits. It contains our favorite antioxidant, vitamin C, which can supplement your sunscreen by protecting against UVA and lighten sun spots. Lemons also contain citric acid, an alpha hydroxy acid that will slough off dead skin cells. But the issue with lemons is that too much can be a bad thing; lemons can cause irritation and photosensitization because of the citric acid. Additionally, it has a pH of 2, making it a little too acidic for repeated use on your skin. Instead, look to products formulated with citric acid or vitamin C to lighten dark spots, such as our FutureDerm Vitamin CE Caffeic Silk Serum. Products found in stores are specially formulated to minimize skin irritation, which isn’t something you’re taking into account when you’re rubbing raw lemons on your skin.

Will Mouthwash Soaks Save Your Dry, Cracked Feet?: TREAT – Sort Of…

If your dry, cracked feet are a sign of athlete’s foot, then this might work for you. The alcohol in mouthwash would act as an antifungal agent with backup provided by thymol and eucalyptol. But the methyl salycilate could be irritating for your skin, and the menthol in mouthwash isn’t recommended for broken skin. Specially-formulated treatments for athlete’s foot are your best bet. If you’re trying this remedy for your run-of-the-mill dry feet, it’s better to use an exfoliator instead.

Will Duct Tape Remove Warts?: TREAT

While it might not work as well as some treatments, like salicylic acid, putting duct tape over your plantar wart might actually help it, but researchers still aren’t sure why. One theory suggests that the adhesiveness of duct tape might remove infected tissues of the wart until it’s gone, while another hypothesizes that “suffocating” the offending wart will deprive it of oxygen. Of course, this isn’t going to work for every wart, and it takes time for the wart to go away. As always, it’s best to talk to your doctor, who can give you the proper guidance on how best to deal with your wart.

[Read More: Will Duct Tape Remove Warts?]

Can You Use Preparation H to Get Rid of Under Eye Bags?: TRICK

Most of the ingredients in your standard Preparation H Ointment are occlusive agents like petrolatum and mineral oil, which will really only trap existing moisture in your skin. It also contains a vasoconstrictor, phenylephrine, which will contrict the blood vessels around your eyes to potentially diminish the appearance of dark circles. This only works if your bags and circles are caused by blood pooling rather than hyperpigmentation. Unfortunately, the phenylephrine isn’t meant to be used near your eyes, and could actually cause the blood vessels to become more dilated with repeated use as they rebel against the effects of the phenylephrine. If you’re trying to combat temporary undereye circles and bags, look for an eye cream with caffeine.

Can I Use Home Remedies to Treat Dandruff?: TRICK

Dandruff is caused by a yeast-like fungus, malassezia, that causes the overproduction of skin cells. While this fungus is normally present on your skin, it can grow out of control. To combat dandruff, home remedy advocates have said to use lemon juice, baking soda, and aspirin, but none of these is fool-proof. Lemon juice, to start, is only a temporary solution and will cause skin irritation with repeated use. Baking soda is too basic for your scalp and hair, and will lead to drying and irritation over time. And while aspirin contains acetylsalicylic acid, which breaks down into anti-dandruff salicylic acid, you can never be sure how much of a concentration you’re using when you’re not using a formulated product. There’s no real cure for dandruff as of yet, but using a shampoo and conditioner combination with zinc pyrithione will help treat it.

Will Coffee Grounds Cure Your Cellulite?: TRICK

Cellulite affects 85% to 98% of post-pubescent women, so it makes sense that women want a cheap at-home remedy to fix quite a pervasive problem. When you apply coffee grounds to your skin, any pharmacological activity is coming from caffeine and theophylline, members of the methylxanthine family that inhibit phosphodiesterase. This activates ß-adrenergic receptors to perform lypolysis by breaking down triglycerides. Additionally, the caffeine acts as a diuretic to dehydrate fat cells. So, in theory, this would work; the compounds in coffee should burn fat and dehydrate fat cells. Unfortunately, you’d need a penetration-enhancer for the theophylline to enter your system at the right levels, and the caffeine will actually thin your skin over time, which will further exacerbate the problem. As much as I’d like a home remedy to work as a cure for cellulite, this will only provide a temporary fix at best.

Will Steeping Your Skin in Earl Grey Tea Soothe Your Sunburn?: TRICK

Earl Grey tea is a black tea with added bergamot oil for flavoring. While at lesser levels than green tea, black tea does contain some polyphenols that will help to fight inflammation, including the ever-popular ECGC, caused by your extended sun soiree. But it’s the inclusion of bergamot oil that lends this home remedy its trickery; it contains a lot of limonene, a known skin irritant that will also increase sun sensitivity, which is the exact opposite of what you want for your sunburned skin. If you’re in need of a quick fix, opt for plain black or green tea. But your best option is to use products with cortisone to fight inflammation, ibuprofen to relieve pain, and aloe vera to soothe your skin.

Are Homemade Vitamin C Serums Safe or Effective?: TRICK

Although it can be rather tempting to make your own vitamin C serums, it’s really not the way to go. First, you run into the issue of pH levels. As I mentioned above, the pH level of your skin rests somewhere between 4.5 to 6.5, making it mildly acidic. In order for the vitamin C to effectively enter your skin, it has to have a pH lower than 3.5, but if you go too low – say, at 2.2, which is the level of 5% L-ascorbic acid mixed with water – you risk skin irritation, sun sensitization, and hyperpigmentation. Second, L-ascorbic acid is very unstable, as it degrades in light, heat, and air, so it will likely oxidize very quickly if you’re not keeping it in a dark bottle in the refrigerator. Third, you’re not getting any of the additional benefits you’d receive with chemically formulated products, such as vitamin E and caffeic acid in our FutureDerm Vitamin CE Caffeic Silk Serum. So while homemade vitamin C serum sounds like a good idea, it’s best left up to the cosmetic chemists.

Is It Dangerous to Use Household Bleach to Whiten Your Teeth?: TRICK

Just thinking about this makes my teeth hurt. If we want to go by technicalities, yes, household bleach will whiten your teeth. But let’s not forget that this is a very dangerous chemical that will poison you should you swallow it. For example, its main ingredient is sodium hypochlorite, which is used to dissolve soft tissue from bones – in this case, your gums from your teeth. And while it’s used in root canal irrigation, it’s been found that it actually weakens the structure of your teeth. Rather than taking a swig of something you use to disenfect your bathroom, try using an over-the-counter product to whiten your teeth. Most use 10% carbamide peroxide, which breaks down to 3% hydrogen peroxide to release oxygen radicals that steal electrons from neighboring pigment molecules to effectively whiten your teeth.

Bottom Line

While there’s usually some truth to home remedies, most people fail to look at other factors in the treatment that could cause irritation or other problems. While I understand the desire to try treatments on your own terms, it’s generally best to leave it up to the cosmetic chemists, who undergo extensive studying to determine how best to formulate ingredients to minimize any problems that might occur, such as microencapsulating vitamin C to reduce instability. Unless you’ve got some extensive cosmetic chemistry training under your belt, I’d leave the formulating to the professionals.

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Nicki Zevola is the founder and editor-in-chief of FutureDerm.com. Named one of the top 30 beauty bloggers in the world by Konector.com since 2009, Nicki