Amla, Amalki, Indian gooseberry or Phyllanthus emblica is the ultimate blood purifier, a powerhouse of vitamin C and tannin along with antioxidants and whatnot. Amla has been used for various skin disorders for ages including acne.
Yes, the benefits of Amla for acne go a long way and it sets things right quite fast. I have tried drinking amla juice as a routine and treated my hair fall as well. It is not a very delicious drink being too sour but diluting it with water makes it quite palatable.
In this article, we will talk about how you can use amla for acne treatment, both on the skin and under the skin (by drinking it of course). We will also talk about some scientifically proven facts about amla, including how to use it for anti-acne face masks.
So let’s get started!
Table of Contents
Benefits of Amla for Acne
- Anti-microbial – Eliminates the microbes that cause skin lesions.
- Blood Purifier – detoxifies the blood and prevents any future pimples.
- Antifungal – Treats the acne even if it has a fungal cause.
- Amla is a potent antioxidant and reduces darkness that’s why it has some skin-whitening effects too(1).
- Reduces free radicals to help reduce signs of ageing (2)
- Supports hormonal balance due to its anti-inflammatory and free radical scavenging effects (2)
- Anti-inflammatory – So forget about that irritated skin and redness.
- Promotes healing – Soothes the skin by cooling it down and promoting healing & repair by boosting collagen production as well.
- Destress – Yes it can replace your gloomy mood with a better one. Being an adaptogen, it helps ease the stress symptoms when taken regularly.
- Pitta reduction – A must-have for pitta-people (those who have oily, acne-prone skin and still crave spicy chips in spite of feeling too hot) as it reduces the pitta and cools down the burning fire inside.
- Astringent – shrinks pores! It doesn’t get any better than this.
So amla is the answer to all your skin lesions but you must use it with caution as it is highly potent and you need to go easy on that.
How to use raw amla for Acne Treatment
Eat it
Eating raw amla is not for the faint of heart. This fruit is exceptionally sour and you need to eat one every day in the season to get the hang of it. It won’t be easy but not that much difficult if you like sour fruits. You can eat amla for acne treatment in the following ways –
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- One amla a day, sprinkle red chilly or chat masala or rock salt on it to make it more palatable
- Amla murabba or sweet amla pickle is a steamed amla fruit soaked in sugar syrup. This is kept for off seasons and it is easy to eat as well. Here is the easiest amla murabba recipe.
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Drink it
This is my personal favourite and I love to drink this juice on a regular basis as I have a large amla tree at my home.
You just need to take 2-3 amla fruits, cut slices, and add to the mixer grinder, you can also add some more pimple-fighting ingredients to it at this time such as mint, spinach, carrot etc.
Add some water and grind it to a smooth paste.
Now strain it and drink the juice. You just need one small glass to kickstart that body detoxification process.
You can also read this body detoxification routine for acne
*About 10-15 ml of pure amla juice per day diluted in water makes one small glass.
Amla Tea – You can also make amla tea by boiling amla leaves or amla fruit in water and drinking the tea with some honey.
Apply Amla Juice on the Face for Acne
Applying amla on the face has also been very beneficial to get rid of pimples and acne scars as well.
Although, people who suffer from acne, almost always have sensitive skin. So It is not advised to apply the amla juice directly on your face without diluting or mixing it.
It is best to either dilute it or to make a face pack with it, as described below.
Do checkout our cooling face packs for acne
Amla face pack To Get Rid of Pimples and Acne Scars
Amla, Aloe vera, green tea and Ginger Face Pack
A recent study proved that the combination of green tea, amla, ginger and salicylic acid improved acne up to 80%(3). As aloe vera gel is also a source of natural salicylic acid, the addition of it in this face pack will surely give you great results.
You just need to
- Add green tea leaves, ¼ teaspoon ginger juice, ½ teaspoon aloe vera gel and ½ tsp amla powder to make a paste.
- Apply it on your face and let it sit for about 20 minutes.
- Wash off
- Always do a patch test on your arm or behind the ear to check for sensitivity.
- If you feel the irritation then reduce the ginger juice quantity next time or you can use the dry ginger powder as well.
Amla & Aloe vera gel Face Pack
If you are not feeling as crafty to mix 4 ingredients in a mask then fret not!
You can also reap great results in terms of pimple clearance with just aloe vera gel and amla juice.
Mix one teaspoon of amla juice with one teaspoon of aloe vera gel. Mix well to make the mixture homogeneous.
Apply liberally on your face, keep it for 20 minutes and wash off.
Spot treatment with amla juice for dark spots and scars
If you are only looking for the spot treatment for acne scars then you can apply the amla juice on your face after diluting it with a few drops of water.
Just take half a teaspoon of amla juice, and add a few drops of water or aloe vera gel. Mix and apply on the acne scars.
It gives the best results when used overnight.
Rose water & Amla powder Face Pack
Another great amla face pack for acne is simply mixing rose water with amla powder. I buy my amla powder from alps goodness and believe me it contains 100% genuine powders and no preservatives.
It saves me from the hassle of drying the amla and grinding it to make a powder (although it is your best option).
You can buy Alps goodness amla powder here –
Wild turmeric, Amla powder & Chickpea flour Face Mask
Wild turmeric is another amazing ingredient to get rid of dark spots, and inflammatory acne and impart a healthy glow on the face.
You can mix 1/4rth teaspoon wild turmeric powder, 1 teaspoon amla powder and 1 teaspoon chickpea flour.
Add rose water or plain water to it to make a paste.
Apply it for 15-20 minutes and wash off.
*Keep your clothes away from the face pack as wild turmeric can stain them yellow.
I buy wild turmeric powder here –
Amla powder and Honey Face Mask
Especially great for those acne-prone people who have dry skin.
In this hassle-free mask, just mix 1 teaspoon of Alps goodness amla powder with honey to form a paste.
Apply it on your clean face and let it sit for at least 20 minutes.
Wash off and enjoy your hydrated and pimple-free skin.
Amla Powder and Papaya Pulp Face Pack For Acne
Another face pack that hits the nail on the acne head is the combination of papaya pulp and amla powder.
The papain enzyme in papaya works really well to treat hormonal acne and acts as an anti-ageing agent as well.
Mix amla powder with papaya pulp to make a paste, and apply for 20 minutes before washing off.
You can apply these face masks once a week, twice a week or even thrice depending upon the severity of the acne.
Just make sure you never forget to do a patch test before use.
Amla For Acne Scars
Ayurvedic Doctors say that amla reduces the production of melanin in the body (source) so it works amazingly well in reducing acne scars and dark spot appearance.
Drinking amla juice, eating fruit or drinking amla tea is the best idea as just applying it on the skin won’t fasten the results.
Amla Side Effects
- Not suitable for pregnant or lactating women unless advised by the doctor
- Amla can increase acidity if taken on an empty stomach, so take it after a meal.
- Amla can cause blood thinning so it must not be taken by people who are suffering from any blood-related disorders, are on blood thinners or have heavy menstrual periods etc.
- It can cause weight loss if taken regularly.
- Amla can aggravate ulcers, acid reflux, stomach disorders diarrhoea etc., so if you are suffering from any digestive disorder then ask your gastroenterologist or a medical professional before adding amla to your diet.
How Many forms of Amla are available for consumption & application
- Amla Juice
- Amla Murabba
- Amla Candy
- Amal ki rasayan (amla extract in powder form to consume)
- Amla powder to add in face packs
- Amla hair oil (here is how amla can turn grey hair to black again)
Do’s& Don’ts While Using Amla for Acne Treatment
- Don’t apply amla juice directly on your face, always dilute it or mix other ingredients mentioned above to make a face pack.
- Don’t drink amla juice on an empty stomach if you are prone to acidity.
- Don’t drink more than 20 ml of juice per day, however, you can dilute it to form a small glass.
Amla is a boon for acne or any kind of skin and hair lesions. It helps in treating acne, protecting the skin from any skin infections and even minimising their recurrence(5). So even when no active acne is there, use Amla for acne in your weekly face pack routine or your natural skincare routine to keep that glow on!
Recommended read – Ice Massage for Pimples
I hope Amla or Indian gooseberry will help you like it helps me in getting rid of acne 🙂
