Adult acne is a nasty thing. Just when you thought you’d put those awkward teenage years behind you, you wake up one morning in your mid to late twenties, and there it is: a ginormous, inflamed, middle school-esque pimple staring back at you from your forehead…or your nose…or your chin… Or all of the above – ewww…
Whether you’ve done your time with teenage acne or not, seeing it again during your adult years is not fun – and I’m speaking from personal experience! I’ve tried everything, from pills, to creams, to Proactiv-type products. Nothing worked, at least not for long. Fortunately for me, the problem fixed itself on its own and I now only battle the random breakout here and there.
My younger cousin is now going through the same thing, so for the past few months, I’ve made it my mission to find something that would help her. I didn’t want her to go down the same path as I did with pills, creams, etc. Now that I have this blog, I knew it was my duty to help her find a natural, chemical-free alternative to the steroid-laden pills and creams that are prescribed at the conventional dermatologist’s office.
Lo and behold, this link about using banana peels randomly crossed my path one night, and I sent it to my cousin and never thought about it again. A few weeks later, on our visit down to Florida, I noticed her skin looked much better and her acne scars were starting to fade. Imagine my surprise when she told me she’d been using the banana peels trick and loved it!
She even jokingly informed me that she’s become the “banana-nazi” so to speak, making sure no one throws away banana peels in her presence LOL 🙂
The steps are very simple:
- Take a small piece of banana peel and rub it on the affected area for a few minutes until the inside of the peel turns brown.
- As it dries, your skin will absorb the vitamins and nutrients in the peel. I leave it on for about 30 mins. and then wash it off with warm water. At night, I just leave it on overnight, then wash off in the morning.
- Do this 3 times a day, and in a few days, you’ll notice results!
Even if you don’t have actual pimples on your skin, this trick can also help reduce acne scars from old breakouts. That’s where I come in: I used this on some old scars around my chin and jaw line and really noticed results within a couple days!
I’m not brave enough to share before/after pictures for the world to see, but the original poster graciously did this for us in her follow-up post. Just seeing those pictures was reason enough for me to try it and to send the link to my cousin!
If you’re looking to do away with commercial products and harsh chemicals on your skin, I urge you to give this a try. It’s totally worth a shot: what’s the worst that can happen – you get some banana on your face for a couple days? Totally worth the risk 🙂
So Why Does This Work?
Banana peels are chock-full of antioxidants, including lutein, which may help protect the skin against sun damage. They also contain esterified fatty acids, which have actually been isolated and incorporated into a patented lotion (Exorex lotion) used to treat eczema and psoriasis!
Some extra notes and other uses
- Banana peels can also be used to treat warts as well! Just tape a piece of the peel to cover the wart, leave on overnight, and remove in the morning. Continue with nightly treatments until wart is gone.
- To stop the itch from bug bites and poison ivy, rub banana peels on the affected area – no more itching!
- Banana peels may also help with hemorrhoids because of the sugar content, which helps them shrink.
- Reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by rubbing banana peels on your skin, which helps to tighten and tone the skin.
- Psoriasis sufferers may also find relief by rubbing banana peels on the affected areas, and may see results within a few days or weeks.
- Banana peels contain lots of potassium, and the antioxidant, lutein.
- Use ripe banana peels, to ensure the best results! And make sure they’re fresh; you don’t want to use an old peel that’s been lying on the counter for a few hours. (So yes, you may have to recruit some scheduled banana eaters for you 😉
How To Save the Banana Peels
There’s been lots of questions and ideas regarding how to save the peel to use it for subsequent treatments, so you’re not eating several bananas per day. And a reader (Hi Alison!) was kind enough to share her technique, which works great:
I’ve fine tuned my technique to cutting a portion of the skin from the banana at a time- just a shallow incision around a section big enough to do my face with, then peel off and use. That way it all stays in tact and 1 banana can go 1 or 2 days depending on size. The fruit gets exposed to the air but still good in a smoothie at the end on the day!
Do you have any great tips or remedies to help clear up acne or scarring?
I’m suffering from acne the past years, I am 21 years old now and I have been giving prescriptions from doctors like lymecline capsules, differin cream and Qunioderm 5 but they don’t work .I’ve also been using papaya soap, foam face wash, hazel face mask, tree oil non greasy moisturizer but it makes it worse. I don’t want to have these spots and pimples all over my face I’m using this herbal cream but it still doesn’t make any difference only a few minimizing. But through your information I learned that banana peels also an acne remedy. Thanks! I’ll try on it. This is my face today.
I didn’t read through the other comments to see if someone else posted this but ROSEMARY ESSENTIAL OIL works very fast miracles on acne and blemishes! My husband went through a few spells of adult acne and this works very fast! You just rub it directly on the affected areas and sleep with it on overnight. Hope this helps someone as effectively as it did us! =)
I use often a lemon cut in half, where I add honey on this half part and just rub it on my face. Honey has amazing healing properties. Nurse even use honey on healing scars after heart surgeries to heal skin faster.
Sounds lovely, Isabelle! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Re: plantars warts: I was going to the hospital to get one I had on my foot zapped every week with liquid nitrigen (picked up at a gym) and it was going very slowly…I then saw a guy talking about how putting DUCT TAPE on them kills them- that’s the heavy grey stuff, so I thought why not won’t hurt. It was gone in 2 days. It works, try it and you will see…and no more gym 🙂
Can the banana peels be used to help eczema?. Thank you.
It may help with itching if it’s a mild case, but if it’s a full on break out, I’ve found that it doesn’t work as well. You can check out my post on eczema to see some of my tips here: http://naturesnurture.co/2013/12/06/how-im-managing-my-toddlers-eczema/
I came across an article a while back about using banana peels to treat skin conditions, I am not sure where I read it. I also didn’t use it for several weeks, but I had an unusual spot appear on my lower leg a few months ago, and since skin cancer runs in my family, I was a little worried and had been watching the spot for changes every since it appeared. Well, a couple weeks ago, I thought I would try the banana peel remedy just to see what happened. Not expecting any results, I was shocked, the banana peel made a significant difference after a couple uses, the spot is no longer red and have shrunk down, it has almost disappeared after three banana peel treatments, I just leave the peel over the spot for about a half an hour, and then throw the peel away. I usually don’t wash the area immediately after treatment either. I am definitely going to try using banana peels for other skin condition and love the idea of trying it on old acne scars, I am a believer! Thanks for sharing this article!
That’s great Linda, thanks so much for sharing! 🙂
Use green banana for warts. works like magic!
Hello,
I have been suffering from acne for a year now and will definitely try this out. Thanks.
Can you tell me whether it will work on pores that have appeared on my face due to acne.
When I was little (and still now) I would have extremely bad mosquito bites. They would get really puffy and my whole foot would swell from one bite! Being lazy one afternoon I ate a banana and sat the peel on my swollen bitten foot (on accident) and found that it made the swelling and itch go away completely! I never thought about doing it to my face now. Thanks!
Save used coffee filters. Peel and eat your banana and then place in damp coffee filter and store in fridge. The caffeine from the filter also helps to firm & tighten skin while the banana peel nourishes and hydrates. Really nice combo.
I can cut off a piece for use and store the rest of the banana in the refrigerator for later use right?
Yes!
Any species of banana peels can be used?
Just regular, yellow bananas.
so knowledgeable blog. . all I could say s effective and nutritious, a brain food , good for the stomach and skin.
Guys, it really works! Don’t give up!!!! First week it seems hard and you may get more pimples, but it’s a process of making your skin clear!!! It’s amazing, I feel so great. My skin is almost clear! And please don’t give up!!! You will be so amazed! Do the steps right! Three times a day! And leave it as long as you can!
Going to try this, I have found that applying fresh squeezed lime juice and leaving on for 15 min once a day works wonders, but after a couple weeks my skin gets sensitive to the juice and I have to stop until acne flares again, the peel method sounds more time consuming, but maybe I can use in between lime to keep sensitivity and rebound acne at bay
Thanks for sharing
Hi,Sarrah can i use banana peel on skin tags? Does it work on them ?
Hi uzmayasir, I just googled “banana peels on skin tags” and this was the first result: http://positivemed.com/2013/08/14/8-ways-to-naturally-remove-skin-tags/
Banana peels are on that list, as well as a few others. If you do try it, please come back and let us know how it went!
well i found another site that might help. this is very organic. you can found it any place in your house.. hope this helps..
http://healthyfactz.blogspot.com/2013/12/11-herbs-used-as-traditional-acne.html
How long, after you have rubbed the banana skin all over your face, must you endure the smell of bananas before washing it off?
hi…..my uncle is sufferd from psoriasis from about 10 years ..take medicine regularly just to overcome the problem,,nw he is seriously ill any one can help him to complete overcome this problem…….plz
90% of the coments are sayin oh this si great!!!!! IM going to try this…..cant you see thats a useles comment? Just use it and come bakc reporting how it went for you…just sayin
You can scrape the banana peel and mix scrapings into coconut oil.
Coconut oil will not turn rancid for a long time. I have used banana peels
to make a cream to use on my horses to get rid of no see ems, small biting
bugs that make life miserable for some horses. I have also buried the peels at the base of my rose bushes, works great.
Banana’s are a wonder food and health care.
Banana peels are also great for getting rid of Aphids on your rose bushes. After you have eaten your banana, just throw the peeling at the base of the shrub. Aphids HATE the potassium, which wards them away from your beautiful roses. No need to remove as they decompose into the soil, mulch or whatever it is that is surrounding your rose bushes. Hope this was informative 🙂
yes, the first time I put it on my face and I forgot about it, went outside, cleaned my car and when I came in I not only had ‘brown’ blotchy skin but a few of the strings that bananas have too, lol! It is the oxidation and it does require a bit of scrubbing.
Also, as an update, I used the banana on my cheeks and it seems to really work HOWEVER, I used it around my chin and jaw and I must saw I had a terrible reaction and now have about 9-10 very irritated pimples……seems the banana clogged my pores in this area. I can’t think of anything else it may have been. I stopped the banana for 4 days now and will try again just to see what happens and report back. I wish I could post a picture b/c I would so you can see the skin changes.
My sister suggested the banana peel idea to my mother and me. We had a strange reaction I have seen no one mention anywhere. Very shortly after rubbing our skin, we turned colors. To be specific, brown and black smears. I know that oxidation can cause the banana to do that, but it seamed as though it was our skin. We had to wash like crazy to get it off. It had only been on our skin a minute, maybe 2? Is that normal?
In my experience, that’s just the banana that got onto your skin and turned brown. I’ve never heard of it actually changing the color of the skin.
Hello, I have to say I found this site just last week and tried the banana peel right away. It seriously made a difference in my skin. I had 11, yes 11 red pimples that were on my skin and one week later I have 5, yes 5 left and they are not nearly as red as before. I am in amazement at this treatment as I have never heard of this before unfortunately.
History: I am 48 years old and still get acne. So, I am thrilled I have found something that works. I will continue to write in and post about how the bananas are working as I am really anxious to see how long term this is. Lastly, I did freeze the peels and break off small pieces when I need them. I must say that the frozen peel on a larger sore pimples feels very therapeutic. I don’t think I will be eating 3 bananas a day but I will eat one and use the peel and hopefully that will work. Thanks for all of this information!
I use some banana cream for my psoriasis and any other skin irritation (sunburn, bug bites, wounds, etc.) that I encounter. My cousin just had an eczema outbreak on her face that was nasty. I suggested she try the inside of a banana peel. It worked, but is a bit messy, so I sent her some of my banana cream. She was all cleared up within a couple days. Banana peels have some amazing healing properties, and the bananas taste pretty good, too. I get my banana cream from [link removed by moderator] or just Google “banana peel extract cream” and you have a choice of suppliers.
Interesting to read that banana peel can also be used to treat veruccas. I’ll suggest this to my daughter as I think she’d prefer it to putting salicylic acid on her foot!
Hi, i was wondering if the banana peel works on whiteheads? Thankss
I am 60 years old and love natural remedies. wish I had found this one earlier in life, but going to try it for sure and pass it on. Spray the bananas with cook’nspray,save in the fridge until you have enough to make banana bread.
Can I put banana peel that I don’t use in fridge until I am ready to use?
I have terrible skin due to many years of crohn’s, collitis, then got mrsa from a surgery, and now folliculitis. I am 49 yrs old and hardly ever leave my house…due to breakouts. It is a terrible thing to deal with and I became very depressed, as after 35 yrs of suffering…my bowels are finally under control and I was so excited to rejoin the living…then bang..this skin problem.I am devastated to the point of not wanting to live anymore.. to played out from fighting it all. I can not help myself by way of healthy eating…as even though the pain is under control..I still do not absorb enough. After finding your site..and believe me-I have searched, I can say this is the best, most informative and helpful site I have found so thank you for this. You have given me a glimmer of hope! Literally have saved my life! I am going out today to get the bananas, baking soda, coconut oil ( I am on a tight budget so can only get a couple things) and am going to give me one last try! If this helps me….then you obviously can help many, many people regain some dignity and possibly a much better life that is full, not empty and lonely. I hope I am purchasing the proper products to try….please advise if you think I should change anything. I will report back and let you know how it goes. I will get my dtr to take a pic, so people will be able to see a before and after. THANK You for giving me hope!!!
Oo I’ve heard about this before and told my mum about it but she laughed at me and said it probably wouldn’t work.. but reading many articles about this made me want to try it! So I’m gonna try using this method to get rid of these disgusting acne scars 😛
I’m 36 weeks pregnant with twins, and I just started developing stretch marks so you can bet I went on a search for a solution. A natural one, preferably. While this is for acne scars, I rubbed the banana peel on my chest and stomach.
Honestly… it’s only been about seven hours but I swear the stretch marks are lighter.
And since I do have a few pimples and light scarring, I used it on my face while I was at it. I ONLY wash my face with honey and have been for a year and it has healed my skin so much. I’m hoping the banana peel helps out too. (:
I have never heard of a banana peel working to heal acne, it sounds interesting, i truly would like to know the science behind it.
Does your face have to be clean? like, do you have to wash your face with a facial wash before doing it or you can do this treatment without washing your face? thanks!
Do you think the banana peel routine might work on seborrheic keratoses (looks a little like warts but is flatter)
Honestly, I’m not really sure. I would do a quick Google search to see if anything comes up and if not, I think I’d try it anyways just to see. Good luck!
l use a small square of banana skin slimmy side against the skin when l get a verruca,l put it on an cover it with a bit of old rag,and change it every day for a week,the verruca is usually gone.
I’m going to teach this to my clients. I’m a massage therapist always trying to help my clients become chemical free and treat their body as their temple. I wanted to know when using for wrinkles…Do you need to wash it it off? I was wondering if I put it on and leave it on all day how that would affect my skin? Have you tried this? I am going to take before and after pics of me and my boyfriend. I can send them to ya if you want.
Asalaam walaikum Sarah,
Will banana peel get back the color that i had and also get rid of my scars and pimple plzz suggest and how long is the procedure and how many times in a week or day shall i use..Could you tell me the exact procedure if u dnt mind….
Walaikum Assalam Daoud,
I have more posts on natural skin care that you can look at here: http://naturesnurture.co/tag/natural-skin-care-series/ I can’t comment on exact procedures or how many times, as that depends on your skin type. You’ll have to experiment and see what works for you. Hope that helps!
Assalamualaikum Doud
If you want your normal skin colour back I would defo recomend Nur76 cream to you that evens out your skin tone and also gets rid of your acne scars… Also when I feel a new pimple comin out I dab abit of that cream on the pimple and in couple of days the redness n bump disappears! Believe me try nur76 it helps u will start seeing results fast in sha Allah it is quite pricey but worth it plus no chemicals all natural I been usin it for a year nw. X
Can somebody please help me Acne is ruining my life its taking over my life all I wanna do is hide away from everyone and cry. Av had acne for about 3 years nw I never had any in my teenage yrs so why now. They come and go but at the moment its come back and come bk worse iv lost hope I try my best get rid ov it and den am bk to square one again
I’m so sorry! I know how bad it can get and the loss of hope. I have more posts on natural skin care that you can look at here: http://naturesnurture.co/tag/natural-skin-care-series/
Hi Sarah,
Thanks so much for this blog entry. I have an active bug bite that’s been itching over the last two days. How timely that I ran into your article (and read the whole thing)! I just tried it on my bug bite and no more itching for last 30 minutes. Hopefully it continues to help- if not I’ll reapply it. Also gonna try this on my acne-plagued face. Thanks so much!
I now look at banana peels with a very different eye, as i never knew they can be so amazing! Having struggled with acne for a very long time, I really wish i had known this earlier. However, i am going to give it a try starting right now. I am even more amazing learning that they can reduce the appearance of wrinkles. thanks so much for sharing!
Hi. How do i post the ache cleanser/banana peel recioe on fb? Thank you!:)
Hi Dana,
You can share any of my posts on most social media channels by using the links at the bottom of the post under “Share The Knowledge!”. When you hover over the different buttons, they’ll pop up and you can choose the one you want. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Nice article. I’ve tried banana peels before and I did feel it made somewhat of a difference. I’m trying not to use anything but what I would eat on my face right now, so I will try this again. Thanks for reminding me!
I will try this method. I used lot of soap and creams but it didnt work out my face is really.not good coz of my acne prob and it keeps popping up everyday… i hope this method will work on me
mashaAllah, Allah guided me right to your site. I’m n the middle of teaching my daughter math, and she wanted 2 make a smoothie w/ my banana. I said yes, then i googled n ‘what r banana peels good for’..well, well, well, mashaAllah! I have a teenage son, as well as an adult daughter who still suffers from acne. I will immediately give both of them this remedy and will make dua that Allah Blesses it to work for the both of them…Allahumma ameen! Thanking u n advance 4 your input. May Allah Reward u w/ good for your assistance..Allahumma ameen!
Assalamu Alaikum Umm Medina! Please excuse the very late reply. I read this comment while I was traveling (and LOVED it!) but didn’t get a chance to respond right away, so it eventually got buried. So amazing how your daughter’s banana smoothie led you to this post! JazakiAllahu khair for all the wonderful words and dua. 🙂
I’m wondering how your son and daughter’s skin is doing? What kind of cleanser are they using? If it helps, I have a few other posts on natural skin care that can help with balancing and toning the skin to get rid of acne, etc. You can find them here: http://naturesnurture.co/tag/natural-skin-care-series/
Best of luck and God bless!
banana $eels are very effective and good for treating acne.
I just absolutely love this! As soon as I read your blog, I ran to my kitchen counter and am currently in the process of it. I love that it is all natural because I’m so tired of burning and stinging sensations while using a ‘product’, just doesn’t seem good for your skin. Loved reading everyone else’s comments and suggestions. Beach weather here we come!!!! =]]
Love this idea and am going to try it for my line and wrinkles. Someone asked about what to use on blackheads – I have used regular toothpaste for years to get rid of them. Just put some directly on the spot at night and leave it on overnight. It dries the spot out and always seems to work for me.
I wanted to kNow what kind of banana it is? Coz there are many kinds of banana!
Just regular yellow bananas. 🙂