Treat Acne & Other Skin Conditions With Banana Peels!
103This post is part of a series on Natural Skin Care. To view more posts in this series, click here.
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-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 for banana peels:
- 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
)
Do you have any great tips or remedies to help clear up acne or scarring? What about other uses for banana peels? Please share your ideas in the comments!
This post is part of a series on Natural Skin Care. To view more posts in this series, click here.
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I read this tip in Dear Abby over 20 years ago. It cleared up my acne and my teenage son’s severe acne within 2 wks. We both saw improvement in 4 days. (This does not work on blackheads.)
Coat your face with raw egg yolk. Let it dry completely (you’ll feel your skin get very tight). Wash your face; easiest to do in the shower. Do this every day for 2 wks, then once a month to maintain.
I still use this on my occasional post-menopauseal breakouts. This and the banana peel is a heck of a lot cheaper than all those acne “medications.”
You can use the egg white as a treatment for your hair before shampooing.
Hi Jacque,
Wow! Thanks so much for the awesome egg tip! I’m definitely going to try that! I’ve used it on my hair before and it really is wonderful, but never thought to use it on the face.
Thanks again for sharing your comments with us!
Sarah. Do I use the inside of the skin or the outside of the skin on the banana.
.
Marilyn, you use the inside of the skin. Sorry if that wasn’t clear!
Good luck!
What? everyday?
Hey Sarah ! Does this work on severe red, acne scars ? My school starts in a month time and I really hope this method will work on me.
Hi Nabilah, I haven’t used it on red acne scars, but I don’t think it would hurt to try! Good luck.
Wow! Who knew? I’m totally going to try this on my scars. If it works, I’m flying out to hug you. Thank you for sharing!
Haha, well here’s praying it works for you, Amnah! I’m always up for free hugs any day
Ya it true
Will the banana peels work on plantar warts? Any suggestions for getting rid of plantar warts?
Hi Debbie,
From what I’ve been reading, a lot of people have actually had success with treating plantar warts with banana peels. Although I don’t have experience with it myself, so I can’t say for sure. But if you google “plantar warts banana peels” there’s a lot of success stories you can read through which may offer extra tips a well.
Hope that helps and wishing you all the best!
Try Apple Cider Vinegar for warts- it is amazing! Be careful though as it will destroy even the healthy skin around the wart so try to keep it just on the wart. I soaked a piece of cotton, about the size of the wart in ACV and then placed it on the wart with a bandaid to cover overnight. Repeat until the skin starts to peel off, the wart can literally be peeled out after a few treatments. Use Braggs ACV, not the cheap store stuff, you need the mother in it.
Great tip, Diane! Thanks for sharing! I’m a lover of ACV myself, and now I’ve learned about yet another one of its many miracle uses
Thanks again!
use ACV as a toner everyday but make sure to dulute half with water. I keep a little bottle in my bathroom and shake it up and use it with a cotton ball. still gotta get over the smell though lol
duct tape cured my years old plantar warts!
Nice to see someone promoting some natural acne cures rather than just trying to sell ‘miracle’ acne cures, which will probably do more harm than good. Usually, if a person eats sensible, listens to their body then they can do much to alleviate acne outbreaks. Most people literally want to have their cake and eat it!
Thanks for your comment! It’s nice to have someone in the industry promoting natural remedies too
Indeed, with many health conditions, there is not enough emphasis on proper diet and more practical solutions, but the tide is turning, I believe!
How cool! I love that it’s so simple. Thanks for the tip! I’m going to pin it.
It really is simple! Thanks for the pin, Kendra!
So far I’m into treatment 2 of day 1. Supposedly my mom has already noticed a difference. My scars aren’t that bad, but there’s enough for me to attempt this. So that I’m not opening a banana for each treatment, how do you store the remaining banana peel? In a ziplock bag? In the fridge? Also, just out of curiosity, what is it about the peel and not the actual fruit that makes it so special?
Amnah, unfortunately there’s no way to store the opened peel. No matter what you do, it will start to go bad very quickly! Plus, the fresher the peel, the more potent the healing properties, as they start to decompose once they’re in contact with the air. For the first 3-4 days, I just made sure someone in the house ate a banana for the three different times – worst case, I ate 3 bananas a day, which I didn’t mind since they’re my favorite fruit
As for the healing properties in the peel, I’ve updated the post with more information on this under the heading “Why Does This Work?”
Hope that helps, and looking forward to your final report of the results inshallah!
Hi,
Ive been doing this since i saw it posted on revitaliseyourhealth on FB almost a week ago and am having GREAT results on existing acne AND scars, also skin quality in general. Just wanted to share: ive 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!
Also, for internal health to promote clear skin ive been doing this about a month:
http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-4769/Why-You-Should-Drink-Warm-Water-Lemon.html
After years and $$$ of looking for acne cures i feel with lemons & banana’s combined im on to a winner!
Wow, Alison! Thanks so much for your very helpful and thoughtful comment! I love your fine-tuning so much that I’m adding it to the post to help others, because I know this was an issue others were having. And thanks for sharing the link about the lemon water – I do this too! It’s sooo good for digestive health and the immune system!
I guess the yellows have it: bananas and lemons for clear skin – yay!
Thanks again for stopping by!
You can also freeze bananas to make smoothies or banana bread. I like frozen banana in smoothies so you don’t have to dilute with ice.
Sue, you should see my freezer! There’s a whole section dedicated to just bananas that I use in our smoothies. LOL
Wow sara jazaki Allah khayran, I will definitely try it but I want ur help in blackheads.
Wa iyyaki ya Nosayba! Don’t worry, I’m working on it!
This is awesome! Thanks for sharing! It is amazing that something so natural can do wonders for your skin…kind of makes me think that the simpler way of life is better!
Wow, this is unbelievable! My skin is pretty good right now, as it tends to be while I am pregnant, but I often struggle with acne – I will definitely be trying this!!
Hi Sarah, thanks for linking to my posts on treating acne with banana peels! I am so excited to see so many people willing to try this simple and healthy recipe out!
By the way, I have an even better one for blackheads which I will be publishing pretty soon
No worries, Kanelstrand – thanks for an awesome post! And we’re all waiting anxiously for that blackhead tip
Wow, this is awesome- natural, simple and inexpensive! I’m going to let my younger brother know about this, he suffers from bad acne.
I’ve used banana peels for my poison ivy for years. I rub it until is stings a bit and it dries it out very quickly so it can heal.
Awesome, Julie! Thanks for sharing! I’d always heard that bananas were a must when going camping or hiking – now I know why!
This is great info! I’ve heard it before, but it’s great to see it all in one place with explanations.
Totally bookmarking for later!
Works on scars you say … hm I wonder if it would help stretch marks? To the banana tree!
Hmm, not sure but it’s definitely worth a shot!
Thanks for sharing this. Thanks to this pregnancy, I am experiencing break outs.
This is great, I will definitely be trying it as soon as my bananas ripen and someone eats one.
Re: saving the skin, why not just cut off a slice of banana and skin . use it for treatment.
Then later cut off a small sliver of the darkened peel/banana discard this slice
and then use the
next slice for your treatment. Do not know if this would work or not, but worth a
try because I am sure you do not use the whole banana skin for each treatment.
Yep, someone else also mentioned something similar, Irene! Thanks to both of you for sharing this great tip – can’t believe I didn’t think of that LOL
Great idea my 16 yr old is definitely going to try this. Also a banana mask to try; smash with s fork 1/2 banana mix in 1TBL spoon honey 1TBL lemon juice. Pat on face let dry 15 mins or longer if you desire, rinse and pat dry.
Thanks for the mask recipe, Mary!
hello . just want to share as per my experience. i use the banana fruit itself as a soap for my entire body, funny to think but since i dont really like to eat banana, i feel bad to throw the fruit after using the peel. so i did some strange experimentation and so far it worked VERY GOOD on my skin
Great to know, bles_u! I know banana is really great for the skin and hair too! Keep a look out for a future post on a banana skin mask soon!
aslm sarah is there any chance to change bidy colour kuch suggestions but should be cheap i cantr afford much allah hafiz
too many comments gosh man ill try the banana thingy though
Thanks! This is brilliant and much needed advice! My adult acne is getting out of control lately. Totally adding this to my list of things to try.
PS I just discovered your blog today (looking for washing soda and I found your baking soda-to-washing soda recipe, which I also plan to try). It’s so fun!!!!!
Welcome, Olivia! Glad you’re finding the site useful. Be sure to check out my post on the oil-cleansing method as well, since that’s what really cleared up my adult acne!
http://naturesnurtureblog.com/2012/08/06/natural-skin-care-oil-cleansing-method/
Off to check out your blog now!
Trying it right now.
Have you ever tried the Banana, Honey, and Lemon Juice mask?
I just tried it earlier.
I’m hoping it will do some good.
Hey Allie, no I haven’t tried it but those three ingredients are wonderful for all skin types! That mask sounds wonderful. Hope it works out for you!
wow everyone is saying this banana peels can cure alot of skin problem,,,,,,Thanks Sarah I will be trying this………I have a few acne but what im struggling with is the scar after my acne are cure but i guess this will fade the scar away right? i have tried this just today and i cant wait to see the final results.
That’s great, Temaeu! Good luck!
Very good article… Thank you very much.
The banana peel magic works
i just tried it.. and hopefully it will work for me..
Thank you for the Banana magic work post, i am already using i believe is going to work.
Great post, Sarah! I’m pinning this one. I saw it at Herbs and Oils World’s facebook page
. I love when they link to me!
Instead of a banana peel, I’m trying plantain peels because that’s one of the things that I had in handy. I’m hoping that it will give me the same results. I’m going to try any options that are posted here because I’ve tried all the creams and solutions and they’re making my acne so much worse.
suffering from very very dry skin any solution??
psorasis worst condition any solution?
Wow great blog! I never knew banana peels has a use, until now lol. I will try this out, the only good thing I use bananas for is eating. Do You think it would really be safe to leave the peel in over night though? Thanks.
You can slice the banana and put it in a ziplock bag (single layer) lay it flat in the freezer for smoothies!
Would have loved this tip when I was young. Will try it on those fine lines age has graced me with.
THANKS
I am a RN and worked for Hospice. About 20 years ago I went into the home of an elderly African American lady. She was in her 90′s but her skin and face was like a 30-40 year old. NO wrinkles! Beside her bed was a mason jar and the content were gross looking. I had to ask what was in it. She said my lotion. Solid shortening ( lard), a whole banana and cinnamon. The banana was rotten. She said she rubbed a little of the mixture on her face, throat and neck everyday since she was a child. Her mother and grandmother did it too. I have always remember this. Never been brave enough to try it.
Every1 in my house is gonna look at me weird. ME, the banana freak. lol! I’m going to try this.
Can I use lotion after washing off my face after using the banana trick? Also I have combination skin, what is the best kind of lotion to use for oily skin?
Yes, of course Justin! For oily skin, the best moisturizer would either be some aloe vera or some jojoba oil. Jojoba oil resemble’s the body’s natural oils so it can help calm your skin’s oiliness. Just a small drop rubbed between your palms and applied to the face can go a long way. Good luck!
Do you do the banana thing after you cleanse your face with facial cleanser? or before? :3
Either before or after. I’ve done both, especially since you’re doing it for a few times a day and I don’t wash my face that many times in a day. But for the first application of the day, I would start with a clean face, just to wash off any oils that have accumulated over the night.
I knew that banana peels are good for cleaning shoe because of the essential oil, now I will use them for skin treatment too. There are loads of natural acne remedies; no need to rush to the pharmacy for drugs. Thanks for sharing.
For more than 25 years I have used banana skins to clean the dust off my indoor plants. It feeds them beautifully. too. They shine wonderfully.
Wow, I never would’ve thought of that! Thanks for sharing!
I am thinking that you could always freeze the fruit if you don’t want to eat 3 bananas a day and after a few days make banana ice cream.
This is a great tip.
However, as an herbalist I ma left wanting to say more about skin conditions.
They start on the inside!!!
Topical treatments are great to deal with the acute break outs, but the true cause is 9 times out of 10 something going on internally. I treat acne, allopecia, psoriasis, and excema in my practice. I have the best and most long lasting success through administering herbs for liver and lymphatic support. I do suggest topical treatments in conjunction. Banana peels are great in the regard.
They also whiten your teeth. rub on morning and night, after you brush. leave it on till you brush again. it really works great:) and now i will be rubbing it all over my face, lol
thanks for the great info:) have a blessed day
Does the peels work on “liver/age spots” from sun exposure? If not what do you recommend?
Hi Geoff, I’m not sure but it wouldn’t hurt to try. I have also heard of lemon juice as well as other remedies for age spots. We actually had a discussion about this on my Facebook page, if you want to take a look: http://www.facebook.com/NaturesNurture/posts/537423912947587
Also, this link has some more ideas: http://www.top10homeremedies.com/how-to/how-to-get-rid-of-brown-spots-on-skin.html
Hope that helps!
Will this work for Rosacea? I’m desperate to find something to help my face. I’m embarrassed to go out in public so I spend most of my time in the house. It’s really depressing. Can you help?
Hi Maggie, I’m not sure, but I’m guessing this probably wouldn’t work on rosacea, at least not long term since rosacea is an ongoing condition. Have you looked up other natural remedies specifically for rosacea? Try searching google for “natural rosacea treatments” or “natural rosacea remedies” to see what others have found to work for them.
I’m so sorry I couldn’t be of more help. But I’m wishing you the very best of luck on your journey to heal your skin!
Will the banana peels stay fresh if I were to leave them in the fridge for the day?
Hi Vanessa, no but here’s what another reader said that worked for her:
“ive 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!”
Great suggestions for banana peel use. I started using a banana peel cream a few years back for a winter psoriasis condition. Worked great and I have used it ever since. Over the years I have found many more uses for it: bug bites, wound dressing, and unfortunately this winter I had to use it to get rid of some external hemorrhoids I developed. It has never let me down. I have also been using it for fine lines and wrinkles on my face. Not sure if it has made a difference, but I figure it couldn’t hurt. I get mine from fisalesllc.com/banana_cream. I’m going to tell those folks about your blog.
wow, this is very timely. just when i needed this mask and here I found your blog. i am starting tonight with the “ritual” for the not-so-nice acne which are popping on my face this winter. i already tried so many creams but nothing works for me.
I just want to share the amazing wonders of natural masks. i started 3 weeks ago using cucumber and honey or apple and honey and tomato and honey. whatever is available i make a point to mix with a little honey and lather on my face. result is amazing!
i just wish the banana peel will work for me too.
Thanks!
with banana peels? I wouldn’t thought of that
Just when you thought you heard it all! This one I have to try for sure though. I recently started using a honey mask and I see some very noticable results with my pores and skin texture. Will banana peels help tighten and shrink pores?
Im a girl with 17years and my face is irritating of pimples and dark spots…so any idea/help?
Basically, acne (pimples) is the result of clogged pores. The pores become clogged when increased oil production traps dirt, bacteria and dead skin cells in the pores. The pores become clogged as a result. Thus, its great to know about this alternative treatment to eradicate those unwanted pimples.
I wanted to kNow what kind of banana it is? Coz there are many kinds of banana!
Just regular yellow bananas.
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 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!!!! =]]
banana $eels are very effective and good for treating acne.
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!
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
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!
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!
It is burning on psoriasis!