Does Alum Work to Clear Acne?

Alum is a natural substance that you can buy in the grocery store in the spice isle.  It is used mainly for cooking and canning.  It is also an ingredient found in baking powder and alum is used to soak pickles and maraschino cherries in as a crisping agent.  However, after soaking, it is then washed off.  Alum occurs in nature in the form of the mineral alunogenite.  It can be bought as a white powder or cake form.  It also works well as an astringent which can cause shrinkage of skin tissue and pores.  It is also an antiseptic and can kill bacteria.  It can be successfully used to treat superficial skin infections like prickly heat, diaper rash and acne. 

Some people place a small piece of alum paste on a cold sore or on a pimple, claiming that it will heal much faster because it will dry it out and shrink the eruption.  However, alum can irritate the eyes and skin and should be used with caution.  It is dangerous to ingest according to the information on International Chemical Safety Card published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  Ingesting one ounce of alum can kill adults.