Pimples. Blech. Most of us get them at some time in our lives or another. Even we cosmetologists get them, with all our training and tools that we have to prevent them. Here are ten tips to get rid of pimples. Please note that these tips have not been evaluated by a physician and are for educational purposes only. Consult with your healthcare professional before trying any of these pimple-removing ideas.
The best treatment is always prevention, so use a good quality skin care program to keep pimples from forming in the first place. Something like Neutragena Acne Stress Control scrub, toner, and hydrating treatment are great for this purpose, as well as Proactive, and many others. Also watch your diet, always take your makeup off at night before going to bed, and try not to touch your face. These things are great for preventing pimples but sometimes they show their ugly heads anyway. So how can you actually get rid of a pimple? Well, you could stare in the mirror and yell or scream until it goes away, but that probably won’t do you much good as far as actually making that darn pimple disappear. It may, however, make you feel better to vent your frustration so if it works for you, go right ahead. But keep in mind that there better ways to get the job done.
If the pimple has a white head on it, you can apply a warm compress, such as a warm, wet washcloth, for a few minutes to bring the pus to the surface where you can wipe it clean. Do NOT squeeze or push on the pimple, as it can cause pus to leak in to the surrounding tissue and cause more pimples to form. Also, your fingers can introduce more bacteria into the area causing it to get worse.
If the pimple is large and deep, you can put ice on it to bring down the swelling. Many pimples have accompanying swelling and inflammation which can be relieved with ice, but don’t ice it for longer than ten minutes. Ice will also help to reduce any redness as well.
If the redness persists, you can place a few drops of Visine right on the blemish to take the redness away. It won’t shrink the pimple, but will make it less noticeable.
If the pimple is still bothering you, you may want to apply an over the counter acne treatment containing benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. Follow the manufacturer’s directions, but keep in mind that if you apply it too frequently you may end up with excessive dryness and peeling. More than a few celebrities have been known to layer acne spot treatment with a hydrocortizone lotion. Hydrocortizone is a steriod which will further speed healing and help reduce inflamation.
Aspirin is the most natural source of salicylic acid available to most of us today. You can try crushing up an aspirin tablet, mixing it with just enough water to make a paste, and leave it on the blemish overnight. It should dry up the pimple fairly quickly, but may have a drying effect on the skin. Avoid this method if you are pregnant, nursing, or already taking aspirin for a heart condition.
Tea tree oil is another effective blemish fighter, but check with your doctor, especially if you are pregnant or nursing, and do not use it if you are allergic to tea tree oil. Tea tree oil has antiseptic and antibacterial qualities. Dip a cotton swab in some tea tree oil, available at your local health food store, and dab it on the blemish. It will help it dry up and heal. Use extreme caution with any essential oil as they are very concentrated and could pose serious health risks if used in large amounts.
Of course, you could always try the basic method of dabbing toothpaste on your pimple overnight. It must be the old fashioned kind of paste, not the newer gel versions which don’t have the same drying capacity. Many of my friends, even cosmetologists, swear by this method.
Baking soda is an old fashioned remedy for just about anything. It works great to pull toxins from the body such as with mosquito bites, bee stings, and pimples. Just mix a little baking soda with enough water to make a paste and leave it on the pimple for about half an hour, then wash your face. It should reduce the swelling and pull some of the inflammation and toxins from the infected area.
One more blemish fighter in your kitchen is honey! Mix a little honey with a little bit of yogurt (It must have live and active cultures). The bacteria fighting properties will help the blemish heal nicely and quickly.
If you are into high tech devices, you can purchase a zeno to fight your pimples. The zeno uses heat aimed directly at the pimple to dry it up. Although it is rather costly at around forty dollars for the small version up to one hundred and forty for a larger version, it claims to show some results within an hour. It also claims to have a ninety percent reduction of pimples in one day. It just might be worth it!
Lastly, you could try one more thing to fight your pimple. Just do nothing and let the body’s immune system clear it up. Don’t touch or put anything on it, and within a few days to a week your pimple should be gone. Just be sure to keep your face clean so new one’s don’t appear in it’s place.
