There's no evidence that hydrogen peroxide can safely and effectively cure acne. In reality, hydrogen peroxide may actually increase scarring on the skin by interfering with the wound-healing process. It can also cause skin irritation and burns if used at too high of a concentration.
Many people have tried hydrogen peroxide for acne because of its antibacterial and drying properties. However, there is no evidence to prove that it can clear acne. In some cases, hydrogen peroxide could make acne or scarring worse. There is also a lack of evidence to show that it's safe to use as an acne treatment.
Hydrogen peroxide is often considered as an acne treatment since it can kill bacteria (which leads to acne). It can also dry out the oils present on the skin, which may play a role in preventing future breakouts.
Apply a spot treatment that can dry out the pimple. Examples of spot treatments include tea tree oil, benzoyl peroxide, or salicylic acid. Apply to the pimple and area around it, using clean hands, to target the pore and oil builtup underneath.
First, you'll need to wash your face with a gentle cleanser, and then pat it dry. Do not rub your face or it could cause irritation. Next, saturate a cotton ball or cotton pad with hydrogen peroxide and gently dab it onto the affected areas of the skin. Leave the solution on for around five minutes.
When you dab hydrogen peroxide on a cut, that white, fizzling foam is actually a sign that that the solution is killing bacteria as well as healthy cells.
Don't use rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide on wounds or to control oily skin or acne breakouts. They're not effective and they can damage your skin, making the problem worse.
The best way to make a zit go away fast is to apply a dab of benzoyl peroxide, which you can buy at a drug store in cream, gel or patch form, says Shilpi Khetarpal, MD. It works by killing bacteria that clogs pores and causes inflammation.
Benzoyl peroxide is a bleaching agent that kills microbes and dries up oil in the follicle. Similar to benzoyl peroxide, tea tree oil and sulfur also work by drying up the pimple. "Using these products can make the pimple look smaller in the morning, " explains Dr.
Treat your popped pimple like an open wound, because that's basically what it is. An over-the-counter antibiotic ointment is your best friend. Dot a tiny amount directly on the popped pimple or scab. This will help speed up healing time.
Salicylic Acid
Used overnight, products containing salicylic acid can be effective at reducing the effects of blemishes by the morning. A good salicylic acid treatment will do more than just shrink a pimple, however.
Your best bet for quickly calming things down and reducing the size of your breakout is to treat it with ice (FYI, cold has anti-inflammatory properties). Simply wrap an ice cube in a clean towel and hold it to your pimple on-and-off for five minutes. You can also use an ice roller or cryo balls if you have them handy.
If you've only got a few hours…
Grab an ice pack, or a single ice cube if your fingers can bare it, and apply it directly onto your pimple. Hold it this way for as long as you can stand it, then take a break for a few seconds, and repeat at least twice more.
Drying out your pimples can actually be a safer zit-busting strategy than popping them, as doing so with the help of anti-acne ingredients can help rid the pores of excess sebum and oil, which can trigger new breakouts.
Sterilize a small needle with rubbing alcohol. Poke the center of the whitehead gently with the needle. In some cases, this is enough to allow the whitehead to drain. If the contents do not come out, wrap tissues or cotton pads around the tips of fingers.
It's tempting, but popping or squeezing a pimple won't necessarily get rid of the problem. Squeezing can push bacteria and pus deeper into the skin, which might cause more swelling and redness. Squeezing also can lead to scabs and might leave you with permanent pits or scars.
While not necessarily a “mistake”, a common misconception is that if hydrogen peroxide bubbles, it means your wound is infected. Hydrogen peroxide will bubble whether your wound is infected or not. A chemical reaction occurs while cleaning and creates little oxygen bubbles. Don't sweat over the bubbles.
Whiteheads develop when dead skin cells, sebum (oil), and dirt clog your pores. Unlike blackheads, which can be pushed out, whiteheads are closed within the pore. This can make treatment a bit more challenging.
"Cleanse the affected area with a gentle exfoliator like salicylic acid and/or anti-bacterial agent like benzoyl peroxide, then apply a warm compress. Use Q-tips to pop your whitehead. Then, wrap clean tissue paper around your fingers or a Q-tip in each hand.
Try a spot treatment or pimple patch
You've probably seen these emergency pimple treatments at the drugstore — usually an extra-strong solution of salicylic acid, glycolic acid, or benzoyl peroxide. And yep, they can actually get rid of pimples overnight.
Apply a warm compress
Applying a warm compress can help to treat a blind pimple. The heat can open up pores, which may draw the pimple closer to the skin's surface and create a head. The formation of a head enables the sebum, cells, and bacteria to exit the skin.