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.
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. You can buy it in concentrations ranging from 2.5% to 10%.
Drying out a pimple too much.
Actually, drying out your skin too much is going to backfire. Too much dryness will cause irritation and could make acne worse. Instead, stick with specific acne treatments, like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide, rather than something DIY.
If your skin feels dry, apply a moisturizer made for acne-prone skin. You'll want to apply the moisturizer twice a day, after washing your face. You also want to avoid using astringents, rubbing alcohol, and anything else that can dry out your skin.
"When the skin is dry, it can be more irritated and make acne look and appear worse," explains Rachel Nazarian, MD, a New York-based board-certified dermatologist. "With acne, the issue is inflammation in the skin—most acne responds better and improves when you calm it down. Therefore, moisturizing is helpful."
The rumor mill might have you believing that dabbing some regular old toothpaste on your zit will help it clear up overnight. But, while it's true that several ingredients found in toothpaste are drying to skin and might help shrink your pimple, this home remedy for breakouts isn't worth the risk.
1. Ice it. Rosie Johnston, celebrity makeup artist and founder of By Rosie Jane, says that the number one way to reduce a blemish is to apply ice for one or two minutes. “The cold pressure can reduce swelling and actually freezes skin pores, removing dirt and oil build-up.” Do this, then apply concealer right after.
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. Just use soap and water to clean a wound, and for acne, use an over-the-counter product with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide.
According to Martin, laying a light coating of eyeshadow primer (his favorite is by NYX) onto the surface of the pimple will not only seal off the surface of your skin for protection, it'll also allow your concealer and foundation to adhere to the area.
Soak a clean washcloth in water that is hot, but not too hot to touch. Apply the warm compress. Hold the warm compress on the blind pimple for 10 to 15 minutes. Repeat the application three to four times a day until the blind pimple comes to a head and releases the pus.
By reducing the inflammation of your pimples, you're directly reducing the size. In theory, gradually reducing the size of your pimple with ice can eventually make it go away entirely. When used on inflammatory acne, ice also has the potential to decrease redness, thereby making your pimples less noticeable.
Before you apply toothpaste onto a pimple, you should wash your face with a gentle cleanser and warm water, then pat your skin dry. Then, apply a very small amount of toothpaste directly onto the pimple. Leave the toothpaste in place for at least 2 hours, or let the toothpaste stay on overnight for extra drying.
Does Vaseline® Jelly Help Acne? Although Vaseline® Healing Jelly doesn't directly treat acne, its protective formula means it could help your skin recover faster from a breakout.
Honey isn't the magical end-all, be-all of curing acne and preventing future acne from ever popping up again. But it is known to have natural antibacterial and calming qualities. These qualities may help soothe inflamed acne blemishes.
Salt helps to cleanse pores deeply, balance oil production and thwart bacteria that can instigate breakouts and acne. Try it: Mix one teaspoon sea salt with four ounces of warm water in small spray bottle until salt is dissolved. Mist on clean, dry skin, avoiding eyes. Use daily or twice daily.
When the skin lacks moisture, it becomes dry and scaly. To counteract the dryness, glands beneath the skin might produce more sebum. The excess sebum and dead skin can build up to cause acne.
Don't pop or squeeze pus-filled pimples
You can cause the bacteria to spread and the inflammation to worsen.
"First, starches soothe inflammation and absorb oil. Second, because potatoes are rich in vitamin C, they can help minimize the risk of developing dark spots as the pimple resolves." Of course, it's not the end-all answer: "A potato in no way takes the place of traditional acne products and treatments," Dr.
Gently prick only the very top of the whitehead with the tip of the needle. Do so on an angle that is parallel to the skin. Don't go so deep that you draw blood. If this hurts, either you're poking too deeply or the pimple isn't ready to treat yet.
Nodules are a type of hard pimple that can be large and painful. They form when an infected skin pore or follicle is located deep below the skin surface. Cysts are found deep below the skin when a pus-filled membrane forms around the infection. They are likely to scar.