by Abdulsalam Yunusa | Mar 16, 2022 | Health & Wellness
It’s the eve of your job interview, your first meeting with your in-laws, or that important event that you have been looking forward to, then you feel some mild pain on your forehead or the tip of your nose, and on checking the mirror, a huge red pimple is staring right at you! Now, it’s too late to visit a dermatologist, and you wouldn’t want people staring at the blemish on your face. If this is you, worry less, because in this article, I will be sharing with you tips on how to get rid of pimples fast. But first, what is a pimple?
Pimple is among the symptoms of acne, so it is sometimes wrongly used to refer to it. It is an inflamed area of the skin with hair pores clogged with sebum (oil from sebaceous glands) and dead cells due to blockage of the pores. It is a very common skin condition, so it is expected that there will be several claims of DIY (Do it yourself) treatments that can be used to treat it.
While research is still ongoing on the treatment options currently available, several have proven to be helpful in taking out these unwanted bumps out of your face. Get ready, as I share these methods with you.
READ ALSO: 15 Foods That Will Boost Your Immune System
6 Ways to Get Rid of Pimples Fast
Before you go ahead and read on several ways on how to get rid of pimples fast that I’ll be sharing with you, it is important to know that there are different treatments for different skin types, so once you notice unwanted side effects, it is advisable that you discontinue use of that method.
Now, let’s look at the methods!
1. Apply Some Ice to the Pimple
This is useful, especially when the pimple is painful, red and swollen, these are signs of inflammation. By wrapping some ice in a clean cloth and applying it on the inflamed pimple(s), for a few minutes, the inflammation is reduced. However, this is usually a temporary measure of alleviating the discomfort. For better results, ice is used alongside other treatment methods.
2. A Paste of Crushed Aspirin Can Remove Excess Oil from Pimples
The active ingredient in aspirin is acetylsalicylic acid. It is similar to salicylic acid, which is an anti-inflammatory ingredient used in making many skin care products. While this removes excess oil and dries the skin around the pimple, there’s yet to be strong evidence of how it actually treats acne.
To do this, form a thick paste by crushing a tablet or two of aspirin then mix with water. Apply the paste on the pimple, leave it to stay for some minutes, and then wash with lukewarm water.
3. Cortisone Injection Gives Quick Results
Some home remedies might not give you the quick results you need, especially when the pimples are very painful and large. Injection into the pimples with cortisone helps to reduce the inflammation and also the size of the pimples. Cortisone is a steroid, and thus inappropriate use can result in unwanted side effects. Therefore, your dermatologist is in the best position to do this for you.
4. Use an Over-the-Counter Pimple Treatment
There are many over-the-counter pimple treatments available as gels, ointments, creams and even soaps. It is not unexpected that there will be fake products too, so to get the best out of it, it is wise to buy only the ones prescribed by your dermatologist.
Benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid are the active anti-pimple ingredients in those products so you might want to check whether the product you want to buy contains them.
The result obtained from the usage of such products is usually a reduction of excess skin oil and dead skin removal. A mixture containing benzoyl peroxide can also kill the bacteria responsible for causing acne.
A common side effect of over-the-counter treatment for acne is skin irritation, and sometimes, skin dryness. If you notice any, please discontinue usage of the product and consult your dermatologist.
5. Apply Some Toothpaste on the Pimple Overnight
While toothpaste was not made for treating pimples, its use for this purpose isn’t new to most of us. Apply some toothpaste on your pimples and allow it to stay overnight. Continue as necessary, but discontinue use if it causes skin irritation. However, toothpaste that contain gel, are not recommended to be applied to the face
6. Spot-Treat with Tea Tree Oil
An advantage of tea tree oil is that it does not cause unwanted side effects like skin irritation and drying, as seen with most over-the-counter pimple removers containing salicylic acid and/or benzoyl peroxide. It reduces inflammation as well as fights pimple-causing bacteria.
Mix tree oil with water, and apply directly on the pimples, using a cotton swab. Repeat it as necessary.
Other Fast ways to Get Rid of Pimples
- Use non-comedogenic makeup with salicylic acid to conceal pimples
- Apply exfoliating and antiinflammatory face mask for acne
- Use aloe vera gel etc.
When to See a Dermatologist
Sudden eruptions of a few pimples can be treated at home with the basic tips provided in this article, but when the pimples are recurring or not responding to treatment, it is best to see a dermatologist for proper evaluation and treatment.
How Not to Get Rid of Pimples?
Knowing how to get rid of pimples fast is important, but knowing how not to do it is relevant as well.
I know how tempting it is to pop a pimple, I have been there before. You should always resist the urge to do that, because it can worsen the condition by making the pimples redder and bigger. Not just that, it can also leave ugly scars on your face.
Conclusion
Now that you know how to get rid of pimples fast, you should also be mindful of the several causes of pimples, so that you will be able to maintain a smooth face.
Have you tried any of these methods or others not mentioned here? We would love to hear about your experience in the comments section below.
Thanks for reading.
FAQ
How to get rid of pimples overnight?
Applying tea tree oil, over-the-counter anti pimple creams, toothpaste or benzoyl peroxide at night, can improve the condition of your face by morning, but there is no guarantee that the pimple will completely disappear by morning.
Can ice remove pimples?
Ice is a good option when trying to get rid of pimples fast. It helps to soothe the skin and lessen the inflammation that resulted from the pimple. Do this by wrapping some ice in a cloth and gently press it on the pimple.
How to remove pimples naturally and permanently in one day?
One-day appropriate pimple treatment is enough to see significant results, but not necessarily permanently. To get lasting results, you need to take extra precautions like changing your pillowcases, avoiding unnecessary contact between your hand and face etc.
by Abdulsalam Yunusa | Mar 2, 2022 | Health & Wellness
Your face is usually the first thing most people notice about you, and this can result in them having bad perceptions of you when the first thing they see is a face full of acne. Acne can negatively affect one’s chances of employment, especially for jobs where physical appearance is considered important. Asides from these, the general quality of life is usually affected as well.
Acne vulgaris, commonly called acne, is a chronic skin condition that occurs when sebum, a thick oily substance secreted by the sebaceous glands of the skin and dead skin cells accumulate and clog hair follicles. The block inflow of this oily secretion will provide a good breeding place for some bacteria, eventually causing some of the features of acne (redness, pain).
There are several possible causes of acne. This includes Smoking, diets with high-glycemic-load such as white bread, cakes, doughnuts, and candies; hormones, and heredity. While there are several studies done and ongoing on the above causes, hormones and heredity are considered to be the major causes of acne.
A lot of times, acne is wrongly called pimples, but pimples are just one of the features of acne — others are whiteheads, blackheads, and oily skin.
Since it is formed by the accumulation of secretions of oily glands, it most commonly affects the skin in parts of the body with high numbers of oil glands. This includes the back, face, and chest.
Generally, acne in itself does not have any significant effect on your health but in many people, it can lead to reduced self-esteem, anxiety, depression, and even suicidal thoughts in some cases. So, if this is your concern, or all you want to do is to get a spotless and smooth face, you are at the right place. Now, let’s dive right into it.
How to Get Rid of Acne on the Face
If you have acne, it is very likely that you will be getting a lot of treatment suggestions from people you come across. In fact, this is usually the next thing said to you after greetings. Well, our aim in this article is to provide you with tested practical ways how to get rid of acne on the face. And the good news is that most of the things we mentioned here are easily accessible to you.
READ ALSO: 15 Foods That Will Boost Your Immune System
1. Stop Popping Pimples
As simple as it sounds, this can go a long way in ensuring you get faster treatment for acne. It is always tempting to squeeze or pop the pimples on your face whenever you look into the mirror but don’t. While your dermatologist can safely do this for you, doing it yourself would likely result in redder and bumpier pimples. The chances of infection should not be taken lightly as well.
2. Toothpaste Can Treat Your Acne Too
Toothpaste has been used for some time to treat acne. Rubbing some amount of it on your pimples and allowing it to stay overnight can help to clear them, especially when continued for some days. Nevertheless, it is not recommended to use toothpaste that contains gels for this purpose.
3. Apply Tea Tree Oil on the Spots
Tea tree oil has been reported to be effective in fighting bacteria on the skin as well as reducing skin inflammation. If you have used some pharmaceutical creams and suffered from their unwanted side effects of irritation and dry skin, you should probably try tea tree oil.
To use tea tree oil, mix it with water, and use a cotton ball or swab to apply it on the affected spots. Repeat as necessary.
4. Apply Green Tea to Your Face
Apparently, the green tea you take in the morning before you begin the day’s work or later in the day after a hard day’s work has other uses apart from relieving you of stress. Green tea is rich in antioxidants as well as other ingredients that help fight bacteria.
Applying green tea extract, or skincare products containing it on your skin will help to reduce inflammation and inhibit the growth of bacteria that can cause or worsen your acne. Additionally, drinking green tea is said to be important in reducing sebum production and general body fat.
5. Use Aloe Vera to Moisturize Your Face
Aloe vera is a plant that grows in tropical parts of the world e.g Africa. A clear gel is produced from the leaves of the plant which is used as an important ingredient in many skincare products. This includes body ointments, creams, lotions, and soaps.
Aloe vera comes in handy to treat your acne because it contains sulphur and salicylic acid. Both are important ingredients in many over-the-counter lotions and creams used to treat acne.
When you apply it to your skin, it will encourage wound healing, treat rashes, abrasions, burns, redness, itching, and pain. Interestingly, it is also used to treat stomach aches.
For best results, you should combine it with tea tree oil.
Using it is easy, just take some leaves from the plant and scrape the gel out into a clean container. Use it as a moisturiser once or twice daily. You can also buy pure aloe vera gel from a pharmacy or beauty products store.
6. Take Fish Oil Supplement
Fish oil contains omega-3 fatty acids which have several health benefits, including acne treatment. It might not be very effective when used alone, but people who have used it have attested to its effectiveness in reducing inflammatory symptoms of acne such as redness and pain as well as general risk for developing acne.
The omega-3 fatty acids mentioned above can be obtained from a balanced diet containing foods like sardines, salmon, chia seeds, flax seeds, and walnuts, nevertheless, supplements are available in pharmacies for those whose diet is poor in fatty acids.
7. Exercise Regularly
The benefits of exercise are diverse. This includes the prevention and treatment of a lot of diseases. Since exercise improves blood circulation and hormonal regulation, frequenting it also helps to treat acne by providing adequate nourishment for the skin cells.
In addition, exercise helps to relieve stress, which is suspected to be among the causes of acne. Research is still ongoing to find out how exactly stress causes acne and how exercise helps in treatment.
There are several options available; you can start with light exercises like walking, and then eventually move to other ones if you are considered fit.
How to Prevent Pimples
Knowing how to get rid of acne on the face is not as important as knowing how to prevent it from occurring or reoccurring after treatment. Good thing is that you won’t have to spend a dime to do most of them.
- Keep your face clean but avoid harsh scrubbing, as this can cause and worsen acne.
- Avoid or reduce intake of foods linked with acne such as high-glycemic foods like whitebread and donuts
- Wear sunscreen when going outdoors
- Apply topical treatments for mild skin conditions before they get severe
- Be mindful of the skincare products you use. Always consult with a dermatologist or a skin care expert before you buy new products.
- Reduce stress
- Exercise regularly
- Maintain a healthy weight, as being overweight is sometimes linked to acne.
- Avoid excessive skin exfoliation
- Discuss with a dermatologist on other preventive measures you should take especially if you are at risk of developing acne.
Conclusion
Acne has a variety of causes and thus the treatments might differ accordingly too. The methods of how to get rid of acne on the face mentioned in this article, in no way represent an exhaustive list, there is several other methods available and ongoing research on them.
Have you tried any of the methods above or other ones not mentioned in this article, we would love to hear about your experience. Thanks for reading through.
FAQs
How can I clear up acne fast?
You can use over-the-counter treatments containing salicylate and benzoyl peroxide.
How can I clear my acne naturally?
There are several options available; this includes spot-treating with tea tree oil, aloe vera, and adopting a good diet control habit.
What causes acne on the face?
Acne is linked to several causes. Two of the most important are genetics and hormonal imbalance. Others are personal hygiene, poor skin care, and diet.
What kills acne on the face?
To kill acne on the face, you can apply some gel-free toothpaste, or paste of crushed aspirin and allow it overnight. You can also use the several natural methods available.
Should I see a doctor for acne treatment?
You can easily treat mild to moderate acne with natural home remedies or over-the-counter drugs. However, a dermatologist is in the best position to evaluate and treat you, especially in recurring or severe cases.
Two of my older siblings currently have acne on their faces; my mum said she suffered from it as a teenager, does it mean acne can be inherited?
Yes. According to a study, acne is highly heritable, so if you are not affected by it, at the moment, it is very important for you to observe the preventive measures mentioned in this article
Can I buy over-the-counter drugs for my acne?
There are several over-the-counter ointments, gels, and lotions available for acne treatment. Some are highly affected but might be associated with unwanted effects such as irritation, redness, and dryness. To avoid or at least, minimise this, meet a dermatologist to recommend the most suitable one(s) for you.
