How Can You Get Rid of Pimples?
How to remove pimples on your face? It is not possible to physically remove pimples overnight. However, home care can reduce swelling and pain, which makes the pimple less noticeable.
In this article, we will discuss how to remove pimples that can be taken at home to reduce the appearance of their breakouts quickly, as well as some other long-term options for acne treatment.
It can take a pimple anywhere between 3 days to 10 days to heal. It depends on the severity and size of the blemish, as well as how the person treats it (e.g. popping or picking at it). Careful treatment by home remedies can reduce swelling and pain.
How to alleviate pimple swelling
To treat a new pimple at home, the American Academy of Dermatology recommend:
- Gently wash your skin and pat on a clean towel.
- Using a cloth and ice cubes to reduce the size of a pimple.
- To get an ice pack, take a short break and make sure you apply it to the problem area again for another 5–10 minutes.
- Apply a spot treatment containing at least 2% benzoyl peroxide to the acne and let it remain on the skin for at least 10 minutes before washing it off with soap and water.
The following steps before sleep may help clear pimples by the morning. Once a whitehead forms, you can apply a hot compress. To make this happen, follow these steps:
- Place the clean cloth in a pot with hot water and let it soak.
- Apply to the pimple for 10-15 minutes.
- Repeat this procedure 3-4 times a day
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Medical treatment
If someone has persistent acne, they may want to work with a dermatologist to develop a care plan. For example, there are many different treatments that people can try for their acne problems, including:
- salicylic acid
- benzoyl peroxide
- retinoids
- topical antibiotics
Topical treatments can reduce inflammation and unblock pores, which can even work to inhibit bacteria. However, these treatments usually take time.
According to the AAD, It can often take 4 months before someone sees a noticeable improvement in severe cases. They recommend at least 6-8 weeks for a change to show it’s full effects, and then you should assess whether to continue with the same product or move onto something else.
If your acne is resistant to topical treatments, your doctor might prescribe oral medication. Oral retinoids, antibiotics or hormonal treatments such as the birth control pill may help depending on the cause of the acne.
Alternative treatments
Some people may choose not to seek medical treatment and may desire other alternatives.
There are many complementary treatments that people have been using for acne. However, not all of them have been fully documented by evidence.
Some alternative remedies to treat acne include:
Green tea
According to NCBI, few studies have been done on the benefits of topical application of green tea for people with acne, however, one study found that there is a significant reduction in pimples and pustules over 8 weeks.
Green tea is an anti-inflammatory, an antioxidant and antimicrobial. It may work against acne in several different ways. People can apply fresh green tea to their skin, use skincare products that contain green tea or drink it as a remedy for acne.
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Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil is a popular home remedy for pimples. A number of recent studies have shown that this essential oil is antimicrobial and can reduce the number of blemishes in people with mild-to-moderate acne.
Always dilute essential oils in a carrier oil at a safe concentration before applying to the skin.
Can toothpaste remove pimples?
It’s a popular misconception that toothpaste helps with acne, the reason for which is that toothpaste used to contain triclosan, which some studies claim prevents excessive sebum production.
However, The FDA has banned the use of triclosan in products that interact with water, such as toothpaste. As a result, many toothpastes no longer contain ingredients that could help with reducing acne.
The AAD do not recommend using toothpaste on pimples, and they also advise against:
- Scrubbing: Acne cannot always be eliminated through scrubbing, in fact, too much scrubbing can have the opposite effect. Dermatologists recommend gently washing your face.
- Tanning: Tanning is associated with an increased risk of skin cancers and makes acne worse.
- Popping: Picking pimples can make acne headaches and blotchy skin. It also tears at delicate skin and increases the chances of scarring or infections, and isn’t recommended.
Prevention
Acne remedies work to lessen the discomfort of existing pimples, but it’s also important to take steps to prevent new ones. The following guidelines can help get you started:
Keep your skin clean
Cleanse twice per day with lukewarm water and a gentle, non-abrasive cleanser. It’s also a good idea to cleanse after sweating or wearing makeup.
Use suitable skin products
Cleansing should always happen before you put any products on your skin. Things like moisturizers and SPF will make a big difference – a light, non-comedogenic moisturizer and a natural antioxidant-based SPF can keep skin hydrated without causing acne.
Maintain personal hygiene
Make sure not to touch your face and also wash anything that touches it at least once a week. Stuff like sheets and pillowcases will have dead cells and bacteria on them so washing often will keep your face clear of problems. People should wash makeup brushes at least weekly to remove the oils from makeup which can cause breakouts.
Acne has many causes, and what works for one person may not work for another. If you’ve tried the following tips and they haven’t helped or if acne persists or is severe, it is best to consult a doctor.
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Summary
So, do you know how to remove pimples now? Pimples cannot be removed overnight, but with proper home care, redness and swelling can lessen. Keeping the area clean with ice and hot compresses can help too.
There are a number of treatments to help with persistent or chronic pimples, but going through simple preventive measures may be enough to reduce the breakouts. Advice from a dermatologist might also be useful.