Be sure to apply a spot treatment that contains ingredients noted for their acne-fighting abilities, including:. Got some time to calm your flare-up? Focus on slowly introducing the quick fixes in combo order, like lancing, spot treatment, and an acne patch. Or masking, icing, and a spot treatment again. To give your skin an extra boost, follow this 3-day method to rebuild its inner and outer defenses:.
Although the process may take some time, Obagi notes that many parts of our daily lives can be potential acne triggers, including our hairstyling items. When you condition in the shower, follow this by washing your back, chest, and face with soap to remove any conditioner that gets onto your skin. She also suggests keeping your hands away from your face, and monitoring your diet for signs that food — particularly items with dairy or gluten — are causing you to break out.
Try as we might to rid ourselves of unwanted acne, chronic or recurring acne may need to be treated more aggressively from the inside-out. This treatment requires eight or minute treatments over a month. Along with fighting acne, retinoids are great for reducing scarring and smoothing the skin. You should begin to notice a change in your skin after applying the product every other day for two to four weeks.
Known for its ability to fight off inflammation, zinc may potentially provide you relief from chronic acne. There are side effects and risks to taking a zinc supplement , but those concerned should always consult with a doctor first. When all else fails, you can always schedule an appointment with a trusted dermatologist.
These skin care experts are here to help you, and may have other means of treatment not available over-the-counter, including:. Not every acne treatment is worth trying, even some of the ones listed above may not suit your skin type. But be extra wary of DIY routines, especially those that encourage you to use undiluted or raw ingredients like:. Instead Obagi suggests beginning with a trip to your favorite drugstore. This should include a retinol or retinaldehyde cream to help reduce acne formation and an acne wash or acne wipe preferably with salicylic acid and witch hazel or tea tree oil.
How effective these treatments are is going to vary from person to skin type to even weather — it really will take some experimentation! Still, you can begin taking lifestyle steps to positively impact your skin. As Obagi reveals, one of the best things you can do to treat your acne is to practice enhancing your overall well-being. For others, it means embracing your acne and throwing all care out the window.
For us, it means all of the above: becoming confident and comfortable in our wellness so we can put our best face forward. Lauren Rearick is a freelance writer and fan of coffee. You can find her tweeting at laurenelizrrr or on her website. Be sure to dilute all essential oils with a carrier oil, perform a test patch before regular use, and discontinue use should irritation develop.
A wide variety of essential oils are available online , including clove oil. Other essential oils including cinnamon, rose, lavender, clove, and rosemary have been found to inhibit acne-causing bacteria. Applying these oils to the skin may help reduce pimples. A lot of people drink green tea for its health benefits , but it can also be helpful when applied directly to the skin.
Green tea contains flavonoids and tannins, which are known to help fight inflammation and the bacteria that may cause pimples 11 , You can get a quality green tea online. Green tea is high in antioxidants that help reduce inflammation and fight bacteria. Applying it to the skin has been shown to significantly reduce pimples. Aloe vera is a tropical plant with leaves that produce a clear gel. When applied to the skin, aloe vera gel has been shown to help fight bacteria, reduce inflammation, and promote wound healing 17 , 18 , There are limited studies on the ability of aloe vera to fight pimples specifically, but existing research is promising.
Aloe vera contains lupeol, salicylic acid, urea nitrogen, cinnamonic acid, phenols, and sulfur, all of which inhibit bacteria that might cause pimples 19 , In one study, varying concentrations of aloe vera gel were added to a clove-basil oil and evaluated for anti-acne properties. The higher the concentration of aloe vera in the lotion, the more effective it was at reducing pimples Tretinoin cream is an acne medication derived from vitamin A Although aloe vera gel on its own was not effective at treating pimples, it enhanced the anti-acne effects of clove-basil oil and tretinoin cream.
While aloe vera gel may help clear up pimples on its own, it may be more effective when combined with other remedies or medications. Applying aloe to the skin can help treat burns, heal wounds, and fight inflammation. It has been shown to increase the anti-acne effects of other treatments, but more research is needed on its effects when used on its own.
Several other natural acne treatments have been shown to be effective with consistent, long-term use. Although the remedies below might not get rid of pimples quickly, they can help prevent and heal acne over time.
The mineral zinc plays a role in wound healing and can help reduce inflammation. Research has indicated that people with acne tend to have lower levels of zinc in their blood than those with clear skin Taking a zinc supplement has been shown to help. In fact, several studies have found that taking 30—45 mg of elemental zinc per day can significantly reduce pimples 24 , 25 , In one particular study, 48 people with acne took zinc supplements 3 times per day.
Taking too much zinc may cause adverse effects, including stomach pain and gut irritation You can buy zinc supplements online. However, its ability to treat pimples is most likely due to its antibacterial effects 29 , Studies show that consuming EPA can help manage oil production, prevent pimples, and help the skin maintain adequate hydration 32 , Do us a favor: Stop staring at your pimple for a second, and do a little research on it.
Patel explains that pimples are commonly caused by four things: follicular occlusion, microbe growth, sebum production or adding oil to your skin , and inflammation. All these issues can be addressed and helped when a pimple is early in the game. Benzoyl peroxide is a bleaching agent that kills microbes and dries up oil in the follicle. Tea tree oil and sulfur also do similar things to benzoyl peroxide by drying up the pimple.
Lamb also recommends using prescription topical products, if you happen to have any in your medicine cabinet. Gels that contain clindamycin, an antibiotic, or topical minocycline can make fast work of an angry zit. But if you'd prefer to use products that don't require a doctor's note, Dr. Patel and Dr. Lamb both recommend trying salicylic acid first. Gross, but effective. Spot treatments and pimple patches get all the hype for acne emergencies, but don't ignore the power of a good cleanser.
Regular use of a cleanser will not only treat the pimples you do have, but prevent future emergencies. Says Dr. Patel, over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream can be a quick fix for redness, so long as you don't use it for more than three nights in a row. Don't layer it on too thick, either: It can clog your pores if you're not careful. It's best to find a hydrocortisone cream that is hyaluronic acid-based because hyaluronic acid is a water-binding molecule that doesn't clog pores.
Products with coconut oil, olive oil or almond oil sound luxurious and healthy, but when it comes to acne treatment, they're only reinforcing the problem. Steer clear of edible ingredients if you're in the midst of a pimple crisis. Patel says, "and this could possibly make more pimples.
Lamb highly recommends putting a well-reviewed pimple patch on a problem area, as the treatment "usually cannot hurt. When you're in a bind, Dr. Patel prefers turning to spot treatments, which "work better for overnight fixes.
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