What is a pimple?
A pimple is a symptom caused by the inflammatory skin condition- acne. It begins as a pore blockage due to excess sebum and dead skin; and when it becomes infected by bacteria or irritated by squeezing, it develops into an inflamed pimple that is swollen, red and filled with pus. To get rid of pimples, we have to treat the inflammation and make the pimples dry out. Here are some effective and inexpensive home remedies.
Skincare Tips for Oily & Acne-prone Skin
Tea tree oil
The anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties of tea tree oil make it a super popular remedy in spot treatment for pimples. A study has shown that participants using a combination of tea tree oil and resveratrol had less oil, bacteria and smaller pores on their skin.
To use tea tree oil for spot treatment, mix tea tree oil and water in a 1:20 ratio. Then dampen a cotton pad with the mixture and gently blot it on the affected area.
Tea tree oil can irritate sensitive or eczema-prone skin. Do a patch test to make sure your skin is not allergic to it.
Benzoyl peroxide products
Benzoyl peroxide penetrates the hair follicle to kill bacteria that causes the inflammation, as well as keeps the pores from clogging. It comes in the form of gel, cream, lotion or cleansing liquid. You can easily purchase them from drugstore or pharmacy.
It should be noted that benzoyl peroxide can make your skin dry, so don’t use it for more than twice daily.
Acne dots/ patches
These translucent stickers protect the treated area by preventing you from picking the acne. They also help reduce the inflammation by absorbing excess fluid from a developing blemish or a developed pimple. The vacuum-like effect also pulls out the debris from inside the pimples that could make the inflammation worse.
Aspirin “mask”
Well known for working wonder on acne, aspirin helps dry out the acne by reducing the inflammation and infection. This is because it contains the ingredient acetylsalicylic acid, a similar substance with salicylic acid, which could also reduce swelling and redness of acne.
To make an aspirin mask, crush 2 aspirin tablets and mix with a spoonful of warm water. It should have the consistency of a paste. Apply the mask to the treated area and leave on for 10 minutes. Then wash your face thoroughly.
Aloe vera gel
Aloe vera extract can kill many strains of bacteria and fungi, making it great in treating acne with its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Applying aloe vera gel on your skin can help relieve the swollen breakout by lessening the swelling and redness.
Baking soda
The oil-absorbing and exfoliating properties help reduce the inflammation of the breakout. But it can be it bit harsh to use as leave-on treatment as it can strip your skin of its natural oils. Instead, you can add a teaspoon of baking soda to your cleanser to use it as an exfoliant.
Honey
The anti-inflammatory properties honey has can help decrease the swelling and redness that acne is causing.
