Remedies for Zits

Besides popping, there are a few other things to avoid when getting rid of zits. A common compulsion is to scrub and scrub at your face. Although it feels like you’re helping skin stay clean, you’re irritating it and making acne worse. Another misguided technique is tanning to cover up zits. First, a sunburn doesn’t exactly make other skin issues look better. Second, you’re just increasing chances of skin cancer down the line, which is definitely worse than acne. And don’t pick at, touch, or scratch zits—this spreads oil and bacteria.

If you absolutely cannot contain the urge to pop that thing, then do it right. This needs to be done as cleanly as possible to avoid infection and the scarring that can result. Once your zit is full to almost bursting, wash your hands and the area around the zit. Then use tissues—not just your fingers—to apply pressure on either side. Stop if/when you see blood. Then, to make sure no germs get in, use another tissue to wipe some alcohol over the spot.

Start a fine-tuned skin care regimen. The first step is to find a good, gentle cleanser and use it once or twice a day, no more. That can just make things worse. Then, depending on your skin type, look into lotions, toners, spot treatments, etc., to keep skin healthy in other ways. You want stuff that has salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, or alpha hydroxy acids—some of the biggest active ingredients in products. They help remove the excess oil and zit-causing skin cells. If you want natural products, head over to the sidebar for some options.

If you don’t know where to start when it comes to products, try a kit. You’d essentially be building one anyway if you use more than one product for your acne. And a kit is pretty much idiot-proof, so that’s a plus. Probably the most well-known of these is Proactiv, which includes a cleanser, toner, and lotion. One nice thing about kits is knowing all the products will work together. One of the bad things is that some skin types don’t necessarily need all of the products included.

If your efforts at home fall short, make an appointment with a dermatologist. These guys can pull out the big guns. There are tons of options when it comes to acne prescriptions, and a dermatologist will tell you what should work best for your skin. Common meds for acne include retinoin, benzoyl peroxide, and adapalene. Medications for other conditions can ease acne, too, such as birth control pills and antibiotics. There might be some trial and error involved, but acne is nearly always curable, so remember: your efforts will eventually pay off.

Faster Results for your Zits

I’m not going to lie, options here are limited. Acne is a curable affliction, but it also takes time to get it under control. If this is a chronic problem, you need to hunker down for the long haul. Now, if you have one particular zit about to disgrace you on your big day, there are products on the market that are supposedly a little more fast-acting. They may work more quickly, but generally won’t obliterate that pimple overnight, and you probably won’t have flawless skin in the morning. You can try to cover it with makeup, but know that this is counterproductive to your end goal; makeup can exacerbate the problem. But if you must, a green-hued concealer can minimize the redness of the zit. And, no, you won’t look like the Wicked Witch of the West; don’t put on so much green stuff that you can actually see the color. Just a dab on the blemish, then apply makeup as usual. Or you can resign yourself to the fact that everybody gets a zit at some point, you are not some disfigured freak, and just let it go.