Pimples on your face form when oil glands, which produce sebum, are over-active. Combined with bacteria, dead skin cells and dirt, pores become clogged and inflamed. According to Acne.org, acne is characterized from mild to severe and includes types like whiteheads, when pores are entirely blocked; papules, or inflamed, red, tender bumps; nodules, or large, painful lesions that can last for months; and rosacea, a type of acne that affects mostly women between the ages of 20 and 40. To treat and prevent acne, you need a rigid routine that entails cleansing your skin, exfoliating and applying topical medications.
Step 1
Cleanse your skin every morning with a mild soap—preferably one that is fragrance free. Perfumes can dry skin and cause irritation.
Step 2
Apply benzoyl peroxide to the effected areas of your face. Acne is most likely to occur on your forehead, nose and chin. But it’s not unusual to have acne on your cheeks and at your hairline. Benzoyl peroxide kills the bacteria that cause acne. If you treat skin where acne typically occurs, you could prevent a breakout. Benzoyl peroxide is formulated with 2.5, 5 and 10 percent of its active ingredient.
Step 3
Spot-treat lesions with an alpha hydroxy acid like glycolic or lactic acid. Alpha hydroxy acids remove dead skin cells, which clog pores. It helps reduce inflammation, renew skin and reduce the appearance of acne scars.
Step 4
Moisturize your face with an oil-free moisturizer. You can also use an oil-free sunscreen and add a drop of jojoba oil for conditioning. Jojoba oil is a good skin moisturizer that will not clog pores.
Step 5
Cleanse skin again in the middle of the day. Be sure to remove makeup and moisturizing residues. Use a cleanser containing salicylic acid. Salicylic acid works by slowing the shedding of skin cells inside the hair follicle. The benefit of using this medication in the middle of the day is that if your acne is not caused by bacteria, which benzoyl peroxide treats, salicylic acid will help break down other forms of acne lesions.
Step 6
Reapply a topical alpha hydroxy acid gel or lotion to your lesions.
Step 7
Cleanse skin again before going to bed. Apply either topical benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid to pimples.
Step 8
Moisturize your face again before going to bed. Acne medications are meant to be drying. Without moisturizing, your skin can become irritated.
Tips and Warnings
- Try using the lowest percentage of benzoyl peroxide. MayoClinic.com suggests first increasing applications before getting a stronger medication. If after several weeks you do not see results, try the next highest dosage. The American Academy of Dermatology explains that not one routine will fit everyone’s needs. You should try different medications until you find a routine that works best. And switching up your routine after several weeks can be beneficial as well. Use a facial exfoliator only once or twice a week. A facial scrub will help remove dead skin cells and loosen residue in clogged pores.
- Be sure to use a moisturizer with sunscreen. Acne medications can make your skin more sensitive. Some facial scrubs will say that they're safe to use daily. Acne.org recommends using an exfoliator on your face less often since they can be irritating.
Things You'll Need
- Mild skin cleanser
- Benzoyl peroxide
- Alpha hydroxy acid
- Moisturizer with sunscreen
- Jojoba oil (optional)
- Salicylic acid cleanser or pads
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