Pimples can be a pain; once one starts to heal, another crops up somewhere else on your face. If you're struggling to keep your acne under control, you're not alone. Between 40 and 50 million Americans have acne, making it the most common skin condition in the United States, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. While no miracle cure can banish all blemishes overnight, the quickest way to get rid of pimples is to combine tactics that will reduce the amount of oil, bacteria and dead skin cells that block your pores.
Step 1
Wash your face with a gentle cleanser. Excessively using scrubs, masks and astringents can irritate your skin and aggravate your acne, according to the Mayo Clinic. To reduce oil buildup without making your acne worse, wash your face once or twice a day using lukewarm water and your hands and avoid a wash cloth, suggests the Nemours Foundation.
Step 2
Clean surfaces that commonly touch your skin. Your hands are more likely than any other object to come in contact with your face, so wash them often and try your best to keep them away from your face, says the Mayo Clinic. Other objects that touch facial skin include cell phones, hats and bicycle helmet chin straps.
Step 3
Apply an over-the-counter acne product. Lotions that contain benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, lactic acid, resorcinol or sulfur can help treat mild acne by killing bacteria, helping slough off dead skin cells and drying up oil, according to the Mayo Clinic. Although these medications may initially cause side effects such as skin dryness, side effects tend to subside after about a month, says the Mayo Clinic.
Step 4
Apply only cosmetics labeled non-comedogenic or non-acnegenic. These products, which include make-up, sunscreens and toiletries, are designed to not clog your pores, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.
Step 5
Visit a dermatologist to get information about prescription treatments. The doctor may prescribe a topical treatment that is stronger than the ones you can purchase over-the-counter. Common topical prescription medications feature active ingredients derived from vitamin A that help promote skin cell turnover to reduce occurrences of clogged pores, says the American Academy of Dermatology. Other prescription medications include antibiotics, which help fight inflammation and reduce bacteria, and oral contraceptives for women, which influence hormones that can cause acne problems.
Step 6
Ask your dermatologist about your other options. Common treatments include laser therapy, light therapy and cosmetic procedures such as microdermabrasion and chemical peels, according to the Mayo Clinic. Laser therapy is thought to reduce oil production, light therapy targets bacteria, and peels and microdermabrasion can help exfoliate the skin.
Tips and Warnings
- Although some products may promise instant results, the American Academy of Dermatology insists that a true acne treatment takes about four to eight weeks and must be ongoing for best results.
Things You'll Need
- Gentle cleanser
- Hand soap
- Non-comedogenic and non-acnegenic cosmetics
- Over-the-counter acne lotion
Member Comments
tiffjack September 13
Who picked this photo? Did they even read the first paragraph? Wow.