According to "Foundations of Nursing," acne is caused by bacteria getting trapped in the skin's pores. The infected skin then becomes inflamed, which is the cause of the redness and swelling of the affected area, which is commonly the cheeks. These symptoms can be easily managed with a few items that are likely in your medicine cabinet. Although treating the redness and swelling will not cure the acne, it will improve the discomfort associated with the breakout.
Step 1
Dab toothpaste on your pimples prior to going to sleep. Allow the toothpaste to remain on your pimples overnight. According to "Handbook of Dermatology: A Practical Manual," the toothpaste will dry up the excess fluid in the pimple, reducing its size and redness.
Step 2
Rinse off the toothpaste in the morning. Crush an uncoated aspirin pill with a spoon and mix it with about five drops of water so that it forms a paste. Dab the aspirin on your pimples and reddened areas of your skin. Leave the aspirin on your skin for five minutes and then rinse off. According to "Braun-Falco's Dermatology," the anti-inflammatory properties in aspirin will reduce the redness and swelling of the acne in only a few minutes time.
Step 3
Wrap an ice cube in a washcloth and hold it to the areas of your cheeks that are still reddened for one minute. According to "Cosmetic Dermatology: Principles and Practice," ice will constrict the blood vessels and capillaries in the face, thereby immediately reducing the redness and swelling.
Step 4
Apply eye drops containing tetrahydrozoline hydrochloride to cotton swabs and use the cotton swabs to dab the eye drops to the reddened areas of your skin. According to "Braun-Falco's Dermatology," the tetrahydrozoline hydrochloride will reduce any remaining redness on the cheeks.
Things You'll Need
- Toothpaste
- Eye drops
- Ice cube
- Uncoated aspirin
- Spoon
- Washcloth
- Cotton swabs
References
- "Handbook of Dermatology: A Practical Manual"; Margaret W. Mann, David R. Berk, Daniel L. Popkin, and Susan J. Bayliss; 2009
- "Cosmetic Dermatology: Principles and Practice"; Leslie Baumann; 2009
- "Braun-Falco's Dermatology"; Walter H.C. Burgdorf, Gerd Plewig, Helmut Heinrich Wolff, and Michael Landthaler; 2008
- "Foundations of Nursing"; Lois White, Gena Duncan, and Wendy Baumle; 2010
