If you employ a daily, gentle skin-care regimen and still have an ongoing problem with major acne breakouts, make an appointment with a dermatologist. Your breakouts may need prescription-strength power to clear up, and failing to get help can lead to long-term scarring. If your breakouts are only a once-in-a-while problem, however, you usually can make them disappear with a few over-the-counter products and a vigilant skin-care routine.
Step 1
Wash your face using a cleanser that contains salicylic acid. Salicylic acid soothes inflammation and helps break up blockages in pores that cause acne, says Valori Treloar, dermatologist and co-author of "The Clear Skin Diet," in "Real Simple" magazine.
Step 2
Rinse the cleanser completely from your skin with cool water and gently pat your face dry.
Step 3
Apply a clay mask facial product directly to breakouts, using your fingers to cover the blemish and its surrounding area. The clay attracts the oil and bacteria that clog your pores, making your blemish shrink. Rinse the mask completely from your skin with cool water.
Step 4
Press an ice cube or ice pack directly on the blemish for about 30 seconds to ease swelling and redness.
Step 5
Apply benzoyl peroxide gel or cream directly to the blemish at night and during the day if needed to keep it from flaring up again.
Tips and Warnings
- If benzoyl peroxide irritates your skin, try a sulfur-based acne treatment, recommends Dennis Gross, a New York City dermatologist, in "Real Simple" magazine. Sulfur is gentle, making it a good acne fighter for sensitive skin.
- Some people are allergic to benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. If you are using these products and experience shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, severe burning or itching or any other symptoms of an allergic reaction, discontinue use and seek medical help immediately.
Things You'll Need
- Cleanser with salicylic acid
- Clay mask facial product
- Benzoyl peroxide cream or gel
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