They can happen overnight and ruin your entire day---acne breakouts. If you find these often occur before a big event, stress may be contributing to your acne. When you first observe the acne breakout, you can take immediate steps to reduce the redness and irritation.
Warning
When an acne breakout occurs, resist the urge to pop the pimple, advises the American Academy of Dermatology. Picking, scratching, popping or squeezing a pimple can damage the skin and allow bacteria to enter the pimple. This can make the pimple worse and cause it to become inflamed. Instead, work to treat the acne using remedies that reduce oil.
Cleaning
Cleaning your face regularly is important to reduce the amount of dirt and oils on the skin, according to Health 911, a website that details herbal and medical treatments for conditions. When you are working to reduce acne quickly, it is important to clean your skin to prevent any further bacteria from entering the pores. If you have just woken up and discover a pimple, be sure to cleanse your skin before treatment to reduce inflammation. A mild cleanser is best after your breakout---a cleanser that is medicated can irritate your skin.
Spot Treatments
Spot treatments contain more concentrated versions of acne medications in order to treat single acne lesions, not the whole face, according to DERMA Doctor, a dermatologist-reviewed skincare resource website. Applying a spot treatment can help to dry up the oil inside the pore and alleviate acne symptoms. Examples of acne spot treatments include benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid. These treatments can be purchased over the counter. Tea tree oil, a natural acne spot treatment, also can help, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Apply the spot treatment to the pimple itself and a small portion of the surrounding area to prevent the acne from spreading.
Conceal
When a sudden acne flare-up occurs, often the only solution can be to apply concealer to the pimple while you work to treat it. Before applying concealer, DERMA Doctor recommends soaking a cotton swab in an anti-redness eye drop. Dab this on your pimple and allow it time to soak in. This will help you to reduce some of the pimple redness prior to applying concealer. After washing your hands, put some concealer on your fingertip and then gently pat onto the skin. If your pimple is especially red, you can apply a green-tinted concealer to neutralize redness. Set the concealer with a loose powder.
Medical Treatment
In cases of severe emergency acne development, your physician may be able to administer a corticosteroid injection in order to reduce large acne lesions, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. These injections typically are used only for large, painful acne blemishes and can quickly treat the blemish, reducing its prominence.
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