Acne is not only an embarrassing skin condition due to red bumps on the face and body, but it can be quite painful due to the inflammation it causes. Getting acne under control can require the help of a dermatologist and over-the-counter or prescription medication. In the meantime, there are several things you can do to ease the redness and swelling associated with acne. There are several types of acne, but the ones most frequently associated with inflamed red bulges are pustules, cysts and nodules.
Step 1
Wash your skin only once or twice a day to avoid irritating the skin more. Use a gentle cleanser and an oil-free moisturizer. If you overwash your face, the oil glands underneath the skin will produce excessive oil to compensate for the oil being washed away. This may result in more acne.
Step 2
Make an aspirin paste. Aspirin has an anti-inflammatory effect on the skin, plus, the salicylic acid it contains can help heal acne. Crush a non-coated aspirin tablet or two into a powder into a small bowl. Add a drop of warm water to make a paste. Apply the paste as a spot treatment on red, inflamed skin. Leave on for about 15 minutes and rinse.
Step 3
Apply a dab of honey to the affected area. Honey also acts as an anti-inflammatory, plus it has anti-bacterial agents to help clean the skin. Rinse off the honey after 15 or 30 minutes.
Step 4
Avoid touching your face or inflamed area while your skin is healing to avoid further irritation. This can transfer oil, grime and bacteria to the acne-prone area, causing more irritation and acne. Don't apply harsh scrubs, makeup, cleansers, sunless tanners or other products to your face or affected skin.
Things You'll Need
- Mild cleanser
- aspirin
- honey
Member Comments