Acne blemishes are characterized by the appearance of pink to red bumps, pustules, cysts or nodules on the skin, and can cause the skin to feel swollen, irritated and painful. In order to eliminate blemishes quickly, it is important to flush out impurities and excess sebum from the pores, medicate your skin with a lower concentration of benzoyl peroxide, and use an overnight spot treatment to dry up pustules. By following this effective acne care routine can clear active blemishes, and prevent new breakouts from occurring.
Step 1
Flush out the pores with a non-comedogenic oil, such as castor oil. Spread 1 tbsp. of castor oil onto your skin, and massage it in well with your fingertips for two to three minutes. Fill a bowl with nearly boiling water, and lean 18 inches over the bowl. Cover your head with a towel to force the steam to billow over your face. After five minutes, wipe off the excess oil with a damp washcloth. Repeat once per day.
Step 2
Medicate the skin with a low-concentration benzoyl peroxide cream, which will clear acne blemishes without irritating the skin. Squeeze a pea-sized amount of 2 1/2 percent benzoyl peroxide cream onto your finger, and gently dab it around the skin. Glide the fingers around the skin to spread the cream evenly until it has been absorbed. Repeat two times per day.
Step 3
Apply an overnight calamine lotion spot treatment to quickly dry up acne pustules. Cover the end of a cotton swab with calamine lotion, and dab it onto the active acne breakouts. Let the lotion dry completely, and leave it on overnight. Rinse off the calamine lotion in the morning. Repeat once per day.
Tips and Warnings
- Castor oil is non-pore-clogging, and acts as a purgative for the pores. Castor oil bonds to the oils, sebum and impurities in the pores, which will help them drain out more easily. By massaging the skin with castor oil, then steaming the skin, the castor oil and impurities will be released from the skin to allow the pores to be free of blockages. Using a lower concentration of benzoyl peroxide, no higher than 2 1/2 percent in strength, will kill off acne-causing bacteria on the skin without causing as much irritation as the higher concentrations can. Calamine lotion if usually used to treat a rash caused by chicken pox or poison ivy, but is also highly effective in drying up acne breakouts. Calamine lotion can be used on the skin for up to eight hours, and does not irritate or inflame the skin.
Things You'll Need
- Castor oil
- Bowl
- Water
- Towel
- Washcloth
- 2.5 percent benzoyl peroxide cream
- Calamine lotion
- Cotton swab
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