Many people suffer from blemishes and acne. If this happens often to you too, you can treat them at home. One of the most effective ways to fight pimples is to let them dry out by removing the sebum that caused them in the first place. There are several home remedies, from the use of specific detergents to the preparation of targeted treatments.
Steps
Method 1 of 5: Medical Treatments
Step 1. Learn about topical retinoid treatments
To effectively treat and fight acne, retinoid gels or creams can be used, which require a prescription.
- In the beginning you have to apply them 3 times a week. As your skin gets used to it, switch to using them once a day.
- Retinoids prevent clogging of the follicles, a common cause of acne.
Step 2. Use products based on salicylic acid, one of the most effective active ingredients there is for treating acne and drying excess sebum responsible for pimples
There are over-the-counter or prescription salicylic acid products.
The concentration varies between 0, 5% and 5%. Salicylic acid has some side effects, including itching on the affected area and skin irritation
Step 3. Learn about antibiotics
If acne has caused acute redness and inflammation, your dermatologist may prescribe an antibiotic. It is often combined with other medicines, such as retinoids or benzoyl peroxide, to treat and prevent acne infections.
Follow the dermatologist's instructions to the letter. Misuse can cause antibiotic-resistant infections
Step 4. Try products made with benzoyl peroxide, a substance that kills acne-causing bacteria
It also helps remove excess sebum and dead skin cells, causing pimples to dry out quickly. Over-the-counter products have benzoyl peroxide concentrations of 2.5-10%. Choose one based on your type of acne.
In addition to drying pimples, benzoyl peroxide can cause burning, flaking, itching, and skin irritation where it is applied
Step 5. If you are a woman, consider taking the pill to dry out pimples and fight acne
Oral contraceptives are often found to be effective in treating the disorder, but check with your gynecologist to learn about the potential side effects they entail.
If you already take the pill, try asking your dermatologist if it is possible to replace it with one that has been shown to be effective in treating acne, such as Yaz
Step 6. Clean your face
While not a medical treatment, it is important to wash your face twice a day to dry pimples and prevent other impurities from forming.
- Always apply gentle pressure when washing to avoid hurting yourself;
- You should also wash your face after engaging in activities that cause intense sweating. The residues of sweat cause the accumulation of sebum and consequently pimples;
- You can make an oil-based cleanser at home. Measure 30ml of an organic oil, such as hemp, sunflower, or castor oil. You can also use 30ml of shea butter. Add 3-5 drops of an antibacterial or antiseptic essential oil to fight acne-causing bacteria. Try, for example, tea tree tea, lavender, oregano, rosemary, or frankincense. Mix them and store the solution in an airtight container. Make sure you keep it away from light.
Method 2 of 5: Prepare a Sea Salt Solution
Step 1. Make a sea salt solution that is effective for drying pimples
It can be used as a mask or to treat specific areas. Bring water to a boil and remove it from the stove. Once it has cooled slightly, pour 3 tablespoons of boiling water into a bowl and add 1 teaspoon of sea salt. Mix them until completely dissolved.
- Make sure you use sea salt instead of iodized - it is preferable to treat the skin;
- If you want, you can make larger amounts of solution using more water and salt.
Step 2. Once the salt is dissolved, gently pour the solution onto your hand and massage it onto your face
Avoid the eye area: salt causes itching. Leave it on for 10 minutes.
- To avoid drying the skin too much, do not leave it on for more than 10 minutes;
- If you want, you can also use it only on targeted areas. Soak a cotton swab or cotton swab and apply it directly on the pimples: the effect will be the same.
Step 3. After 10 minutes, rinse your face with warm water, avoiding getting the solution in your eyes
After rinsing, pat it dry with a soft cotton towel.
Step 4. After rinsing and drying your face, you need to apply a moisturizer to avoid drying the skin too much
Choose a non-comedogenic one. Consider brands like Clinique, Olay, Vichy, and Avène.
Don't abuse this method. For it to work, just do the treatment 1-2 times a day. If you overdo it, you risk drying your skin, causing irritation and other skin problems
Step 5. Make a sea salt paste
It is an alternative treatment to that of the solution. You can use it to dry pimples and speed up healing. Calculate 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 teaspoon of hot water. Let it dissolve slightly in the water and apply the mixture to the pimples with a cotton swab while it is still thick.
After 10 minutes, rinse the paste off and apply a moisturizer
Method 3 of 5: Make a Herbal Mask
Step 1. Prepare the mask
Herbal masks are effective for cleaning, treating and firming the skin, and they also help dry out pimples. The secret is to use astringent plants with antibacterial properties. To prepare the mask base, mix the following ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon of honey, which has antibacterial, astringent and therapeutic properties;
- 1 egg white, which allows you to thicken the mask;
- 1 teaspoon of lemon juice, which has mild whitening properties and acts as an astringent;
- ½ teaspoon of an astringent essential oil with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, such as those based on peppermint, spearmint, lavender, calendula or thyme.
Step 2. Mix the ingredients, pick up the mask with your fingers and apply it all over your face
Leave it on for 15 minutes or until it dries up. Rinse it off with warm water, using a soft sponge.
You can treat the entire face or individual pimples. In the latter case, apply the mixture with a cotton swab
Step 3. After rinsing off the mask, pat your face with a soft towel and apply a non-comedogenic moisturizer
Olay, Clinique, Avène and Vichy are some of the most popular brands.
There are other great brands, so try the one you prefer, the important thing is that the cream is not comedogenic
Method 4 of 5: Suffumigi
Step 1. To begin the treatment, fill a medium-sized saucepan with water and bring it to a boil
Carefully remove it from the heat and pour it into a bowl, about ¾ full. Add 5 drops of an antiseptic essential oil, such as tea tree, lavender, frankincense, rosemary, or oregano. Mix.
If you don't have any oil available, you can add 1 teaspoon of dried oregano, lavender, or rosemary
Step 2. Once the water has cooled slightly (but the steam should still come out of the pot), grab a towel and sit in front of the table where you placed the bowl
Bring your face close to the bowl, calculating a distance of about 30-40 cm. Cover your head and bowl with the towel.
- In this way you will create a closed environment that will favor the action of the steam, dilating the pores. Even essential oils will perform their therapeutic action better;
- Make sure you don't get too close to the water so you don't get burned.
Step 3. Alternate hot and cold
Smoke for 10 minutes, then moisten a soft sponge with cold water and apply it to your face for 30 seconds. Afterward, expose yourself to the steam again. Repeat three times. Finish the treatment by placing the sponge soaked in cold water on the skin.
- The contrast between hot and cold helps to contract and expand the pores, favoring skin toning and improving circulation;
- The water will cool as the process progresses, so move closer and closer to the bowl as the liquid gets colder. Always keep a comfortable distance for your skin, avoiding burning it.
Step 4. Use an astringent, which makes the skin firm, helps dry pimples and fight inflammation
There are several plants, teas and liquids with astringent properties. Soak a cotton ball or Q-tip and apply it directly to the blemish.
- Here are some of the most effective astringents: herbal teas (such as black tea, green tea, chamomile, sage and yarrow), undiluted lemon juice, essential oils (such as boswellia, tea tree, sage, juniper, rose, oak bark, lemon, lime, orange and willow bark) and apple cider vinegar.
- Do not overdo the use of astringents, as they exert a very intense action. If you use them more than necessary, you risk getting more pimples and further damaging your skin.
Step 5. After washing your face and applying an astringent, protect your skin with a moisturizer
You can use a non-comedogenic oil or buy a non-comedogenic cream.
- Avène, Olay and Vichy are just some of the brands that sell non-comedogenic creams. Always read the label to make sure;
- Repeat the fumigations every three or four days.
Method 5 of 5: Understanding Acne
Step 1. Learn about moderate acne
It is a form of acne that can be easily treated at home. It is characterized by the appearance of a few (usually less than 20) pimples that are mildly inflamed or irritated. It can also manifest itself through the appearance of white comedones or non-enlarged blackheads (always less than 20).
- If this is the right description for your type of acne, you can treat it at home using good cleansing techniques, as well as using masks, astringents, and other home remedies.
- The presence of more than 20 inflamed pimples or pimples covering most of the face is a sign of moderate to severe acne, which should be treated with the help of a dermatologist.
Step 2. Understand the role of oils
While it may seem counterproductive to you, using oil-based products can actually help you fight pimples and dry them out, especially if they are mixed with other ingredients. The sebum itself produced by the skin is important for keeping it hydrated and fighting impurities. Oil-based cleansers are also effective when the skin secretes a lot of greasy matter.
Facial oil and cleanser oil are different, so they react to each other, drying each other out
Step 3. See a dermatologist
If after trying several home treatments you continue to have problems, you should go to a dermatologist to analyze the causes of the disorder. Book an appointment even if the situation has worsened after trying to dry the pimples with a DIY remedy.
