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Guaranteed Ways to Beat a Breakout
Get rid of acne spots — fast — and prevent future breakouts with these proven pimple remedies. By Everyday Health EditorsReviewed: August 9, 2018Fact-Checked See Spots Go
Breakouts happen to the best of us. Unfortunately, the impulse to squeeze pimples or to pile on products only causes more problems. To help you get rid of spots, we surveyed the very best dermatologists in the business for the pimple remedies that really work. Find out which acne treatments will beat your breakouts. RELATED: Best Home Remedies to Treat Acne Heat Treat
What works on a throbbing knee can also work on a pulsating pimple: Applying a hot compress (a damp washcloth) encourages blood flow to the area and can draw the infection to the surface so it can heal sooner, says Audrey Kunin, MD, an assistant clinical instructor of dermatology at the University of Kansas School of Medicine and the founder of DERMAdoctor. But it's best to apply heat if you won't be in public for a few hours — heat can make pimples appear larger and redder. If you have a pimple that's beneath the surface, red, and sore, David Colbert, MD, a dermatologist in New York City and the creator of ColbertMD skin care, recommends the Zeno Hot Spot Thermal Device ($39.99). To speed the healing, Dr. Colbert says, "I add some Neosporin to a cotton swab and roll it over the inflammation." Mask the Mark
A mask that fights oil and bacteria can have a noticeable effect on a breakout. "Something clay-based will draw out impurities, refine pores, and cut oil," says Diane Berson, MD, an assistant professor of dermatology at Weill Medical College of Cornell University. Look for ingredients like sulfur to help kill the bacteria that have caused the inflammation. Try Olay Pro-X Acne Clear Intensive Refining Sulfur Mask ($30). RELATED: Best Drugstore Face Masks for Acne-Prone Skin Raid Your Medicine Cabinet
Some familiar drugstore products can double as reliable blemish remedies: A dandruff shampoo containing zinc pyrithione treats your scalp, but it can also benefit skin elsewhere on your body. Its antibacterial effects can help send a pimple packing fast. Treatments for irritated eyes can also calm your complexion — a few antiredness drops will help reduce the redness of a blemish, Dr. Kunin says. The ingredient tetrahydrozoline hydrochloride restricts blood flow to help fight redness and swelling. Kunin also recommends a dab of hemorrhoid ointment, which constricts blood vessels, to shrink a blemish. Stop Spot-Treating
If you want the fastest possible results, a new over-the-counter spot treatment product is rarely the answer. "Most effective acne products can cause you to break out before you get clear, also known as purging, and you don't want to take a chance with an unknown reaction," says Howard Murad, MD, an associate clinical professor of dermatology at the University of California at Los Angeles and the founder of Murad Skincare. If you must spot-treat, Dr. Murad recommends products formulated with salicylic acid, which fights both bacteria and oil without being as harsh as other treatments. Your best bet is to find a multitasking treatment that conceals breakouts while fighting them. RELATED: Best Concealers for Acne-Prone Skin Say Good-bye to Scars
Too often, nasty breakouts leave behind dark spots. As a response to inflammation, your skin produces the pigment melanin, and these areas of increased pigmentation can linger for weeks and months. To fade discoloration, use a moisturizer with vitamin C, suggests Diane Madfes, MD, a dermatologist in New York City. "Pure vitamin C fades dark spots by breaking apart pigmentation clusters below the skin's surface," she explains. In addition, vitamin C acts as a skin lightener, collagen builder, and antioxidant. If You MUST Pop …
Dermatologists know we're only human, so they offer advice for those of us who can't resist squeezing: Cleanse twice with a purifying cleanser to remove all dirt, makeup, oil, and bacteria — if it's on your skin, it will enter your pores. "Never use dirty fingers on the skin," cautions King. "You should wrap your forefingers with tissues — long nails not only have swarms of bacteria beneath them but will actually tear the skin." Sit in front of a magnifying mirror (preferably with a built-in light) and gently stretch the skin around the pimple. Using the sides of your finger, gently rock the skin back and forth to drain the pimple. Do not keep squeezing! If nothing drains from the pimple, King says, leave it alone. "Use an overnight gel with salicylic acid," she says, "and you may find it pops on its own when you wash your face in the morning." Most Recent in Acne
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