Pimples, especially painful ones, ruin your day. They make us feel unclean and leave unsightly marks on our faces. Unfortunately, there are a lot of myths about the best way to treat painful pimples, which can lead to more outbreaks. Here are some of the most commonly believed tactics to employ or avoid so that you can treat your pimples quickly and safely.
DO wash your skin before treating it.
Skin blemishes are one of the most common skin problems in men and women and treating them often requires a dermatologist visit. Home remedies like freezing cream, lemon juice, salt, or honey after carefully washing your skin can do the trick for some. However, the dermatologist remains the go-to source for treatment when it comes to the most persistent skin blemishes, including acne, warts, and moles.
Applying ice to the affected area can help with both pain and swelling.
Ice is well-known for its ability to reduce pain and swelling. But ice does more than give relief to sore muscles, joints, and tendons; ice is good for your body’s overall health. Ice decreases blood flow, which decreases swelling making it great for aching or swollen joints (like the knee, where swelling is common). Ice helps reduce muscle soreness, bruises, and sprains. Ice is also great for your skin since it can help soften wrinkles and reduce acne. Ice can even help you sleep better as it soothes your nerves.
You should put a product with 2 percent benzoyl peroxide on the pimple.
Pimples? We all have them from time to time. And, while they’re annoying, there are ways you can treat them. Keeping your hands clean, having good hygiene, and using a cleanser with benzoyl peroxide are great ways to keep pimples from forming. But, what to do when they already do? There are a number of things you can do to prevent a pimple from getting worse. And while some of them work, unfortunately, there are also things you can do that can make pimples much worse.
Use a warm compress once you notice a whitehead beginning to form.
Anyone who has dealt with whiteheads knows they are frustrating and unsightly. While they can be tempting to remove with a finger or cotton swab, you should resist the urge to pop them. Although tempting, doing so can cause the pimple to become inflamed, creating a painful infection. It is also very difficult to remove a pimple once it becomes inflamed. Instead, try a warm compress. Applying a warm compress to the affected area at night before bed can help whiteheads become smaller and prevent them from inflaming.
DON’T pick, poke, or squeeze the spot.
Blemishes, dark spots, and acne are the bane of any teen’s life. Though acne is most commonly seen on the face, it can affect any part of the body. The most important thing to remember when treating blemishes is to do absolutely nothing. Popping pimples, squeezing spots, or picking at pimples can introduce infection. Even when you wash your hands, bacteria on your hands can transfer to your face and cause new blemishes.
Applying toothpaste to your pimples will not help them go away.
Many of us have seen this mistake before. We’ve all gotten into a bathroom stall and applied toothpaste to the affected area of our skin, only to realize our mistake when the toothpaste hardens and turns a funky color. It’s an embarrassing moment that no one wants to experience.
Applying homemade treatments that you found online can be dangerous.
It’s easy to get online and find some very helpful remedies and recipes for dealing with your acne. But how do you know if they are helpful? The simple answer is you can’t be 100% sure. Homemade remedies can contain ingredients that can actually aggravate your skin, causing more breakouts, causing your skin to become dryer, etc. These home remedies that you find online need to be applied with caution. If you’ve ever been on the internet, you’ve probably seen some ridiculous claims like “homemade cures for cancer” or “natural cures for diabetes.” These posts can be found on countless websites, and while they may seem harmless if they contain inaccurate or misleading information and you can’t verify them, they can be harmful to your health.
DO visit a dermatologist to help treat the pimple and prevent future breakouts.
No one wants to suffer from unsightly pimples—and thankfully, various treatment options are available that target the causes and symptoms of breakouts. Though many people believe a home remedy such as using toothpaste, baking soda, or hydrogen peroxide on pimples is the best treatment, this can be damaging and worsen the condition. Instead, visit a certified dermatologist to help treat the pimple and prevent future breakouts.
