How To Make A Pimple Go Away Fast
If you are the type of person to wake up with a fresh, juicy looking spot and not attack it by picking and squeezing? Well, you have an impressive amount of will power! For the rest of us I wouldn’t blame you for giving in to the temptation of going after a pesky blemish, but this, as you know, can lead to problems which is why we have decided to put together a variety of ways of how to make pimples go away fast.
How to make a pimple go away fast
Now, before I get your hopes up I must warn you that getting rid of a pimple can take a lot of effort. If you are finding there is no more than 2 active spots that are not under surface, red bumps, but in fact have a white head to them you can use some of the following methods to reduce the size, calm the redness and make the spot easier to conceal with makeup should you want to.
If you are finding there are three or more continuous blemishes active on your skin than this can be considered acne, and it is best to visit your GP or dermatologist to figure out the next steps in combating your skin concern.
Here are some at-home remedies and methods that can help get rid of a pimple quickly and effectively without any remaining skin damage:
1. Use an ice cube on a pimple
This is a great method for pimples and under the surface pimples that don’t come to a head and can be very painful and sore to the touch. Take an ice cube and wrap it in a tea towel, then hold it onto the pimple for 2-4 minutes. Continue doing this in hourly intervals throughout the day and you will start to notice a reduction in the size of the spot and the redness calmed.
2. Use the right acid for your skin
The BHA, salicylic acid is a powerful facial acid that is oil soluble meaning it can cut through any excess sebum and penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin and unclog the pores of any bacteria, debris and toxins that lead to spots and breakouts. You will find salicylic in a number of products, from face washes to acid toners, however, to get the real benefit of this acid try using a salicylic acid-enriched serum as this product has more time on the skin to work at giving the face some clarity.
You can also team salicylic with an AHA, such as glycolic acid to form a pimple attacking power duo. Using an acid toner containing glycolic will help slough away dirt and build-up of dead skin cells from the top layers of the skin that lead to spots. To avoid overloading the skin you can try using a glycolic acid toner in the mornings and a salicylic acid serum during your evening routine to keep your skin clear and pimple-free.
If you wanted to know more about facial acids, check out our blog post about all the skin benefits of AHAs and BHAs.
3. Keep your makeup brushes clean
You may have problematic skin so take the time and make the effort to keep a good skincare routine, but still suffer from frequent blemishes and can’t understand why, dirty makeup brushes may be the reason for this. The easiest way to figure this out is to take a look at the area you are finding pesky blemishes appearing. If they are focused on the cheekbones, then a bronzer or blusher brush in need of a wash may be the culprit.
Washing your makeup brushes once a week will remove any harbouring bacteria that can cross-contaminate in a germ-filled cycle. You will find your skin will look clearer and your makeup brushes will thank you for the TLC too.
4. Change your pillowcases on a weekly basis
This is a step everyone always seems to forget about, but our pillowcases are awash with bacteria, dirt and oil that builds every night as soon as your head hits the pillow. Changing your pillowcases on a weekly basis will keep contact with excess bacteria and oils to a minimum and will rid you of any pesky spots in rapid time.
5. Consider your diet and possible food allergies
It has been scientifically proven that the health of your gut shows on your face. Maintaining a healthy, balanced lifestyle will not only do your body the world of good, but your skin will become more flawless and glowing. Try and avoid fatty foods and sugar as these are the main offenders of causing spots. If you can’t part ways with your chocolate or Friday night takeaways, then a least try to cut back. You will find the size of a blemish will reduce quicker once you have cut out sugars and unhealthy foods.
These will NOT make a pimple go away fast
1. Keep away from the toothpaste and nappy rash cream
Keep the toothpaste for your teeth and nappy rash for the baby’s bottoms. The spots won’t reduce in size or redness and you will only be drying out the surrounding area of the spot making it a lot more noticeable! If you have to put something on the pimple than opt for a topical blemish drying ointment that is formulated for treating spots and not causing any imbalance to the surrounding skin. You can also try a light moisturiser on the pimple as this will either calm redness or bring the bacteria to form a head that can be extracted quickly.
2. Do not pick a pimple!
99.9% of us pick our pimples, it is grossly satisfying and overwhelming tempting not to. But if you are finding your skin tone has started to look uneven and pigmentated than picking your spots may be the cause of it. Attacking and digging a pimple may rid you of the unsightly whitehead, but if you are too heavy-handed than you will cause great damage to the skin surface making the spot result in a scar that will mark the face and take a lot of time to rectify. Believe it or not, pimples go away quickly when they aren’t poked and prodded!
3. Don’t use harsh ingredients and products on the spot
Having the urge to feel clean will make you want to reach for products that will give you that “squeaky clean” feeling. However, this is not at all good for the skin the ingredients and products can be too harsh and abrasive. You will find that the spot you have attacked with those products will look angry and even worse than before. By not stripping it of all it’s moisturise and oils need to keep the skin barrier balanced and healthy and the pimple will go in no time.
There you have a number of methods as well as dos and don’ts to treating pimples and giving them a helping hand at disappearing swiftly. As truly heartbreaking and completely annoying it is to have blemishes, the main focus for you should be keeping your skin thoroughly (but gently) cleaned every night, especially after a day of wearing makeup. As well as using the correct skincare products for your skin type and concern. Much like everything in life, practice makes perfect, and you will find that once you have a routine locked down, pimples won’t be such a pesky problem and will go away fast.
DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek.
“Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more.
Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals.
Sunscreen
“We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.”
Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen
An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup.
Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand.
Vitamin C Serum
“A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum
The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum
This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants.
Peptides
Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.”
Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream
This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively.
This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek.
At-Home Peel Pads
Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate.
“The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.”
According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says.
Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad
A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection.
KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads
These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids.
Emollient Night Cream
“In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.”
“Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products.
Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream
One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme
“The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.
