How To Get Rid Of Pimples

If you are interested in getting rid of pimples, and fast, then you’ll be interested in this hub.  Whether you have one pimple or a few you will find something useful to keep pimples at bay or attack them once they have reared their ugly heads.

Many of you might be surprised at the beginning of this hub because I’m going to tell you that one of the best ways to avoid pimples and also to get rid of them is the lowly bar of soap.  Skin care and basic hygiene is your first line of defense when it comes to pimples and you might be surprised to learn how much good soap can do in your quest for pimple free skin.

The first lesson you need to learn is not to use a washcloth or anything else abrasive when washing your face.  Just rub the soap gently into your face with your fingertips to generate a nice lather.  Anything other than your fingers will irritate your skin more and make your acne worse.

Next you want to consider your water temperature.  Many people will use scalding hot water to wash their face, but this is wrong.  Lukewarm water is what you want to use.  If the water is too hot you will dry your skin out more and if you use cold water it shocks the pores.  And after you are done dry off by patting, not rubbing, your skin with a clean soft towel.

Most people will find that washing twice daily with a gentle soap or cleanser like Aveeno, Ivory, Nutragena or Dove will do wonders for their acne problem.  Only if this simple soap and water daily routine doesn’t work will you need to consider getting a specialized cleanser meant for acne.

If you find that this daily cleansing routine doesn’t get rid of your pimples then you may want to try one of the cleansing kits such as AcneFree or Proactiv.  These are both inexpensive acne treatment systems and they have been proven to work well for many people.  Another good thing to do when you have stubborn acne is to pay a visit to a dermatologist.  They may be able to make suggestions based on your skin type and acne that will be very beneficial.

In addition to the above here are more tips that will help you avoid getting pimples in the first place:

1.      Clean all the things that frequently touch your face and might collect dirt and bacteria.  This includes your make up tools, towels and washcloths and pillowcases.

2.      Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables

3.      Drink 80 ounces of water each day

4.      Get 8 hours of sleep every night

5.      Stick to your daily cleansing routine

6.      Avoid using make up regularly and when you do choose an oil free cosmetic.

Home Remedies for Pimples

In addition to soap and water there are other home cures for acne that have been tried and true for many decades.  Actually cures is a bit of a misnomer as these are more like the soap and water routine; daily activities that will, over time, help keep your pimples in check.  All of these do two things, keep your pores clear and control the growth of the bacteria that causes acne.  And all of them are very inexpensive and safe so definitely worth a try in conjunction with daily washing.

The following are the top 3 well known home acne cures:

1.      Tea Tree Oil – This is the oil extracted from a species of tree that is native to Australia.  There is quite a bit of evidence that confirms that tea tree oil works well in killing acne bacteria and preventing outbreaks of pimples.  Many over the counter remedies are now including it and even some dermatologists are recommending tea tree oil to their patients.

2.      Lemon Juice – There is a lot of anecdotal evidence from those who say lemon juice has helped clear their skin.  Certainly it is inexpensive and safe, so why not give it a try.  Simply mix the juice of one lemon with an equal amount of water and apply it to whatever part of your body has the pimples.  Leave it on for 30 minutes and then rinse it off with clear lukewarm water.  It’s not immediate, but if you do this daily for 2-3 weeks you should see a marked improvement.

3.      Aspirin – Aspirin helps because it contains beta hydroxy acid which is in many skin creams and is very good at exfoliating the skin.  Periodic exfoliation helps by clearing away dead skin cells and opening up pores.  Simply mix 2-3 aspirin (the uncoated kind) with a tablespoon of water, lemon juice or honey and then gently rub the paste on your skin.  Let it sit for 15 minutes and then wash off with soap and water.  Don’t use more than once a week though or you could irritate your skin or dry it out too much.

In addition to these three home remedies there are many others that you can find by doing a web search.  There are many natural ingredients used for these facial scrubs and the best part is that they are all natural and inexpensive.  You can also find facial scrubs that will help with blackheads.

Emergency Pimple Treatment

Pimples can occur pretty much anywhere on the upper body from the back and chest to the neck, face and scalp.  Undoubtedly it is the facial pimples that are the most disconcerting and emotionally traumatic.  And it seems as if a pimple will erupt on your face at exactly the wrong time.  Have a big date, the prom or your wedding coming up and you can be sure that’s exactly when you’ll get a pimple.  You already have the tools you need for pimple prevention, however sometimes due to stress in our lives we end up with a pimple anyway.  So what can you do when you get a pimple despite your best efforts to avoid them?

The very first thing you need to do is calm down.  Stress will only make things worse and that’s the last thing you need now.  And for goodness sake keep your fingers away from that pimple.  Picking prodding, poking and squeezing will only make things worse and could even end up giving you acne scars.  If you have less than 24 hours to get rid of a pimple you do need to take drastic action, but you also need to be logical about it and don’t let your emotions get the best of you.

You won’t have time at this point to see a dermatologist, but there are things you can do at home that will help.  First of all start putting an icepack on the pimple every 30 minutes for 2-3 minutes at a time.  Part of what makes a pimple stand out so much is the swelling and the icepack will help reduce the swelling and some of the redness.

The next step is somewhat surprising, but has worked well for many people for emergency pimple treatment.  Put a small dab of toothpaste on the pimple before going to bed.  Believe it or not, the toothpaste will reduce the swelling and will also dry out the pimple making it much less noticeable.  Once you’ve shrunk the pimple and gotten rid of the redness it’s much easier to use an anti bacterial cover-up to hide it.

Popping Pimples Is Typically Not a Good Idea

No matter where it is you should always refrain from popping your pimples.  When you squeeze the pimple to po it there’s a very good chance that you will also be pushing the pus deeper into the pore where it can cause a severe infection, damage to the subaceous gland and scarring.

If you have no other choice, because of a special event, then there is a safe way to get rid of a pimple without squeezing it or picking at it.  You can safely lance your pimple with a sewing needle and here’s where to learn more if you are interesting in this method to get rid of pimples.

Acne is caused by a variety of factors and there is really no way to permanently rid yourself of pimples if you are prone to getting them.  Proper skin care and medications can help, as can some of the home remedies mentioned, but at the end of the day sometimes you just have to play with the cards mother nature dealt you.  Hopefully you’ve learned something helpful from this guide and can avoid some of your pimples or if you do get them you will know better how to deal with them.