If you've ever gone to bed with clear skin and woke up with a huge, painful pimple on your face, you're not alone. Acne affects many people every year. While acne comes in many forms, including blackheads and whiteheads, the most severe form of acne is a pimple that develops deep within the skin, causing a red, swollen, and painful bump. Fortunately, there are ways to address this type of acne at home to relieve pain and reduce the size, swelling, and redness of the pimple.
DO wash your skin before treating it. Use a mild, fragrance-free cleanser and be gentle on your skin while washing.
DO apply ice to reduce pain and swelling. Once you notice the stain, wrap an ice cube in a paper towel and apply it to the area for five to 10 minutes. Repeat two more times, with a 10-minute break between the glaze.
Apply a product containing 2 percent benzoyl peroxide to the pimple. Available at pharmacies, this treatment helps kill the bacteria that cause acne. Make sure to apply a very thin layer, as using too much can irritate your skin. When using this product, keep in mind that benzoyl peroxide can bleach substances. Do not allow the drug to come into contact with your clothing and consider using white sheets and towels during use.
Apply a warm compress as soon as a whitehead begins to form. To make a warm compress, soak a clean washcloth in hot water; make sure the water isn't too hot to avoid burning your skin. Then apply the warm compress to the pimple for 10 to 15 minutes. Do this three to four times a day until the pimple releases pus and heals.
DO NOT squeeze or pop the pimple. This can make acne more noticeable and increase the risk of infection, discoloration and scarring.
DO NOT apply toothpaste to the area. Toothpaste contains several ingredients that can clog your pores and irritate your skin, such as hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, alcohol and methanol.
DO NOT use homemade treatments that you find online. There's plenty of advice online about promoting "natural" acne remedies, but just because something is natural doesn't mean it's good for your skin. Even if a natural ingredient is good for your skin, it can be combined with another ingredient that can be harmful.
Visit a dermatologist to help treat the pimple and prevent future breakouts. If you need an urgent solution, a dermatologist can give a shot of cortisone, which can clear up the pimple in hours to days rather than days to weeks.
