Pimples are something we confront with during our lives. Those red spots on our face can be really annoying and unpleasant. They hurt, itch and are definitely not a great ‘accessory’ to our look.
If you try to get rid of them, you need to be really careful because this is a tricky business. Popping them can cause them to swell and become infected. But don’t worry, we are here to tell you about how to reduce pimples naturally and maintain a beautiful healthy skin.
Before we begin any discussion about pimple-treating products, it’s essential to understand more about how pimples form and a few aspects about acne. Let’s take a look at them.
Pimples and acne: causes and symptoms
Pimples are born when sebum mixes with dead skin cells. This causes the pores to plug and results in the red swelling. They can appear on different parts of the body such as the face, neck, back, arms and can go away in a few days.
Acne is a disease which affects the oil glands from your skin. Some symptoms which can indicate the presence of acne are:
- blackheads
- pimples with pus
- painful lumps beneath your skin
- painful lumps with pus beneath your skin
The symptoms may differ from one person to another. If you’ve tried various homemade treatments and remedies and they didn’t help, you can go to the dermatologist. Your doctor will be able to tell how severe it is and prescribe you a proper treatment.
The causes of acne are:
- production of oil (sebum)
- dead skin cells
- clogged pores
- bacteria
Other factors which can contribute or even worsen acne are hormones, taking certain meds, your diet (eating many dairy products or foods rich in carbohydrates) and going through a stressful period. Make sure to ask your doctor about these factors and see if they play a certain role in your situation.
Conventional acne-treatment dangers
When speaking about conventional acne-treating products, we can refer to different types of remedies. These include:
- topical medications (lotions, gels, and various creams)
- oral medications (antibiotics, birth control pills)
Topical medications
Topical medications include products such as lotions, gels, and creams. Some of them are over-the-counter (OTC), while others require a prescription. It depends on the needs your skin has.
OTC products have some active ingredients in their composition. Benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid are two examples. They contribute to reducing the sebum your body produces and can decrease inflammation.
Be careful if you have hypersensitive skin. Benzoyl peroxide can make it become red, itchy or inflamed.
Prescription products are welcomed when the OTC ones are not giving the results you want. They usually contain stronger ingredients which kill bacteria.
The biggest side effect of topical medication is that it can make your skin dry. This can be a temporary effect and it can go away as your skin gets used with the products. If the symptoms don’t go away and worsen, pay your doctor a visit.
Oral medications
Oral medications such as antibiotics and birth control pills are prescribed by your doctor depending on the level of your condition. Antibiotics can complement the creams and gels you are using. Birth control pills can help you regulate your hormone levels and improve the condition of your skin.
The side effects of these meds can be more serious than the ones from topical medication. Antibiotics can cause stomach aches and dizziness. The side effects of birth control pills can vary from one person to another. Make sure you ask your doctor before deciding to take them.
How to reduce pimples naturally
If you want to avoid using products and drugs with potential side effects, there are different ways to reduce pimples naturally. You can choose from making some homemade treatment or going for all natural products.
Homemade remedies
You’ve probably seen a great number of homemade recipes for treating pimples and acne. This can make it really hard to decide what’s best for you. What you need to know is that there are some ingredients which do a great job. Some of them are:
- honey
- lemon (juice)
- aloe
- essential oils: tea tree, lavender, jojoba
- apple cider vinegar
- garlic
- mint
- oatmeal
You can use these to create cleansers or masks to treat your skin. Asking for your doctor’s opinion is recommended in this case as well. He can tell you what other ingredients can help your skin.
Here are two recipes for a cleanser and a mask you can try at home.
Oatmeal cleanser
You will need:
- 1/2 cup of oatmeal
- 2 tablespoons of yogurt
Mix the ingredients until you obtain a paste. Apply it on your face, gently massage it for 1-2 minutes, then rinse with warm water.
Honey & yogurt mask
You will need:
- 1 tablespoon of honey
- 1 teaspoon of yogurt
Mix the ingredients and apply the paste on your face, putting accent on your acne-prone areas. Let it on for 5 minutes, then gently take it off with a damp cloth.
All natural products
This type of products are a great answer to how to reduce pimples naturally. They usually contain one or more of the ingredients we enumerated above. They are made of natural ingredients, which means they may have little to no side effects.
Make sure you ask for your doctor’s opinion. He can give you alternative remedies and offer you specialized advice.