How To Spot Treat Acne

Dont Consider Moisturiser Your Enemy

Weve said it before and well say it again, having acne or oily skin doesnt mean you skip moisturiser altogether. Choose a lightweight, non-comedogenic and gel-based formula thatll hydrate without aggravating your breakouts. In fact, if youre using a spot treatment, a moisturiser is a must. If youre using a spot treatment thats exfoliating in nature or one that can possibly dry your skin , you must use a moisturiser at least in that particular area. Dont use any irritants or even a home remedy after because you can end up with burns or some sort of rash.

How To Treat Different Types Of Acne

To see clearer skin, it helps to know what types of blemishes you’re dealing with. Each type requires different treatment.

Whats that blemish?

Is that a blackhead, papule, or something else? See what the different acne blemishes looks like and how to treat them.

Blackheads and whiteheads

These appear when pores become clogged with excess oil, bacteria, and dead skin cells. If the pore closes up, youll see a tiny bump that looks white or flesh colored. These are whiteheads.

Blackheads and pimples

If the pore fills with debris but stays open, youll see a blackhead. The black dots arent dirt, so resist scrubbing. It will only worsen your acne.

Treating whiteheads and blackheads

To unclog pores, dermatologists recommend using a retinoid. You can buy one retinoid, adapalene, without a prescription. Youll also want to use a benzoyl peroxide wash. It can help get rid of the excess P. acnes bacteria on your skin.

Stubborn whiteheads and blackheads

Give treatment six to eight weeks to work. If you still see blemishes, you may want to see a dermatologist. A procedure like comedo extraction may help. Prescription-strength acne treatment is another option.

Early pimples

When excess oil, bacteria, and dead skin cells push deeper into the skin and cause inflammation , youll see small, red bumps. The medical word for this type of acne blemish is a papule. They feel hard. If you have a lot of papules, the area may feel like sandpaper.

Treating papules

Pus-filled pimples

Best Drugstore: Clean & Clear Advantage Spot Treatment

• Pricier than other options

In case of angry, inflamed pimples, dot this on. While labeled a serum, the fast-absorbing Tea Tree Clear Skin Serum works just as well as a spot treatment for daytime. The dropper bottle contains a potent mix of antibacterial tea tree oil, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, salicylic acid, and even niacinamide. Together, they bring down swelling and redness, brighten, and refine skin texture while preventing future pimples from forming.

Type: Serum | Active Ingredients: Salicylic acid, tea tree oil, retinol, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid | Size: 1 fluid ounce | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Yes

You May Like: Do Silk Pillowcases Help With Acne

Neutrogena Rapid Clear Stubborn Acne Spot Gel $7

For those looking for an affordable, drugstore option, Garshick likes the Neutrogena Rapid Clear Stubborn Acne Spot Gel.

This topical gel uses 10% benzoyl peroxide to help reduce redness and size of moderate to severe breakouts in as little as two hours, which is why it is a good option for very stubborn pimples, Garshick said.

I love recommending benzoyl peroxide as it is a key ingredient that fights acne-causing bacteria, without leading to antibiotic resistance. When using this, it is important to only apply a thin layer to the spot as dryness or irritation may occur if too much is applied. This is a great, easy-to-find, drugstore option.

Garshick is also a big fan of this spot treatment from La Roche-Posay.

I love that it can be easily used as spot treatment or can be applied all over the face as it also contains glycerin, which wont leave the skin feeling dry. Its easy to apply and fast-absorbing so it can easily be incorporated into a skincare routine, Garshick said.

This dual-action spot treatment contains a combination of 5.5% micronized benzoyl peroxide as well as lipo-hydroxy acid making it a great option for all types of breakouts and blemishes.

This spot treatment is available in two sizes, .5 oz and 1.36 oz.

Tips For Clearing Acne In Skin Of Color

How to treat acne in skin of color

For people with skin of color, acne is often accompanied by dark spots or patches called hyperpigmentation. Fortunately, there are plenty of things people with skin of color can do at home to help clear their acne, as well as the dark spots that linger afterwards.

The term skin of color refers to diverse skin types and complexions. It includes people of African, Asian, Latino, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and Native American descent.

People who have skin of color share some common skin-care concerns. Near the top of this list is how to get rid of acne and the dark spots that often appear when acne clears.

The secret to seeing clearer skin lies in knowing what really works when it comes to treating darker skin types. Below youll find 10 tips that science shows can lead to clearer skin.

1. Treat both the acne and the dark spots.Many people seek a dermatologist’s help for the dark spots, which can last much longer than the acne. It’s important to treat the acne, too. When you get rid of the acne, you eliminate what’s causing the dark spots.

Acne and dark spots

Dermatologists recommend treating acne and dark spots at the same time.

• Spots and patches of darker skin

• Keloids, a type of raised scar

Do not pop pimples

If you pick, pop, or squeeze acne, you increase your risk of getting a scar.

Retinol: This can unclog pores and fade dark spots.

Cocoa butter

Also Check: What Is Acne And What Causes It

How To Make A Honey And Cinnamon Mask

Summary

Honey and cinnamon have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. They may help reduce acne, but more studies are needed.

Tea tree oil is an essential oil thats extracted from the leaves of Melaleuca alternifolia, a small tree native to Australia.

Its well known for its ability to fight bacteria and reduce skin inflammation (

Summary

Tea tree oil has strong anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Applying it to the skin may reduce acne.

How To Spot Treat Acne

• Salicylic Acid: Salicylic acid can be found at any drug store, these creams and gels should be applied to acne to unclog the blocked pore that is leading to the development of a pimple. It can also exfoliate and help to remove the pimple from the skin’s surface.
• Benzoyl Peroxide: Benzoyl peroxide kills the acne-causing p. acnes bacteria that resides on the skin. Be careful when applying, as it can bleach fabric if you don’t wash your hands afterward!

You May Like: How Does Retinol Help Acne

The Best Spot Treatments Will Eliminate Pimples And Blemishes

All products featured on GQ are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The best spot treatment allows you to do something when you see a pimple developing. It’s an understandable impulsebut one that often leads to picking and popping, which is about the worst thing you can do to your face. It’s bad enough that these treatments would be worth it even if they did nothing but redirect that impulsebut they’re packed with oil-drying and skin-soothing ingredients, so there’s a lot more to it than that.

Now, these are last-resort sorts of treatments. Before you need them, theres a lot you can do to prevent acne and dark spots. But there’s no way to stop blemishes completely. You cant predict if too much sun will leave a tiny, never-vanishing freckle, or if a hormone fluctuation will clog a single, solitary pore on your brow. In fact, in some way these random incidents that are often more frustrating than a correctible bout of acne. Thats because they defy the rules, or the precautions youve taken to prevent them. These spots are also often persistent: Theyre anchored deep in the skin, they might last months.

The Best Dehydrator

Compare With Similar Items

Donât Miss: How To Prevent Acne After Eating Chocolate

You May Like: Can Witch Hazel Help Acne

Using Tea Tree Oil In Skin Treatments

Dont Overuse Spot Treatments

Yes, theyre effective, but that doesnt mean you use them multiple times a day, every single day. Dont use harsh ingredients like retinol, AHAs or BHAs every single day on the spots because they can irritate the skin and make the spots darker instead of lighteruse it on alternate days. If youre using an erythromycin gel or something for acne at night then that can also dry your skin, so make sure you keep the skin moisturised during the day.

You May Like: How To Get Rid Of Pitted Acne Scars

How To Make A Scrub At Home

Summary

Exfoliation is the process of removing the top layer of dead skin cells. It may reduce the appearance of scars and discoloration, but more research needs to be done on its ability to treat acne.

The relationship between diet and acne has been debated for years.

Research suggests that dietary factors, such as insulin and glycemic index, may be associated with acne .

A foods glycemic index is a measure of how quickly it raises your blood sugar.

Eating high GI foods causes a spike in insulin, which likely increases sebum production. As a result, high GI foods may directly affect the development and severity of acne.

Foods with a high glycemic index include processed foods, such as:

• white bread

• nuts
• whole or minimally processed grains

In one study, 66 people followed either a normal or low glycemic diet. After 2 weeks, the individuals consuming a low glycemic diet had lower levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 , a hormone involved in acne development .

Another study in 64 people found that those with moderate or severe acne ate diets with more carbohydrates and a higher glycemic load than those without acne .

These small studies suggest that a low glycemic diet may help those with acne-prone skin. Additional larger, longer studies are needed.

The relationship between dairy and acne is highly controversial.

Common Mistakes When Using An Acne Spot Treatment

Theres a couple more things you should keep in mind in order to get the best results out of your product. And avoiding some common mistakes can go a long way. Not only it can help the acne heal faster, but it will also protect the rest of your skin from the harsh, drying effect.

Weve already talked about how counterproductive it can be to start with a spot treatment too soon. Other than that, there are a few more things to avoid, so lets just quickly go through them:

1. Applying acne spot treatment to a whole face

Spot treatments cannot prevent new acne from occurring. They only treat the already developed individual acne. Applying a spot treatment to your whole face not only wont prevent breakouts, but it can severely dry out and irritate your healthy skin.

2. Layering it in a wrong order

Acne treatment should only be applied to a clean skin, never before cleansing. Also, if you apply a spot treatment to your acne, then a moisturizer over it, the moisturizer will smear the spot treatment, distributing it all over your face.

So, you can either apply your acne treatment, then try to go around it and avoid the area as much as possible when applying the following products. Or, you can complete your routine as usual, then wipe the blemished area with a damp tissue or cotton ball, to remove the moisturizer. Then just apply your acne spot treatment to the acne and let it dry.

3. Using too harsh products

Also Check: What To Use For Acne

Dont Expect Miracles From Spot Treatments For Dark Spots

Whether you have post-acne scars or other dark spots youre looking to lighten with a brightening spot treatment, it takes a whilealong with consistent usagefor results to show. If theres pigmentation left behind after acne, you can apply a spot treatment with salicylic acid, glycolic acid, niacinamide, Vitamin C or arbutin on the dark spotsthey can fade away in three-four months.

Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution

For a skin concern like dark spots and discolorations, a concentrated serum is an essential step in your routine. Formulated with Activated C, White Birch Extract and Peony Extract, our serum for dark spots is clinically-proven* to help visibly reduce dark spots, improve clarity, even skin tone and even diminish the appearance of post-acne marks. Apply morning and night for optimal skin clarity.

*Based on a 12-week clinical study of 17 women with all skin types presented with mild to moderate severity of attributes, including post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

Read Also: How Do You Get Rid Of Baby Acne Naturally

Ice On Pimple: 1 Minute Or More

The use of ice can go a long way. This cooling method works best for inflammatory acne that flares under the skin including cysts, nodules, pustules, and papules.

Directions:

If your pimple is particularly inflamed, you can follow it up with repeat sessions, but wait 5 minutes in between each application. Continue to ice your pimple until its gone down enough to cover up.

Do this daily if the pimple persists.

Breakout Control Acne Treatment Facial Lotion

For added acne-fighting benefits, reach for an acne moisturizer, like Breakout Control Acne Treatment Facial Lotion. Its formulated with aloe vera, salicylic acid, and niacinamide and is clinically-demonstrated to help reduce breakouts while helping to prevent new blemishes from forming.* With consistent use, it also helps diminish roughness and dullness. Use this non-comedogenic moisturizer daily or as needed to reveal skin that appears visibly clearer and more even over time. In the daytime, complete your routine with SPF to help protect your skin from the suns damaging rays.

*Tested in a dermatologist-controlled clinical study.

You May Like: What Is The Cause Of Forehead Acne

How Acne Actually Develops:

It all starts with a pore that gets blocked by dirt, dead skin cells, comedogenic products

Now, the sebum that your skin produces should come out through that pore and moisturize the surface of your skin. But, since the pore is blocked, the sebum stays trapped in the skin, accumulating, mixing with the rest of the plug and eventually causing an infection.

Barely ever a pimple starts to develop right under the very surface of the skin. The inflammation and pus usually start to form much deeper, then slowly move its way up towards the skins surface. That is why you usually dont see the yellow tip when the acne first starts to form the pus is too deep down to be visible.

The pus moving up the pore is actually a skins natural process in which it is trying to get rid of the infection and to heal. That is why popping acne might actually be a good thing. It helps the skin to get rid of the pus faster.