Not only are pimples painful, but they also leave spots and blemishes on the skin. Understandably, these stubborn pimple marks can bring down confidence. While here are some tips to clear pimples, we also recommend a balanced diet, regular skincare, and plenty of water to avoid breakouts in the first place.
So, let’s look at home effective tips to clear pimples that will help you say bye to all the skin woes.
What are Pimples?
A pimple is a type of acne resulting from blocked pores and excess production of sebum, bacteria, or dead skin cells trapped in the skin pores.
Acne is usually a long term condition whereby the oil glands at the base of your hair follicles cause either non-inflammatory or inflammatory skin damage, such as pimples, cysts, whiteheads, blackheads, and pustules.
Causes of Pimples
While there are a variety of triggers that cause acne, there are some natural remedies for pimples that you can always rely on. The triggers are as follows:
- Genetics
- Puberty
- Stress
- Sleep deprivation
- Hormonal changes or imbalances
- Dehydration
- Certain medications like Steroids
- Dandruff
- Humidity and sweating
- Pollution
- Wrong skincare products
- UV rays and toxins
- Smoking/Alcohol
- Foods with high sugar content
- Milk products
Types of Pimple Marks
Once the pimples are gone, they leave behind marks. There are three types of pimple marks:
- Miniscule ones that are black-ish and flat. These usually go by themselves, and you need not do anything about them.
- The pimples with a white head tend to leave a scar at a deep level of your skin. This type of scar is also called boxcar, ice pick, or rolling scar. It seems to be narrow but goes deep. These marks appear due to the loss of collagen in the skin.
- The cyst-like pimples often leave behind red-brown-ish marks. These occur due to a hormonal imbalance. These are very difficult to get rid of.
Pimples on Face Removal Tips
Let’s dive into the best pimples on face removal tips. Before you know it, your skin will be smooth and blemish-free!
1. Maintain Skin Hygiene
Wash your face at least twice a day with a mild soap or cleanser. Use lukewarm water, do not aggressively rub your face, and always moisturise your skin after washing. Do not repeatedly touch your face. Also, regularly wash your hair and keep it away from your face.
2. Avoid Heavy Make-up
Use a good oil-free sunscreen to avoid hyperpigmentation.
3. Don’t Touch Acne
Under no circumstances should you squeeze whiteheads, blackheads, or pimples. You can avoid scarring and infection by leaving it be.
4. Diet and Lifestyle Intervention
Drink your recommended intake of water daily. Eat tons of fresh fruits and vegetables. Relax and destress through hobbies, yoga, etc.
Natural Remedies for Pimples & Acne
Depending on the severity of the acne, you may wonder if you need to go to a dermatologist. While there is no harm in doing that, you could first try some natural remedies for pimples. Let’s look at some easy pimples on face removal tips home remedies:
1. Garlic and Aloe Vera
Aloe vera moisturises the skin and has antioxidant properties. Garlic has an active compound called allicin which is antibacterial. Hence, garlic has great antiseptic and clarifying properties. Both together can serve to be a great detox mask for healing pimples.
Instructions:
Make a paste from two cloves of peeled garlic. Add one teaspoon of aloe vera pulp to this. After mixing, apply this mixture to the affected areas on the face. After 20 minutes, rinse it off with warm water. Repeat this once daily until the pimples subside.
2. Bananas
Banana peels are rich in potassium, vitamins, and minerals, strengthening the skin barrier, making it harder for acne to pop up and damage the skin.
Instructions:
Take a ripe banana and cut a small portion of the peel. Place the inner part of the peel on the skin and rub it on for 10 minutes. Then rinse it off. You can do this twice a day.
3. Honey and Cinnamon
Cinnamon has anti-inflammatory properties, and honey has antibacterial properties. Working together, they can get rid of acne.
Instructions:
Mix ½ teaspoon of cinnamon and two tablespoons of honey. Apply this thick paste to the affected areas. After half an hour, wash the face with warm water. You can do this once a day. Keep doing it daily till you notice lighter marks.
4. Ice
Ice is great for healing. The cold helps to constrict blood vessels under the skin's surface, making the size of the pimple smaller.
Instructions:
Take an ice cube and place it on top of the pimple. Hold it there for 2-3 minutes. You can do this twice a day till the pimple disappears.
5. Baking Soda
Baking soda acts as an exfoliant, helping to strip away excess oil and balance our skin’s pH levels. Moreover, it helps ease skin irritation.
Instructions:
Mix a little baking soda and water to make a paste. Apply this baking soda paste to the areas of the skin that are affected. After 10 minutes, wash it off. You can repeat this daily.
6. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar has citric, acetic, lactic, and succinic acid. These all help to kill acne-causing bacteria.
Instructions:
In the ratio of 1:3, dilute ACV in water. First, wash the face with a mild cleanser, and then apply this solution to the acne with a cotton ball. Leave it on for 5-10 minutes, and then wash it off with cold water. Remember to moisturise after this.
7. Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil has both anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties, which helps to reduce the size of acne lesions. Do a patch test before using tea tree oil on the face. This is a way to heal acne gently.
Instructions:
Mix a couple of drops of tea tree oil with a carrier oil such as jojoba oil. Use a gentle cleanser to wash the face and then pat it dry. Use the diluted oil on all the acne spots on the face. You can use a Q-Tip to apply the oil to the pimple. After it dries up, apply regular moisturiser. Doing this twice a day will give results.
8. Witch Hazel Extract
Witch Hazel is an age-old remedy used thanks to it being a natural astringent. It can dry out the pimples and clear both blackheads and whiteheads.
Instructions:
Take a cotton pad and put a couple of drops of witch hazel toner on it. Apply it all to the face. Do this every day after cleaning your face. Remember to use a moisturiser so that the face does not completely dry out.
9. Green tea
Green tea contains the antioxidant compound called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), which regulates sebum production. It also helps to ease inflammation and stop acne-causing bacteria from growing.
Instructions:
You can use freshly used tea bags or spritz some water on a new teabag. Place it in the fridge for a while. Once cold, put it on the pimples and leave for 10 minutes. Then rinse the face with cold water. Repeat it several times throughout the day.
10. Honey And Cinnamon Mask
Honey and cinnamon both have antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties, which helps acne-prone skin heal.
Instructions:
Mix a little cinnamon powder and honey to make a paste. Apply it on the face and leave it on for 15-20 minutes. Then you can rinse it off with warm water. You can do this once a day.
These happen to be the easiest natural remedies for pimples. You can find all the ingredients at home and prepare the remedy at any time of the day.
Other Ways to Help Reduce Pimples
Let’s look at some other acne removal tips that could help you reduce or prevent acne:
1. Limit Dairy Intake
According to some studies, people who drink milk tend to get acne. This is because whey and casein proteins in milk, once digested, secrete a hormone similar to insulin. This is what leads to breakouts.
2. Limit Sugar Intake
According to studies, those who consume food with high sugar content often experience more acne. This is because refined carbohydrates break down and release high sugar levels into the blood, thereby raising insulin levels. These carbs are absorbed very quickly into the bloodstream, rapidly raising blood sugar levels. This leads to a rapid rise in insulin levels.
Insulin activates androgen hormones and the insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). This is what leads to skin cells growing more quickly and boosting sebum production.
3. Reduce Stress
Some studies have demonstrated the link between stress, sebum production and acne. If you have been stressed lately, ask your healthcare practitioner for relaxation techniques, do yoga, make time for hobbies, or consider art or talk therapy.
How to Prevention Pimples
While pimple remove tips are important, it is even more important that we try to prevent acne in the first place.
1. Clean Skin
Cleanse your face twice a day with lukewarm water and a mild cleanser. If you are sweaty or have make-up on, ensure you clean your face afterwards.
2. Correct Skincare Products
Use skin care products and make-up that is non-comedogenic and non-acnegenic. This means products that won’t clog your pores and cause acne. You can use a light alcohol-free moisturiser and a mineral-based SPF to protect your skin from UV damage.
3. Personal Hygiene
Avoid touching your face. Wash your bed linens once a week. Sanitise your phone regularly. Clean make-up brushes often. These things touch the face and tend to spread bacteria or clog pores.
Summing Up on Pimples on Face Removal Tips
You may get acne for several reasons, such as poor diet or genetics. However, it is not impossible to treat it. You can use natural remedies for pimples at home. If that does not help in the long run and you continue to have severe acne, consult a doctor.
FAQs
Let’s look at some frequently asked questions about pimples.
Is Toothpaste Good for Pimples?
No, toothpaste is not good for pimples. People often suggest this method, but experts don’t. It could potentially make your skin redder or more irritated. Toothpaste contains ingredients not meant to be on your skin. There is no need to put whitening and tartar-reducing ingredients on the face.
Is Lemon Good for Pimples?
Yes, Lemon is good for pimples. Citrus fruits have rich antioxidant properties. This is why they are often used in skincare products. Vitamin C and antioxidants in citrus fruits can help fight off free radicals from the skin and help boost your collagen levels.
Does Hot Water Remove Pimples?
No, hot water will dry your skin and trigger oil production. This can lead to worse acne. Use warm water to wash your face. It will help loosen the dirt in your pores.
Can Soap Cause Pimples?
This completely depends on the skin type and the soap you are using. It is vital to use skincare products that suit your skin type. Before investing in skincare products, you will even need to know your acne type. Soap is not bad. But the wrong type of soap might aggravate your acne problems.
References
- Walter C Willett, Michelle D Holmes, February 2005; High school dietary dairy intake and teenage acne - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15692464/
- Yiung Huak, Lim Fong Seng, 2007; Study of psychological stress, sebum production and acne vulgaris in adolescents - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17340019/
- Fahmida Alam, October 2014; Honey: A Potential Therapeutic Agent for Managing Diabetic Wounds - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC4216698/
