There’s nothing worse than waking up with a massive spot when you’ve got a big day ahead. We’ve all been there. But what can be done to stop a pimple ruining your day?
Dr Conal Perrett, consultant dermatologist and dermatological surgeon at The Devonshire Clinic and one of London Medical Concierge’s network of doctors, explains the dos and don’ts of dealing with an overnight breakout.
DO
Grab an ice cube
‘If you have an important day ahead, you can place an ice cube or crushed ice into a face cloth and gently apply it to the spot. Ice helps to reduce swelling, redness and pain of the pimple. Ice also improves blood circulation to the infected area and tightens the skin’s pores. This won’t get rid of the spot but is a quick and easy method to reduce the appearance of it’
Go for benzyl peroxide
‘There are many over-the-counter acne products you can buy that are available to treat mild to moderate acne or periodic breakouts. For example, I would recommend benzoyl peroxide creams which kills the bacteria that cause acne and helps remove excess oil from the skin, which can clog pores.’
Drink up
‘Drink lots of water. Although this may seem like a basic advice, water cleanses your body by flushing out toxins and is full of nutrients. Adequate hydration flushes out the bad bacteria within your skin and you will really start to see the results as time goes on.’
But DON’T
Pop the spot
‘Don’t pop the pimple unless it’s truly ready to burst – it’s not worth the risk of having a scab that’s uncoverable or worse, scarring the skin. Left alone, a blemish will heal itself in 3 to 7 days. Squeezed harshly, it can linger for weeks or lead to further infection.’
Over-wash
‘Washing your face more than once a day can dry out your skin. When your skin is dry, oil production goes into overdrive, meaning that when you think you’re cleaning your skin, you’re really causing more oil to be made, which causes pores to clog, leading to even more spots.’
Exfoliate
‘Exfoliating more than a couple of times a week can have the same effect as over-washing. Exfoliators can burst whiteheads if you aren’t careful, which can cause the bacteria to spread around your face or the spot to become infected. Any kind of exfoliator, if used too aggressively, can cause irritation to already sensitive skin, causing breakouts to take longer to heal.’
Toothpaste
‘Don’t subject your skin to myths – toothpaste, perfume, and egg whites do not work when trying to get rid of spots and will do your skin more harm than good. It is understandable that you want to try anything you can to get rid of a breakout but make sure you stick to creams and treatments that your doctor or dermatologist recommend, as these are what will actually work.’
