Get Rid of a Zit Overnight
You know the feeling of waking up and looking at yourself in the mirror, only to see those red, hot and inflamed breakouts that weren't there when you went to sleep last night. You can either choose not to do anything and live with it, or you can take the matter in your own hands and make an effort to keep the acne away. When you're in a pinch and need to minimize a pimple or pimples as quickly as possible, read this article.
Contents
Steps
Treating the Pimple
- Try some benzoyl peroxide. Benzoyl peroxide kills the bacteria that contribute to pimples. Benzoyl peroxide comes in different concentrations, but benzoyl peroxide with a 2.5% concentration is just as effective as 5-10% formulations, and it's less irritating to the skin. Benzoyl peroxide also helps peel away layers of dead skin, leaving brighter, rejuvenated skin in its place.
- Use salicylic acid. Like benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid kills bacteria responsible for pimple growth. It also causes skin cells to shed more rapidly, promoting the growth of new skin. Put small amounts of salicylic acid onto affected areas. After you have washed your face.
- Use toothpaste. Toothpaste contains silica, which is the drying agent you find in bags of beef jerky, among other things. Basically, toothpaste will dry out your pimple overnight, reducing it in size.
- Make sure to use natural toothpaste when you dab it onto your skin. Some toothpastes containing sodium lauryl sulfate can irritate the skin. Watch out for it before applying. Leave on all night. (CAUTION!!!: it may burn so brace yourself)
- Try sea salt. Mix a teaspoon of sea salt with two tablespoons of warm water. Then use a Q-tip to apply the salt water directly to the pimple. Do not rinse off. The sea salt will kill bacteria and dry out the pimple.
- Try tea tree oil. Tea tree oil is an antibacterial essential oil that can blast the microbes that have started to make a home inside of your pores. With a dropper, dab a Q-Tip with a bit of tea tree oil and apply to pimples as needed, being careful not to put on too much.
- Tea tree oil has anti-inflammatory properties that can make the redness and size of the pimple less noticeable.
- Crush some aspirin. Crush an aspirin tablet and add just enough water to make it into a paste. With a Q-Tip, lightly coat the pimple(s) with the aspirin paste. Cover the pimples entirely and let dry. Aspirin is another anti-inflammatory, meaning it will help the skin fight against inflammation, making the pimple less visible. Let the aspirin paste fight the pimple overnight.
- Use astringents on the affected areas. Astringents are agents that cause the skin to contract or get smaller. Some pharmaceutical astringents contain antimicrobial ingredients that will help fight the pimple in addition to reducing the size of the pimple. Here are some astringents to consider using:
- Store bought astringents. These come in different types and sizes. Look for one that contains benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. Ask for astringents that are gentle on the skin.
- Natural astringents may also work in a pinch. They include:
- Lemon juice. The citric acid here kills the bacteria that cause acne and act as a skin-tightener. Many people swear by it. Slice a lemon and gently rub it over the affected area. Use a toner afterwards to balance the PH of your skin. Lemon is very acidic and can mess up your skin's PH which is why a toner is necessary.
- Banana peel. Banana peels are helpful in treating insect and mosquito bites, and may be helpful in reducing the size of some pimples. Gently rub the banana peel over the affected area.
- Witch hazel. Another great astringent with a ton of applications. Look for witch hazel that doesn't contain alcohol. Apply a small bit over affected area and let dry.
- Green tea. Green tea is an astringent that's packed with lots of antioxidants, which help reduce signs of aging by fighting free radicals. Steep a tea bag in some hot water, remove the tea bag along with all the liquid, and place onto affected area briefly.
- Use egg oil. Egg oil is effective in removing zits and preventing scars.
- Wash your hands with soap or use a sanitizer before using egg oil.
- Gently massage egg oil with you finger tips on the affected area twice a day until the scars disappear.
- Wash it off after an hour with a mild facewash.
Reducing the Redness
- Put ice on the affected area. This should bring down the swelling, as it slows down blood flow to the area. Either apply ice directly to the pimple or cover it in a thin layer of gauze or towel.
- Use eye-drops on the affected area. Eye drops, at least the ones that reduce redness in the eyes, can be helpful in reducing redness and signs of irritation in acne. Drop a few eye-drops onto a Q-Tip and apply as necessary onto the pimple(s)
- Because cold also helps reduce inflammation in acne, place the Q-Tip soaked in eye-drops into the freezer for an hour before applying. The cold Q-Tip will soothe as it reduces inflammation.
- Try some natural antihistamines. Antihistamines suppress the swelling effect in the skin tissue of people. Most of these remedies can be ingested in pill form, but some can be consumed as tea or used as a topical agent. These should offer a reduction in redness. Natural herbal antihistamines include:
- Stinging nettle. This may sound weird, because touching nettles in the wild can produce a rash not unlike small pimples. Some doctors, however, recommend taking a freeze-dried preparation of stinging nettle, which is known for its ability to reduce the amount of histamine the body produces.
- Coltsfoot may be effective as a natural antihistamine. Europeans have a long history of using the plant to cure skin conditions. The leaves can either be ground up into a paste or coltsfoot extract can be ingested in pill form.
- Basil may also work as a natural antihistamine. Heat a couple sprigs of basil leaves up under some steam and apply gently to the hives. Basil may help reassure the body that the foreign agent causing the hives is not something it should be fighting.
General Tips
- Wash your face twice a day. Try to wash your face twice a day. Remember to be gentle when handling with your face and don't use a dirty towel or anything else dirty when washing your face: acne is caused by bacteria, which are found on dirty towels.
- Use a facial scrub once every week to help exfoliate. Exfoliate means wiping off the top, dead layer of skin, called the epidermis. Doing this once a week is healthy.
- Moisturize after every wash. Your skin is an organ in your body, too. Like your kidney, it needs moisture to be healthy. Give it the moisture it needs after each wash.
- Don't touch your face. Try not to touch your face — consciously or unconsciously. Your hands are dirty things, vectors for bacteria. The less your hands meet your face, the happier your face will feel and look.
- Work out. Exercise is a great way to get rid of acne. When you exercise you relieve stress. Stress is thought to contribute to acne, although doctors are still not sure how.
- Find a healthy way to relieve stress and anxiety through exercise. Join a sports team, go to the gym, or push yourself through a daily exercise regimen. All will help your skin look clearer.
- After you've done your exercise, shower immediately. When you exercise, you sweat. (At least if you exercise correctly, you will sweat.) Grime, salt, and dead skin cells all accumulate after vigorous exercise.
- Don't drink. Alcohol may worsen the effects of acne. Drinking alcohol may worsen acne. Alcohol dehydrates your body, leaving it deprived of essential water. And alcohol contains lots of sugars, which may be connected to acne growth. Either way, if you want to play it safe, consume less alcohol and see how your body reacts.Just drink lots of water.
- Don't pick at your pimples. Don't pop them, pick at them, prod them, itch them, scratch them, or otherwise touch them unless applying a medicine or remedy. Doing so will only make the redness and inflammation worse. It's easy to say but hard to do. If you don't pick at them then it will minimize scarring and ultimately get rid of the pimple a lot faster.
Tips
- Make sure to pat your face dry, rubbing will increase redness.
- Do not touch the pimple. Your hands are very oily, and are covered in germs. Touching the pimple could lead to infection.
- Drink plenty of water on a regular basis.
- Be careful when using toothpaste. It can dry out your skin, so make sure you moisturize after.
- Ignore what people say about sugar and chocolate causing pimples - that's just not true. A bad diet in general causes pimples, as well as foods that you are sensitive to. Some people can eat chocolate just fine but then get some cheese down them and they breakout the next day! The important thing to remember is to eat a healthy, balanced diet, trying to note which, if any, foods cause your breakouts.
- Wash your face twice a day.
- Holding an ice cube on the affected area can temporarily reduce redness.
- Aloe Vera gel is amazing and adding baking soda to your zits will really help.
- Products such as Aloe Vera gel and charcoal-based soap can help cleanse the area and reduce oils. Repeated application will help prevent spots and pimples as well.
- NEVER shower directly after working out because its bad for your skin and will clog your pores wait for at least 30 minutes before showering.
- Sweating can help unclog pores but if it is left on too long it can clog pores, so shower after exercising,but showering immediately after exercise is bad for the body since it will create a sudden change in body temperature,which leads to many body disorders.
- Use mint-free toothpaste if you can. It won't sting as much.
- Apply apple cider vinegar overnight.It smells awful but really helps.
- Mix baking soda and toothpaste together it will bring less irritation to the skin and leaving it pimple free, do this overnight mix and tap on the face; leave overnight.
- Mix toothpaste and ice water and some salt. Put the solution on the zit and let it sit overnight.
- Never pop a pimple or zit, because the germs from inside may spread around your face and cause even more zits.
- Use aloe vera: take one part of the plant and cut it up. Take everything that's inside there and put it all over your skin in the morning and at night. Store any leftover aloe vera in the fridge.
- Use an exfoliating scrub every second day.
- Be careful using toothpaste. Don't put it near your eyes - you don't want it getting in your eyes.
- Lemon juice works better than toothpaste but is more irritating if you have sensitive skin.
- Use a clean toothbrush and your cleanser on your pimple to clean it better, but don't scrub too hard or you might make it worse.
- Sweat can also irritate your skin.
- If you don't mind how it looks, don't mess with it at all! Pimples are just a natural way of your skin reacting to all the changes in your body, if you do not leave it alone it could bleed and scar.
- The most important think to remember is do not pop the pimple. You can also try honey. Place a dollop of honey on the pimple and let it sit overnight. In the morning, the whitehead should have appeared, meaning that it will go down in 1-2 days.
- Do not ever scratch or make contact unless you 100% need to your hands will be covered in germs. If you do touch your skin always wash your hands thoroughly!
- Also be careful using the toothpaste. Sometimes the fluoride in the toothpaste can burn your skin causing "burn" and a very unpleasant scar will appear.
Warnings
- The toothpaste will sting badly at first, but don't rub it if it does, because that will just make it hurt worse. If you have sensitive skin or a skin condition, then please do not use toothpaste.
- Benzoyl peroxide can have some side effects, such as redness and mild swelling on the face, so be sure to test it first before applying it all over the face.
