Acne SOS: Tips for Treating Pimples Overnight

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A big pimple the day before an important meeting, a first date, or a job interview? Don’t feel bad, it happens to the rest of us! While popping it with your hands seems like the obvious solution, dermatologists consider it to be one of the worst ways on how to treat acne. It can scar and actually make your breakout worse.

That’s why it’s a good thing that there are a number of treatments that you can find on the market for your acne emergency. If you are acne-prone, you need to know the products and ingredients to look for during your crisis run to the drugstore. Below, we rounded up the best solutions on how to treat acne overnight:

Hydrocolloid dressing

Hydrocolloid dressing, or more commonly known as acne pimple patches, has gained steady popularity in the skincare community over the last few years. It is the same thing that people put on blisters to minimize the swelling. Made famous by K-Beauty lovers, these small adhesive bandages can reduce a sore pimple overnight.

So how do these tiny stickers do it? Simple, it sucks out everything — including bacteria, oil, and pus from the breakout. The acidic environment it creates further avoids bacterial growth. You can actually see a white dot, evidence of its efficacy, on the patch upon removal. Its absorbent quality allows for a faster healing time without interference from your usual pimple picking tool: your fingers. This reduces the trauma your skin is experiencing, thus preventing future scarring.

While your pimple wouldn’t exactly disappear away while you sleep, the pimple patches will scale it down to a smooth, dried-out state, making it easier for you to spot conceal during the day.

Spot treatments

Spot treatments work a similar way hydrocolloid dressing does; an active ingredient absorbs the pus and oil out of the offended area. Using a cotton swab, just apply it directly to a freshly washed face before using any other product. It’s crucial to not use your finger, as doing so can transfer oils or germs. There are different types of ingredients you can use to spot treat:

Salicylic acid, which is a beta hydroxy acid, safely and deeply extracts and breaks down pore-clogging particles on the spot. It is an oil-soluble acid which makes it an ideal treatment for oily, acne-prone skin. It is anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial, plus it can also get rid of those blackheads and whiteheads!

Benzoyl peroxide works by killing the bacteria and drying it out from underneath the skin. It can also help the pores shed dead skin cells and excess sebum. One definite con is that it can stain your linens, so it’s best to stick with whites when it comes to your pillowcases and towels. It has different levels of concentrations, so consult with a dermatologist or a doctor to know which option is suitable for you: over-the-counter treatment or a prescription-strength one.

Sulfur, when applied topically, can have very strong drying effects. So it’s important to make sure to only apply it on the blemish, excluding the skin around it. This potent ingredient helps shed away dead skin cells so pore-clogging doesn’t develop. It has antimicrobial properties, plus reduces skin oiliness.

Tea tree oil

In moderation, tea tree oil is one of the best ingredients you can get to treat acne — that’s why cleansers, sheet masks, toners, and many other skincare products use it as a key ingredient.

This antimicrobial essential oil can neutralize bacteria and is anti-inflammatory. So if you’ve accidentally popped your pimple, you can apply tea tree oil on the area. Admittedly, it’s definitely not the best for instant pimple control, but it can hamper further irritation like redness, scarring, and future pimple formations.

Be careful not to overapply it though, as high doses can cause redness and drying. Similar to spot treatments, use a cotton swab as to not irritate the skin around the blemish.

Cortisone Injections

If you have the time and budget to squeeze in a dermatologist appointment out of your day, a cortisone injection is absolutely your best option. It’s quick and easy cause this treatment can shoot directly into the cyst, thus delivering almost instant results. Is it worth the minimal discomfort and the mental preparation of having a needle injected into your face? Absolutely.

Want to know more ways on how to treat acne? Click here.

SOURCES:

https://www.seventeen.com/beauty/makeup-skincare/a45990/how-to-get-rid-of-pimples-overnight/

https://www.gq.com/story/eight-ways-to-get-rid-of-pimples-overnight