4 Ways to Get Rid of Acne - wikiHow

4 Ways to Get Rid of Acne - wikiHow

You can have your glowing, healthy, and pimple-free skin back in no time.

Wash your face twice daily with a benzoyl peroxide cleanser. 

Benzoyl peroxide is one of the most effective acne treatments. It is found in many face washes. 

4 Ways to Get Rid of Acne - wikiHow

Wash your face when you wake up in the morning and before going to bed at night.

1. If you can find one, use a face wash that contains exfoliating particles to help smooth your skin.

If you have acne on other parts of your body such as your shoulders, back, and chest, give these areas a scrubbing twice daily as well with the same cleanser as you use on your face.If you wear makeup, never go to bed without washing it all off.

 Sleeping with makeup on is a surefire way to increase your pimple-count and make getting rid of your acne even more difficult. 

Use an oil-free makeup remover prior to washing with your regular cleanser to make sure all traces have been removed.

Apply a salicylic acid toner. 

Pat your face dry after cleansing with a clean towel. Pour a little bit of toner onto a cotton ball and apply it evenly over your face. 

The toner will help treat your skin after cleansing, and salicylic acid can fight the acne.

2. Some toners come as wipes or pads. Others may be sprays.

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Spot treat acne with a benzoyl peroxide gel.

 This gel can be bought from grocery stores, pharmacies, and beauty stores. 

Apply a dot of the gel on a pimple and pat it in with a clean finger. 

Look for products with 3% or less of benzoyl peroxide to avoid irritating your skin.

3. Apply a non-comedogenic moisturizer after treating your acne. Acne products can dry out or irritate your skin. 

A moisturizer can help restore moisture and hydrate your skin. Apply moisturizer after cleansing and treating your skin. Make sure to choose a non-comedogenic moisturizer. This means that the moisturizer won't cause acne.

4. ngredients in non-comedogenic moisturizers include glycerin, aloe vera, and hyaluronic acid.

Wash your face using oils. 

Known as the Oil Cleansing Method (OCM), this is a popular method of cleansing in Asia, and is a growing trend.

OCM is an alternative cleansing method that is gentler for skin, and of interest for sensitive skin types.

Look into oils such as olive oil, egg oil, grapeseed oil, castor oil, and emu oil.

Exfoliate your face. 

Exfoliates are mild scrubbing products that work to slough (to get rid of) off dead skin cells that build up and cause acne. 

Exfoliation can be chemical or physical.

For a gentler approach, use a chemical exfoliator, an AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) or BHA (beta hydroxy acid) at a pH between 3 and 4 to slough off skin. 

A chemical exfoliation un-glues dead skin.

5. A BHA product often cited includes salicylic acid, it must be between a pH between 3 and 4 to work. 

A BHA works to slough (to get rid of) off dead skin cells and encourage new skin growth.

 As a result, you may experience dry skin and scaliness around your acne, but this will dissipate over time as your skin begins to regenerate faster. 

Use this in a cleanser or spot treatment daily on the acne-affected areas of your skin.

6. Aspirin tablets, which contain salicylic acid, a BHA can be ground up and mixed with water and then put on your zits to reduce redness and swelling.

Rub a light layer of honey into your skin, and let it sit for 30 minutes.Rinse off with warm water. 

Honey has a variable pH from 3 to 6, but at a pH between 3 and 4, it contains AHA's that will exfoliate skin.

For physical exfoliation, consider purchasing a konjac sponge. 

It is gentle enough for usage upon your face.

For physical exfoliation, consider using oatmeal as an exfoliate.

 Mix oatmeal with honey and rub it onto your face for 2-3 minutes, and gently rinse away the residue with warm water.

Apply essential oils to active pimples. 

Neem oil and tea tree oil are thought to have antimicrobial properties that can kill acne-causing bacteria.

Dab a drop of diluted version of tea tree oil or neem oil on each spot, or wet a cotton swab and wipe it over problem areas.

7. Tea tree oil is an antibacterial agent that can help clear out the microbes clogging your skin. 

Avoid using undiluted tea tree oil — it'll burn your skin, and worsen acne. 

Read the warning label on the bottle.

Use sulfur-containing clay masks. 

Although we don’t know exactly why sulfur works as a great acne-killer, we do know that it does work. 

Look for products that contain sulfur to clear up your acne, seemingly by reducing oil production.

Use a toner after cleansing. 

After you wash your face, exfoliate, or apply a face mask, apply a toner to the entirety of your face. Toners work to tighten pores making it less likely that dirt and oil will become trapped in them. 

Buy acne toners at a local drugstore, or use witch hazel or apple cider vinegar dabbed on with a cotton ball. Don’t rinse toners after application - allow them to stay on your skin.

Always apply a moisturizer. 

Oily skin produces acne, and if your skin is very dry your body will compensate by creating sebum. 

To prevent this from happening, use a gentle moisturizer after you wash your face every morning and evening. 

Apply moisturizer post toner application.

8. Use a retinoid. 

As a Retinoid is a prescription medication in the U.S., be cautious of the side affects before usage. 

Retinoid cleansers contain high levels of vitamin A, which help to clean out clogged pores and dissolve away grime. 

You can get a prescription for one from your doctor. 

Trademarked OTC retinoid-like products are ineffective.

Find products containing azelaic acid. 

Azelaic acid is an antibacterial that also helps to reduce redness and inflammation and is found naturally in wheat and barley. 

If your acne tends to leave dark marks on your skin, try a product that uses azelaic acid to clean your pores and reduce acne-produced dark spots.

9. Use a sheet or face mask. 

Sheet or Face masks contain compounds that soothe your skin and kill bacteria. 

Use a sheet or face mask 2-3 times a week for 15-20 minutes to dry out your skin and clean out your pores. 

Buy face masks from your local beauty supply or drugstore, or make your own at home.

Create a blend of cucumbers and oatmeal. 

The cucumbers help to reduce redness and fight off dark spots while the oatmeal soften and soothes irritated skin. 

Blend the two together in a food processor until it forms a paste, and then apply it to your skin for 15-20 minutes before washing off with warm water.

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Use prescription antibiotics and medication. 

Certain medications can be prescribed by your dermatologist to help with particularly bad cases of acne, but should be used with caution. 

As with all medications, there may be unwanted side-effects in a small portion of the population.

An antibiotic pill can help kill the bacteria that may be causing your acne. 

Topical antibiotics applied directly to the skin can also be used.

Going on a specialized form of birth control (for women) can help to regulate hormones which may be producing your bad acne. 

Ask your dermatologist if this seems like a good option for you to take.

In particularly troublesome cases of acne, a specialized drug known as accutane can be prescribed. 

This is an incredibly intense retinoid treatment that has shown to almost completely remove all acne in users. 

However, it has the most serious side-effects of any acne-fighting drug and should be used with extreme caution.

Get a facial. 

These are available at most spas, and involve the use of several different cleansers, masks, and extraction tools to reduce acne on your face. 

If you don’t feel comfortable with having an esthetician work on your face, visit your dermatologist for a more medically-oriented facial.

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