You get up in the morning and see a bunch of pus-filled bumps on your cheeks. You touch them gingerly, scream, and immediately pick up your phone to Google “how to get rid of pimples fast”. When no immediate satisfactory solutions turn up, you ask your friend “does toothpaste get rid of pimples?” At night, you open another tab as you half-heartedly watch Netflix and type in “how to get rid of pimples overnight”. Don’t fret. We have all been there (and some of us are still there).
Pimples, also known as acne, are mostly caused by the excess production of sebum and a build-up of bacteria. No one enjoys having pimples. No one! But keep in mind that pimples are a completely natural albeit unwanted phenomenon. Often, they are caused by the trapped dead skin cells in the pores of the skin. Pimples can show up anywhere on your body, but the most likely places are the face, neck, chest, shoulders and back, where sebaceous glands are the most active. They also take form near the roots of hair follicles, as there is a lot of oil production there as well.
If one were to sit and count, there would be dozens of causes of pimples. Mostly, though, hormonal changes and a build-up of bacteria are the common causes. But fear not. Pimples can be treated using natural remedies comprising of ingredients that you can easily find at home. In short, there is an answer to “how to get rid of acne fast at home”. However, if your acne is too extreme or painful you should visit a dermatologist.
There’s no miracle cure for acne. Patience and regularity in treatment are required to get rid of acne. You will have to follow a strict skin care and health routine to truly cleanse your system and skin, which will eventually clear out your acne.
Here is a list of things that can help you prevent or cure pimples.
1. Wash your face twice daily using a gentle face wash to avoid the clogging up of dead skin cells inside your pores. Cleaning your face will also get rid of harmful bacteria, dirt and excess oil which are known to aggravate the skin.
2. Wash your hair using a gentle, cleansing shampoo that is meant for regular usage. Make sure you aren’t allergic to any of the ingredients in the shampoo. It is always better to go with a mild shampoo if you have sensitive skin. Choose a shampoo depending on your hair type, and make sure you have a clean, dandruff-free scalp at all times. However, do not over-wash your hair as it can be damaging to the hair follicles. Also, whenever possible, try to keep your hair away from your face. The oil (and dandruff, if you have it) in your hair can cause pimples on your face (and even neck and shoulders).
3. Do not touch your face frequently as your fingers will spread dirt and oil (that are on them) across the face to give you the pimples that you never asked for.
4. Use products that are non-comedogenic, as they will not clog the pores on your skin. This means that there will be no build-up of unwanted stuff (such as chemicals and dead skin) in your pores, which means no pimples.
5. Do not squeeze your pimple! We all know it is extremely tempting to want to pop a pimple. It feels so satisfying too. But remember that popping a pimple means spreading the pus, damaging the pore and leaving a wound behind (which will cause a scar). You do not want that, so resist the urge to pop. Treat and touch your pimple carefully (if you have to) and for the most part do not disturb it.
6. Stress less. Increased amounts of stress result in an increased level of hormones (especially the stress hormone cortisol), which might in turn increase your chances of getting pimples. To get rid of stress, sleep well, eat well, exercise well and have a healthy state of mind.
Want to get rid of acne fast at home naturally?
It is time to answer the most frequently asked question. There are several ways through which acne can be ‘cured’, and many of these methods can be carried out at home. Lifestyle has a lot to do with the health of your skin! Keep in mind that often a combination of things gives the best result, and so it is important to be holistic in your approach towards curing acne.
1. Focus on having and maintaining a proper diet
2. If you are allergic to gluten, shifting to a gluten-free diet will help improve your pimply skin. In certain cases, a low intake of gluten has been found to result in a lower Glycemic index (which is the ranking of carbohydrates in foods according to how they affect blood glucose level) which is good news for your skin and body.
3. Avoiding dairy products has proved beneficial for a lot of acne-prone people. As milk naturally contains growth hormones, it can aggravate the already present hormones in your body which can cause pimples. Consuming dairy products along with other processed food results in unbalanced insulin levels (as processed food contains a high level of sugar) and this will definitely mess up your skin.
Figure out what kind of diet is best suited for your skin. Carefully play around with your diet to see what works (and what doesn’t). However, make sure you are consuming enough vitamins as they are sure to keep your skin glowing and pimple-free. There is no straight answer to “How to get rid of pimples overnight”, so just learn to do things the slow, better way. Put effort into maintaining a healthy diet.
2. Homemade remedies to keep your skin healthy and glowing
A. Exfoliation
Recipe and application:
1. Mix equal parts of sugar or salt with coconut oil. Apply the mixture on your face and scrub well. Rinse with a face wash to get clean, smooth skin.
2. If you do not want to use oil, you can mix equal parts of gram flour or rice flour with normal water or rose water. Apply the paste on your face and exfoliate gently.
B. Tea tree oil
Application:
Mix a few drops of tea tree oil along with water or any other water-based moisturizer and apply it on your clean face twice a day. Focus especially on the pimply areas. Use a clean cotton pad for easier application.
C. Apple cider vinegar
Application:
Mix 1/3rd of vinegar with three parts of water. Add more water if you have very sensitive skin. Use a cotton pad and apply this on a clean face. Rinse with water after 10-15 seconds. Repeat this twice a day.
D. Aloe Vera
Application:
Apply Aloe Vera gel on a clean face, twice a day. You can also apply a thin layer on the affected area every night before going to bed.
E. Honey and Cinnamon
Application:
Mix 1 teaspoon of Cinnamon with 2 tablespoons of honey, and apply the paste on a clean face and on your affected areas. Keep it on for 10-15 minutes and rinse with water. Apply this mask regularly.
F. Garlic
Application:
Include garlic in your diet. Also, you can rub garlic directly on your pimples, but keep in mind that it will cause irritation and can burn your skin. Do not do this if you have open wounds and extremely sensitive skin. You can carefully rub garlic on and leave it for 5-15 seconds. Wash off with cool water.
G. Green Tea
Application:
Put a green tea sachet in boiling water for 3-4 minutes. Take it out, cool it down, and apply the tea inside the sachet onto your face directly. Allow it to dry and then rinse off with water.
H. Rosemary
Application:
You can directly apply it onto your clean face and leave it for 10-15 minutes. Rinse off with clean water. Using it regularly will improve the acne prone areas of the skin.
I. Coconut oil
Application:
You can apply virgin coconut oil directly onto your clean face. You can also leave it overnight and wash your face the next morning.
J. Avocado oil
Application:
Mix a half spoon of avocado oil with one tablespoon of castor oil. Castor oil is great at removing impurities from the skin. Massage the oil onto your clean face. Cover your face with a cloth soaked in warm water as it will help in opening up the pores of the skin. Keep it on your face until the cloth cools down. After this, rinse the cloth and wipe the excess oil from your face. Rinse with cold water to close your just-opened pores. Do this regularly to make your skin healthy and pimple free eventually.
K. Ice
L. Egg whites
Application:
Take the egg whites of 1-2 eggs, apply a thin layer on your face and let it dry for 10-15 minutes. Wash your face with lukewarm water and apply a moisturizer afterwards as it may make your face a bit dry. Do it twice a week for noticeable results.
M. Lemon
Application:
You can apply one part of lemon and one part of water directly onto your pimples with a cotton ball. Leave it to dry and rinse with water. You can also mix 1 tablespoon of lemon with 1 tablespoon of honey and 1 egg white, and apply this mask on your face. Leave it on for 15 minutes and let it dry completely. Rinse your face with warm water and apply a good moisturizer (as lemon and egg whites make the skin dry by soaking up the oils). Do this twice a week for noticeable results.
N. Papaya
Application:
Mash up the flesh of a papaya into a thick paste. Apply it on your face and leave it on for 15 minutes until it becomes dry. Wash it off with warm water. Apply a moisturizer if your skin feels dry. Use this remedy on alternative days for better results.
O. Orange peels
Application:
Grind a few orange peels and add water to make a paste. Apply it on the affected areas and leave for 20-25 minutes. Rinse with water and apply a moisturizer to get soft, clean and nourished skin.
P. Potato
Application:
Grate a potato and extract its juice into a bowl. Use a cotton ball to apply the juice directly on your pimples and leave it on until it dries completely. Rinse with water. You can do this regularly as it is mild on the skin.
Q. Cucumber
Application:
Apply grated cucumber on your face and leave it for 20 minutes. Rinse off with water. You can include cucumbers in your diet as well. Add slices of cucumber into water, and use that as a refreshing and cooling drink.
R. Mint
Application:
Crush your mints and mix them with honey to make a thick paste. Apply on your affected areas and leave for 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water and apply a moisturizer. You can use this mask regularly.
There are different kinds of homemade remedies and masks for treating pimples at home. If you are not comfortable treating your skin on your own, you can consult a dermatologist and see what works best for you.
Pimples happen for a lot of different reasons so don't beat yourself up over them. Do not panic over pimples, and try not to let them affect your self-esteem! They are a part of life and will eventually go away. No treatment can cure pimples overnight, but patience pays off - take care of your skin, body and mind and observe how the pimples (along with most of your health problems) just disappear. So, stop asking yourself questions like “how to get rid of pimples overnight” or “how to get rid of acne fast at home”. Do not bombard your mind with “how to get rid of pimples fast” and “will my acne ever go away?” (Really folks, there are only so many things you can do for your skin and negative thoughts shouldn’t be one of them). There is no shortcut to healthy skin. Just take care of yourself. Things will work out, and your skin will clear out – and then you will finally say bye to that break out.