Ever woken up to a red pimple on your face? Most people get unsightly zits or pimples that end up becoming a bother. Tissues recover through aggravation, which is part of the body’s mending process. Nonetheless, it can be annoying when that irritation is pasted on your face for the world to see. Luckily, there are ways to remedy this. Read on to find out how to get rid of pimple redness.
How to Reduce Pimple Redness
1. Try a Soaked Tea Bag
Soak a tea bag in warm water for one minute and remove it. Squeeze excess water from it and let it cool so that you do not get burnt. Place the tea bag on the pimple and let it sit for a while. Tea bags have tannins that reduce swelling and are used for treatment of problems like puffy eyes as well.
2. Place an Ice Cube
To calm the irritation, you can use ice. Wrap some ice cubes with a clean fabric and place it directly on the pimple. Avoid putting too much pressure on it. This ensures that the pimple does not break and causes increased redness. Cold temperatures will decrease the flow of blood to the affected area and decrease the inflammation and redness.
3. Use a Bit Lemon Juice
The citric corrosive in lemon juice assists in fighting microorganisms that cause breakouts. Studies have also shown that the citric corrosive properties are capable of skin lightening. Lemon juice also helps in reducing pimple redness. Squeeze a slice of lemon and soak a piece of cotton wool in the juice. Apply on the affected area at night. The results might not be instant, but they will eventually show.
Notes: Lemon juice has a tendency to dry the skin. Applying it during the day might be a bad idea. Apply at night and rinse with warm water in the morning and wear sunscreen that will not block your pores. If you are using any pharmaceuticals, consult your dermatologist before you start using lemon juice.
4. Apply Witch Hazel
Another method on how to reduce pimple redness is to apply witch hazel. Witch hazel shrub contains anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. It contains tannin acid that is effective against skin conditions including acne. The witch hazel extract is good for treating acne scars as well as reducing the redness and swelling of pimples. Apply witch hazel directly on skin twice a day, in the morning and before going to bed. It normally has a drying effect. If your skin gets too dry, you can use a moisturizer or reduce the amount that you apply.
5. Try Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is used to treat a number of conditions. This is because of its antiseptic, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Aloe Vera has been proven to prevent infections due to its antibacterial properties. It can also get rid of inflammation and inflammatory pain. Aloe Vera hastens the healing process, making it the perfect skin repair agent after skin injuries and burns. In addition, it soothes and calms swelling, redness and skin blotches.
6. Smear Toothpaste
Another tip on how to reduce pimple redness is using toothpaste. Toothpaste contains baking soda, triclosan, and hydrogen peroxide among other ingredients that are known to dry pimples. However, it might irritate your skin so you should be careful while using toothpaste. Cream toothpastes are better for this job, unlike gel toothpastes that do not always have the ingredients that dry up a pimple.
7. Try Eye Drops
Tetrahydrozoline hydrochloride is one of the active ingredients in eye drops that helps remove redness in the eyes. You can put a few drops on a cotton swab and apply directly on the pimple.You can also freeze a Q-Tip overnight after dipping it in eye drops, and then apply it on the pimple. The eye drops will reduce the redness, and the cool temperatures will decrease the irritation. You should apply the eye drops on the affected areas only, asapplying it to the whole face can result in undesirable results.
8. Make an Aspirin Paste
Aspirin paste is a great remedy for swelling and redness. Aspirin has salicylic acid that is used to relieve minor inflammation and pain. Aspirin will reduce the swelling and dry up the pimple. Crush aspirin tablets to dust and add a drop of water at a time till it forms a paste. Apply the paste on the pimple using a cotton swab and let it dry and rest for a couple of hours. Most people do this when they are going to bed to give it ample time to rest.
Daily Care on Facial Skin
Apart from the short term treatment for how to reduce pimple redness, you need to take care of your face on a daily basis to ensure pimples do not pop up. Do the following:
1. Wash Your Face Regularly
When cleaning the affected areas, ensure that you use warm water. Remember to be as gentle as possible. There are soaps designed to be mild on the skin. They wash off the dirt without irritating the skin or making it dry. Make sure that the facial cleanser you are using has salicylic acid. This is a compound that helps prevent and remove acne.
2. Moisturize Your Facial Skin
Keeping your face moisturized ensures it does not get irritated. Regular skin moisturizer keeps your face healthy and firm. Best results are achieved when you use a noncomedogenic moisturizer after washing the face.
3. Remove the Makeup Totally
Make sure you wash makeup off your face so that it does not clog your pores. Clogged pores will accelerate acne. It is actually advisable to have wet wipes next to your bed for days that you are feeling too lazy and tired to wash your face.
4. Never Pick or Touch the Pimple
Avoid touching your face and picking pimples. It might be tempting to pop a pimple, but it is counterproductive. When you pop a pimple, the bacteria spreads causing acne to spread to other parts of your face. In addition, your hands have oil, dirt and grime that do not work well with sensitive skin. Do your best to keep your hands off your face and area affected by acne.