Woman squeezing pimple

Pimples affect the skin of majority of teenagers and a significant number of adults too! Some individuals are lucky and have occasional breakouts while others may experience continuous chronic problems. The presence of pimples on the skin, especially the face, may cause anxiety and embarrassment(hate to admit,but i have gone through that before)

Treating pimples promptly can also help overcome its emotional and psychological effects. Although pimples are not in themselves bad for overall health, living with them, especially if they are persistent and become a long-term problem can be as devastating emotionally as living with a chronic disease.

So you want to know how to get rid of that pimples? Here is wath  i did to get rid of mine

Self-help pimple treatments
Diet

A diet high in dairy products and high glycemic index foods increases the risk of developing pimples.Using medical nutrition therapy may help reduce the number and severity of acne outbreaks.

Squeezing pimple
There is a risk you may push the infection further down, causing more serious blockage and worse swelling and redness if you try to burst the pimple.So no mater how tempting it is to burst or squeez it out,try not to give in to temptation.

Washing your face

Wash your face about twice each day – not more often. Make sure you have a mild soap. Use warm water. Wash gently; do not scrub the skin.

Do not pop (burst) the pimple

There is a risk you may push the infection further down, causing more serious blockage and worse swelling and redness. Popping Do not pop (burst) the pimple

There is a risk you may push the infection further down, causing more serious blockage and worse swelling and redness. Popping pimples also increases the risk of scarring.
If you need to get rid of the pimple

Even though this may require some willpower, try to refrain from touching your face with your hands. If you are using a telephone, do not let receiver touch the skin of your face – it may have skin residue or sebum on it. Before touching your face make sure you always wash your hands with soap.

Makeup Makeup

Make sure you have taken all your makeup off when you go to sleep. Only use makeup that is nonceomedogenic or nonacnegenic – you should be able to read this on the label

Sun exposure

Overexposure to sunlight may sometimes result in the production of more sebum. Some medications used by people with acne may make your skin more prone to sunburn.It is advised to use sunscreen products on your skin.
Make sure you don’t expose the pimples affected area to heat of the sun.Exposing it could cause the skin to have more complication than it already has

                            Over-the-counter treatments for pimples

The majority of OTC products for pimples or acne contain the following active ingredients:

Resorcinol – Resorcinol helps break down blackheads and whiteheads. It is a crystalline phenol (carbolic acid, C6H5OH) and comes from various resins. This active ingredient is also used for the treatment of dandruff, eczema and psoriasis.

Benzoyl Peroxide – (C6H5CO) 2O2 – this active ingredient attacks and kills bacteria and slows down the glands’ production of oil. Benzoyl works as a peeling agent, accelerating skin turnover and clearing pores, which in turn reduces the bacterial count in the affected area.

Salicylic Acid – C6H4 (OH)COOH – helps break down blackheads and whiteheads, also slows down the shedding of cells which line the follicles of the oil glands, effective in treating inflammation and swelling. Salicylic acid is a white crystalline substance which is also used as a fungicide, or in making aspirin or dyes or perfumes. It causes the epidermis to shed skin more easily, prevents pores from becoming blocked while at the same time allowing space for new cells to grow. Many dandruff shampoos contain salicylic acid.

Sulfur – A chemical element which is denoted with the symbol S. It helps breakdown blackheads and whiteheads. Sulfur, in its native form, is a yellow crystalline solid. Sulfur has been used for centuries for treating acne, psoriasis and eczema. Scientists are not sure how sulfur works to help skin diseases. We do know that elemental sulfur does oxidize slowly to sulfurous acid which is a mild reducing and antibacterial agent.

Retin-A – Retin-A helps unplug blocked pores. Retin-A contains Tretinoin, an acid form of vitamin A, also known as all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA). Tretinoin is also used for the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia. Retin-A has been used widely to combat aging of the skin, it also acts as a chemical peel. It was the first retinoid developed for acne use by applying it on the skin (retinoids are a class of chemical compounds that are related chemically to vitamin A).

Azelaic Acid – HOOC(CH2)7CCOH – strengthens cells that line the follicles, stops oil eruptions, reduces bacteria growth. It is a saturated dicarboxylic acid found naturally in wheat, rye, and barley. Azelaic acid also mops up free radicals, which reduces inflammation. It is useful for patients with darker skin who have dark patches on their face (melasma), or whose acne spots leave persistent brown marks.

Most of these active ingredients may be found in medications in the form of gels, pads, creams, lotions and soaps. OTC medications will have different concentrations of these active ingredients; it is advisable to start with the lowest strengths. At first you may experience skin irritation, redness, or burning – eventually, after continued use, these side effects go away.

People with sensitive skin are commonly advised to look at creams or lotions.

Gels tend to be better for people with oily skins. Gels are usually alcohol based and dry the skin.