Everyone gets an occasional acne blemish, but what you do to treat acne when you get this blemish can have a big effect on how long a pimple sticks around, and how visible it is to others. Usually, you will have to allow an acne blemish to run its course, but you can rush the process and keep from making the blemish any worse.
Skin Care
Just because you have developed an acne blemish doesn’t mean your skin care efforts have failed or you should stop your routine. A good skin care routine keeps your skin clean without irritating it. While proper skin care will help you to prevent acne breakouts in the future, don’t get discouraged when the occasional blemish shows up. They’re perfectly normal.
When you spot an acne blemish, popping it should not be your first option. Popping a pimple at first sight, hopeful for eradicating it before anyone else can see it, usually makes the situation worse. If a pimple has formed a head, though, then it should be popped so that it can heal. However, squeezing acne before it is ready is bad for your skin and is a poor way to treat acne. When it will not pop, most people continue picking and pinching, which bursts the capillaries (tiny blood vessels) right beneath the skin’s surface. This essentially forms a little bruise on your face that is likely to be very visible even after the pimple itself has healed.
Dealing with a Pimple
Once you get an acne blemish, you do still have a few ways to treat acne, but some of them are costly. One new product, called the Zeno acne-clearing device, claims it can eradicate most pimples within twenty four hours. It works by focusing a specific amount of heat on the pimple, which destroys the bacteria causing the blemish. Some people claim that it works perfectly for them, while others say it has virtually no effect on their acne. Luckily, the company offers a money-back guarantee if you are not satisfied. The only drawback for people who find Zeno effective is that it requires disposable tips to work, which some people claim are somewhat pricey depending on how many pimples there are to treat.
Another product used to treat existing pimples is a pen that uses various frequencies of concentrated light. It has been known for a long time that exposure to sunlight helps your skin fight acne, but scientists have determined that the two specific frequency ranges that are most effective appear to us in the form of blue and red light. The blue light works to kill the bacterium that causes acne, while the red light stimulates the healing action of your skin. Dermatologists have used red and blue light treatment for quite sometime, but the light pens that are currently available are completely portable and do not require any replacement tips. However, like Zeno, some people report amazing results from using a light pen while others see absolutely no results at all.
The worst thing you can do when you develop an acne blemish is to try popping it prematurely or washing vigorously to attempt to make it disappear. Zeno and light pens may work for you, but there are no guarantees. These treatment methods do not prevent acne breakouts, and considering the $150 price tag attached to each of these devices, many people are content to simply let the occasional pimple run its course.
What is the most common type of acne?
One might think that all is acne is the same, but it is not. As with all skin irritations, there are several forms. Some are considered more serious and more difficult to eliminate than others. The most common type is acne vulgaris, which simply means “common acne,” usually indicated by a red swelling of the skin. Soon, the white or yellow pus that people associate with acne becomes apparent. This is the type of acne that most teenagers get, caused when extraordinary amounts of oil from the sebaceous gland combine with dead skin cells to help clog the skin’s pores. Because the skin’s pores are blocked, oil continues to build up, thus allowing bacteria and yeast to spread. This excess of bacteria and yeast is what eventually does tons of damage to one’s skin.