Pimples always seem to come out at the worst possible time. You just wake up one morning and feel the throbbing pain of a pimple growing under your skin. Whether you have a big date coming up or a business meeting to go to, pimples can rob you of your self-esteem when you least expect them to.
Severe pimples or acne is the most common skin condition in the United States. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, it affects up to 50 million people annually. While the problem often starts in adolescence, it can even continue into your 30s or 40s.
Thankfully, there are plenty of things you can do to help fight this skin condition. If you want to know how to get rid of pimples overnight, read on. We’ll take a look at the causes of breakouts and explain what you can do to get rid of your pimples quickly.
What Causes Pimples?
Pimples happen when the pores of your skin become blocked. Often the result of dead skin cells and excess oil production, untreated pimples can lead to inflammation or infection. In serious cases, they can also cause scar tissue.
While this is what causes pimples, there are many risk factors that can trigger or worsen the problem:
- Age: Pimples are most often seen during teenage years, but can occur at any age.
- Genetics: Like many health concerns, pimples can be hereditary. If your parents had acne, there’s a good chance you will have the issue too.
- Hormones: Hormonal changes like those experienced in puberty cause the oil (sebaceous) glands to produce more oil (otherwise known as sebum). Pregnancy and oral contraceptive pills can also increase sebum production.
- Medication: Drugs containing testosterone, lithium, or corticosteroids can trigger or aggravate an outbreak.
- Diet: While there’s little evidence that greasy food causes pimples, some studies have found that carbohydrate-rich foods like bread may worsen acne. Dairy products like skim milk and chocolate have also been associated with the condition.
- Stress: While it’s unlikely to be the underlying cause, studies have found a link between an increase in stress and the severity of acne.
Who’s Affected?
Pimples don’t discriminate. People of all ages can have pimple breakouts from time to time. While 85% of people aged 12 to 24 experience at least mild acne, researchers have noticed an increase in acne occurring in adults, especially women.
In fact, some studies have found that over 15% of women and 7% of men aged over 50 experience acne.
How to Get Rid of Pimples Overnight
Sometimes pimples flare up at the worst possible time. If you want to know how to get rid of pimples overnight, we’ve got you covered. Keep in mind that some treatments work better for some than others, so you may need to see what works best for your skin.
You should also avoid trying all these methods at once as it’s more likely to irritate and further damage the skin. Before using a new pimple treatment on your face, try it somewhere else on your body first to make sure it won’t cause any adverse skin reactions. This is called a patch test.
Cortisone Injection
It may seem like a big step, but if you really need to get rid of a pimple fast, a trip to the dermatologist could be the best solution. By injecting dilute-strength cortisone, pimples can be treated quickly and effectively, with results often seen within 24 hours.
While this isn’t necessarily a cheap treatment (you will need to fork out for the appointment and medication), it’s an almost guaranteed way to get rid of a pimple overnight.
Essential Oils
The healing properties of essential oils have long been known, but recent studies have also found them to be great at clearing up pimples. Tea tree is the most commonly used essential oil to treat acne due to its antimicrobial properties and high level of antioxidants.
Place a few drops of oil onto a cotton swab or ball and gently apply to pimples. The oil will penetrate the skin to unblock oil glands while disinfecting pores and drying out pimples.
Other essential oils that can be used to treat pimples include lavender, clary sage, and Juniper berry.
Aspirin
While aspirin is typically used to treat headaches and inflammation, applying a paste of crushed aspirin is a great way to clear up pimples. Aspirin contains salicylic acid which can help unclog pores, dry the skin, and reduce inflammation.
For best results, crush the aspirin and mix it with a small amount of water to make a paste. Using a cotton tip, apply the paste to your pimples and leave overnight. When you wash it off in the morning, the anti-inflammatory properties will help reduce swelling, while drawing out moisture and unclogging pores.
Baking Soda or Toothpaste
For a result similar to that of aspirin, apply a paste of baking soda or toothpaste to the pimple. Baking soda will dry out the site, while the antibacterial properties in toothpaste can help eliminate bacteria. As some kinds of toothpaste contain ingredients that may irritate the skin, run a patch test first before applying to your face.
Hydrocortisone Cream
When used sparingly, hydrocortisone cream can help reduce up to 80% of the redness of a pimple. Dab a small amount on the pimple in the evening and again in the morning for best results.
How to Prevent Pimples
Sometimes it’s easier to prevent a skin problem than to treat it. So if you want to get rid of pimples, you need to follow a good skincare regimen.
Use the Right Cleanser
A good cleanser will not only remove dirt and oil from your skin but also help fight bacteria that cause acne. Look for a cleanser that contains salicylic or glycolic acid to help reduce excess oil and prevent pores from clogging. Benzoyl peroxide can also help exfoliate the skin and kill bacteria.
It is best to avoid ingredients like alcohol as it can strip the skin of moisture, thus resulting in a build-up of dead skin cells.
While washing your face is important to reduce breakouts, excessive cleansing can actually strip the skin, encouraging the overproduction of oil. Cleanse your face up to two times per day for best results.
Moisturize
Although cleansing is important, to avoid dry skin, you also need to moisturize. For healthy and balanced skin, even oily skin types will find the benefits from moisturizing can help reduce their pimples.
An oil-free moisturizer with UVA and UVB protection will protect your skin while saving you from having to use additional sunscreen. Check to make sure that the ingredients include hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, which provide hydration and reduce inflammation associated with acne.
Final Word
While it can sometimes feel like there’s nothing you can do to prevent pimples, following the above tips can help reduce the appearance of your pimples quickly. Now that you know how to get rid of pimples overnight, the next time you feel a breakout coming, you can stop it before it takes hold.
Referenes:
https://www.aad.org/media/stats/conditions/skin-conditions-by-the-numbers
https://www.aad.org/media/news-releases/growing-evidence-suggests-possible-link-between-diet-and-acne
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5722010
https://www.news-medical.net/news/2007/10/22/31518.aspx
https://www.seventeen.com/beauty/makeup-skincare/a45990/how-to-get-rid-of-pimples-overnight
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