Picture this: the moment you wake up in the morning, you know that it is there. Having a huge, red pimple on your face happens to everyone, even the best of us. Acne has a way of always showing up at the worse times, and chances are small that you are going to accept this big boy. Waiting patiently until the blemish goes away is challenging your self-control, and there’s only one thing you can think of when confronted with a pizza-face: get rid of it fast, ASAP, pronto, now! What’s a girl to do? Don’t be a damsel in distress; before you desperately start popping and picking to get rid of the ugly bastards, we tell you what acne is, and how you get rid of it fast. Bye-bye, breakouts!
What is acne?
First, let’s debunk the myth that only teenagers get acne once and for all. Many, many adults suffer from the, putting it mildly, skin irritation. Acne has nothing to do with being filthy or not taking good care of yourself; it’s only inflammation of the skin. The breakouts often show in the face, but sometimes the back, chest, shoulders, and even bum get covered.
What causes acne?
Your skin is packed with sebaceous glands that provide moisture and lubrication. Sebum, produced by the sebaceous glands, is a natural protector that keeps your skin smooth, soft, and supple. It becomes a problem when the glands produce too much sebum. The skin clogs up with sebum, which attracts bacteria. The bacteria cause inflammation in the skin, which is why acne and blemishes can form. And, before you know it, your skin flares up.
Other causes of acne:
- Using the wrong skincare for your skin type. Products that contain alcohol or perfume, and products that are too aggressive for your skin are major acne triggers.
- Medication. Taking paracetamol now and then will not cause a breakout, but some prescription drugs are known for causing acne. Especially anti-depressants are directly linked to acne.
- Heredity. If your parents or grandparents suffered (or still suffer) from acne, chances are that you will too. Sorry for the bad news.
Different types of acne
Pimples come in all shapes and sizes. Let’s put it this way: one pimple is not like the other. To know what you’re dealing with, we tell you everything you need to know about the different types of acne.
Papules
Papules are inflamed blemishes and appear on the skin’s surface. These inflamed blemishes look like red bumps on the skin, but they don’t have a white head. Papules can be large or small and can occur anywhere on the face, neck, chest, shoulders, back, and bum. Squeezing papules to get rid of them is a terrible idea; you simply make your skin more inflamed. As ugly as the red bumps are, most of them heal quickly without scarring.
Whiteheads
Whiteheads, aka pustules, look like blackheads. They are pretty similar, but whiteheads are caused when the pore is closed off with a layer of skin. A whitehead is the well-known giant red pimple with a white head that makes your hands itch. While it’s tempting to pop whiteheads, you should avoid it if you don’t want to be left with scars.
Blackheads
Blackheads don’t stand out as much as their evil white twin, but that doesn’t mean that you’re waiting for these big boys. Blackheads have a black top due to oxidation. The sebum in the blocked pore has reacted with the oxygen in the air, turning the sebum black.
Nodules
Nodules are serious acne pimples. They are large, inflamed lesions, and feel like painful lumps under the skin. Nodules can be filled with pus, but because they occur deep within the skin, you won’t see a white head. As tempting as it is to squeeze the pus out, don’t do it. If your blemish is painful, icing the affected area will help to relieve the swelling. Unfortunately, nodules are deep and may take several weeks to fully heal.
Cystic acne
Pimples come in all shapes and sizes, but cystic acne is considered to be the most severe type of acne. Cystic acne often shows up on the chin, but can also appear elsewhere on the face, arms, and even back. This type of acne has a way of showing up again and again in the same spot, so your first cyst will likely not be your last. Treating cystic acne is quite a challenge, and we advise you to go see a dermatologist instead of treating it at home.
How to get rid of acne fast? 9x ways to say bye-bye to pimples
Fighting hormones is a challenge, but getting rid of acne without medication is like trying to climb Mount Everest. No worries, there are plenty of things you can do at home to minimise the risk of pimples. Here are 9 ways to get rid of acne fast.
#1 Clean your face thoroughly
The good news: pimples don’t like clean skin. This doesn’t mean that you have to start scrubbing as if your life depended on it! Thoroughly cleansing your face with a facial cleanser every morning and evening will help to keep your pores clean. And having clean pores reduces the risk of inflamed skin and developing acne. As tired as you may be every evening, we strongly recommend that you remove your makeup before you go to bed. Removing your makeup with a gentle makeup remover reduces the risk of premature aging and getting pimples. It’s best to cleanse your face with gentle and nourishing products that aren’t too aggressive on delicate and acne-prone skin.
#2 Hydrate your skin
A well-hydrated skin doesn’t need to produce as much sebum to keep it soft and supple, so it’s less prone to acne. But ease down on products that contain soap, alcohol, or perfume! These substances only dry out your skin, and we all know what dehydrated skin does… Exactemundo! Dehydrated skin produces more sebum, and more sebum means clogged pores. And before you know it, you’re back to square one.
#3 Drink plenty of water
Two litres of water a day keeps the acne away! Your body needs 2 litres of water each day to get rid of all your waste. Drinking plenty of water benefits your skin as well, because it helps keep the pores clean. And the cleaner the pores, the less you risk getting acne. If you find it hard to keep your water intake up, you can keep a filled water bottle at hand. Before you know it, your bottle needs a refill! If water is not your fave, try mixing it with a slice of lemon or orange.
#4 Get enough sleep
As obvious as it may seem, getting a good night’s sleep does wonders for your skin and mood. While you’re sleeping, your skin repairs itself making it less prone to acne. In the morning you wake up with radiant, silky-smooth and supple skin.
#5 Eat as healthy as possible
Your skin needs nutrients to stay as healthy as possible. If you don’t have a well-balanced diet and lack nutrition, your skin needs to produce more sebum to keep it soft and supple. The more sebum, the more clogged pores and the higher the risk of developing acne. Eat plenty of veggies, fruit, carbs and power foods like avocado and nuts if you want to avoid getting pimples.
#6 Wash your clothes regularly
Clean clothes are equally essential to avoid getting acne as cleaning your skin properly. Environmental factors like fumes clog up your pores and stick to clothes. And wearing your clothes for too long without washing them, only clogs your pores even more. In addition, regularly washing your bedding is strongly recommended if you want to get rid of acne. A dirty pillow, lo and behold, clogs your pores and makes your skin produce more sebum. And we all know what excess sebum causes…
#7 Go to the sauna
Going to the sauna is relaxing and great for your skin! It doesn’t matter if you prefer a hot steam room or a dry sauna: both will open up your pores and make you sweat like crazy. Your sweat ‘rinses’ your pores, making it less likely to develop acne.
#8 Start exercising
Exercising benefits the skin and your blood circulation. The better the blood circulation, the less likely your skin produces extra sebum. Taking a shower after you’ve done your workouts cleans your pores and leaves you smelling fresh. That reduces the risk of getting acne.
#9 Stop picking your skin!
Picking and squeezing a freshly discovered breakout to get rid of it asap is so tempting, but it’s not the best idea in the world. Picking and squeezing only spreads bacteria even more, and causes even more pimples. Stop picking or squeezing is easier said than done, but your skin will thank you for it.
Everyone, and we mean e-ver-y-one, gets pimples. Only the happy few are blessed with naturally flawless skin, please keep that in mind. Okay, you have a pimple on your chin. So what? You’re beautiful, with or without breakouts, and chances are no one will notice the ugly bastard. Be gentle and treat your skin with care, so you avoid clogging up your pores. It’s best to let the skin heal itself, but the best way is not always the easiest way. If the red big boy makes you feel insecure, and you really want to hide it, we have some tips for you.
- A green concealer camouflages a red pimple. Do you remember the colouring wheel you learned about when you were in primary school? Green and red are on the opposite of the colouring wheel, and green neutralises the redness of the pimple.
- Now you apply foundation. A thin layer of foundation will do, believe us.
- Gently dust some loose powder over your face et voila: you have flawless-looking skin and no one will notice your pimple. Don’t forget to remove your makeup and thoroughly clean your face in the evening!
