When one wakes up the day of a big event only to see a bright red spot impossible to cover with any copious amount of concealer, there are two options. Accept it and look fabulous or attempt to reduce it.
I combed through the internet and combined my own personal experiences to present you with the ultimate guide to taming your pop-up pimple.
A brief breakdown of your zit is that the pore is no longer allowing oxygen to flow freely through it. Oil, skin cells and bacteria build up, causing inflammation and redness.
To prevent breakouts in the first place, use a skincare regimen based on your skin type. The best way to determine your skin type is to wash your face and wait. If your skin is dry and flaky, you have dry skin. If your skin is somewhat unaffected, you have normal skin. If your skin is greasy and shiny, you have oily skin.
A general rule for each skin type is to balance skin turnover to prevent initial clogging. Using toner daily and an exfoliant three times a week helps clear your pores and encourage new cell turnover.
A myth concerning oily skin people is that they should not moisturize. The exact opposite is true! Controlling the moisturization of your skin is especially important, because if your skin is not hydrated it produces extra oil which results in more breakouts.
Research more about which skin care regimen is right for your skin and invest in the right products. The basics to have are a gentle cleanser, a toner and a moisturizer.
Don’t roll your eyes, but popping your pimple really is a bad idea. Acne scars, infection and breakouts are all possibilities when the bacteria from your fingers enter your skin. The acne lesion needs to heal, so if you can, leave it alone!
If you must pop it, use proper procedure. Usually the most obnoxious pimples are cysts. Cysts are deeply-rooted impurities which one should not attempt to pop unless a white head has already appeared. This white head contains dead white blood cells which rushed to the impurity to help heal it. The pore became so irritated that its walls broke, thus creating the head.
If one is lucky enough to catch it the night before, place a hot compress of the pore to open it up then apply a spot treatment. The treatment should dry the impurity out, creating a better pimple to pop. Be sure to moisturize afterwards so it does not become irritated.
Even if you do not planning on popping the pimple, this is a good procedure to follow to shorten the life span of your pimple.
My spot treatment of choice is the Neutrogena two-in-one Deep Pore Cleanser/Mask. This mask is so powerful that I use it as a spot treatment. Another powerful spot treatment is the Mario Badescu Drying Lotion.
After (and only after) the whitehead has formed, you should attempt to pop it. First, apply a hit compress to open the pore. Wash your hands and then use a towel to make contact with either side of the zit. Squeeze until you know the compact of dead skin cells in the pore is out. (You’re usually able to see it.) After you’re finished, use a toner or another anti-bacterial skincare item to cleanse the skin of any bacteria at risk of infecting the open pore.
Your makeup also contains copious amounts of bacteria, so it is important to allow the white blood cells in the serous fluid to kill it off and help reduce inflammation before attempting to cover the spot.
Nothing should stop you from feeling your best. Whether you choose to pop or not, take care of and feel good in your own skin.
