How to get rid of pimples...properly

There's a lot of debating on what to do when you have a pimple. The biggest question people ask is "to pop, or not to pop?" Your best defense (and offense) against anything is knowledge. So here's a crash course in pimples!! Pimples occur when excess sebum* and dead skin cells clog the sebaceous gland. The sebaceous gland is usually located under the skin connected to hair follicles (except when it opens directly to the skin, primarily around the corners of the mouth and parts of the reproductive system). This gland has cells that secrete fatty materials that accumulate, making the cells swell and burst. The mixture of fatty material and cellular debris is called "sebum". Sebum is secreted into the hair follicles, keeping the hair and skin soft, supple, and waterproof. Pimples and blackheads are created when excess sebum is produced and the gland is clogged. Certain bacteria thrive in this mess, signaling the immune system to attack, which causes inflammation and redness (a pimple). And just for clarification, pimples are NOT caused by eating too much chocolate or greasy foods. Those are myths, but don't take that as an excuse to eat unhealthily. A good diet improves your health all over...hair, skin, nails, as well as internally (cardiovascular, digestive, etc).

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• pot of water
• topical treatments (tretinoin, salicylic acid, benzyl peroxide)
• facial cleanser without soap

1. The best way to get rid of acne is prevention. Make sure to clean your face, but don't use a facial wash with soap. This dries out the skin...and if you don't normally have dry skin, the body responds by creating more sebum...the opposite effect of what we're going for. Also, don't use a harsh scrub (like St. Ives Apricot Scrub) it's fine for the body, but facial skin is too sensitive for something like that. Use something very gentle....and USE NOTHING with alcohol in it! Check the ingredients.
2. Get a pot of water and boil it. While it's boiling, grab a towel and put it over your head, holding it out so it captures the maximum amount of steam around your face. Do this about once a week for about 10 minutes (more or less). This helps to "sweat out" things like dirt that could clog the pores, causing pimples. Then use a facial moisturizer.
3. Touch your face as little as possible! Think about where your hands have been. On doorknobs, flushing toilets, pencils, phones, shoes, etc. And think about how many other people may have touched the same thing...everything you touch, all dirt, germs and oil gets onto your hands, and by touching your face your putting it into your pores. So wash your hands often (for a MINIMUM of 24 seconds each time to kill the germs...none of that soaping up for five seconds and rinsing...your hands are still as dirty as they were before the soap touched your hands).
4. Change your pillowcase every 3 days or so. Your dead skin cells and oil get onto the pillowcase as you sleep, and are rubbed back into your skin as you turn your head at night. Keep your pillowcase clean, and your face will be cleaner.
5. Wash your face every night. You can wash in the morning, if you wish, but try not to wash your face too much. It will dry out your skin.
6. If you already have a pimple, don't pop it. I know that it's tempting, especially when you finally got the date of a lifetime coming up in a few nights, but popping is not good. It can lead to secondary infections. (The pimple itself is an infection, and secondary means you can get an infection from something else...like another type of bacteria). Pimples should only be popped by your dermatologist, who knows how to keep the area sterilized and can give you antibiotics and special ointments (plus you won't have scarring). For blackheads and whiteheads, the best treatment is topical tretinoin or salicylic acid. For anything more serious than that (like pustules) see a doctor for treatment.

Tips & Warnings

• You may or may not know this, but most lotions contain alcohol as one of the primary ingredients. This also includes the much loved Bath & Body Works collection. While the other ingredients make your skin feel soft and moisturized, the alcohol quickly dries out your skin...which makes you want to use more of the lotion. This dries out your skin, so you need more lotion...get the picture? Now, I love B&BW myself, but instead of getting the lotion, get the body spray. For a lotion/moisturizer, use all-natural cocoa or shea butter. Palmer's (concentrated cream is fantastic!) and St. Helene's are great choices. They cointain all-natural ingredients, and best of all, no alcohol. If you have severe dry skin (like I do), these lotions work wonders! I only have to apply once, after my shower, and I'm good for the rest of the day. After continued use, I only have to use it every other day. Don't follow the trends...go with what's proven to work! (It's also great for preventing/reducing stretch marks).
• If you have severe acne, consult a dermatologist. Sometimes, if left untreated, the pimple could turn into a huge, nasty bump on your skin...the infection spreads deeper into your tissue, and expands. You want to nip it in the butt BEFORE you need surgery to remove a huge abcess.