How to Get Rid of a Nasty Zit
A large, nasty zit, which is essentially an infected skin pore clogged with oil, pus and bacteria, can be a source of intense frustration and embarrassment. You may feel unattractive and self-conscious even if you can cover your pimple with makeup. Large, inflamed pimples can be caused by stress, lack of sleep, poor makeup habits, or a hormonal imbalance. However, clearing up the redness and swelling of a bad pimple can be a relatively simple task.
Things You'll Need
- Washcloth
- Water
- Tissue or paper towel
- Needle
- Source of flame
- Cotton balls
- Rubbing alcohol or witch hazel
- Crushed aspirin (optional)
- Concealer or acne-clearing spot treatment
Instructions
-
-
1
Wash your face thoroughly with water and a cleanser formulated for acne-prone skin. (Make sure the water is cool or lukewarm, as hot water can dry out delicate facial skin.) Check the cleanser's ingredients for salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide, either of which will clean the pores and kill bacteria.
-
2
Soak the washcloth in hot water. Press it against the zit for several minutes, allowing the heat to bring the pus to the surface of the pimple. If the pus does not rise, wait a day before attempting to get rid of it again.
-
-
3
Wrap your index fingers in tissue or a paper towel. Don't touch your face with your bare hands, as your fingers are not sterile and could spread bacteria.
-
4
Squeeze the zit gently from both sides. If you can see the white head of the pimple, but gentle pressure does not cause it to pop, sterilize the needle with flame and use the needle to gently puncture the head to clear out the pus.
-
5
Soak a cotton ball in rubbing alcohol and immediately dab away any pus on your skin. You may also apply witch hazel as a more natural bacteria-killing astringent.
-
6
Apply an acne treatment spot gel or a concealer with acne-clearing ingredients over the popped pimple, which will help to kill any leftover bacteria and create a barrier between the popped pimple and your makeup.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
If you don't need to put on makeup immediately, you can dissolve two tablets of aspirin in water and apply this solution to the popped zit for up to 30 minutes. This will reduce inflammation and swelling.
A clay-based mask can be used as a spot treatment to dry the pimple, or it can be used on the entire face to dry oiliness and prevent future breakouts. If you don't have a mask, plain toothpaste will work as a drying spot treatment, although this is not recommended for the entire face. Do not use gel-based toothpaste.
When popping a zit, do not squeeze hard enough to draw blood. This can cause a nasty scab and a potential scar. Even if the zit does not bleed, it can rupture backward inside the skin, causing further swelling and infections.
References
- Photo Credit Pixland/Pixland/Getty Images
