Acne is the oldest and the most common skin problem in dermatological history.
It is the reflection of inadequate diet, lack of exercise and poor skin care routines. The following steps will help you get rid of acne once and for all.
1. Home Remedies
Household ingredients often provide effective methods to get rid of acne. Here are some simple remedies which require little time and inexpensive ingredients to provide a long-lasting effect.
a. Aspirin Mask
Crush some aspirin tablets onto a plate and make a ooth paste by mixing it with some water. Apply the paste on the affected area and leave it overnight to dry. Wash off with cold water in the morning. The antibacterial properties of aspirin will help in destroying the acne, dissipating the redness and reducing the swelling.
b. Toothpaste
Applying toothpaste is the easiest fix to get rid of unsightly pimples. While you brush your teeth at night, dab a generous amount of toothpaste on the affected areas. The menthol and fluoride contained in toothpastes will draw out excessive oils and dry out the pimple. You will wake up to a fresh and glowing skin in the morning. This method does not apply for people with dry skin.
c. Beauty Mask
Regular exposure to pollution causes dirt to accumulate within the pores of the skin. The following mask will help you keep a squeaky clean skin and minimise the occurrence of acne in the long run. Mix a teaspoon of sandalwood powder, Fuller’s Earth, Rice Powder with rose water and apply it all over your face and allow it to remain for 10-15 minutes. Gently exfoliate the skin using your fingers, to rub the moist mask in a gentle circular motion, before washing it off with cold water. Your skin would feel soft and supple.
2. Medical Remedies
For those who believe in faster response time of medicines, here are some remedies to look for:
a. Salicylic Acid
Salicylic acid successfully cuts through the dirt accumulation to leave you with clearer skin. Acne essentially being an inflammation containing a combination of keratin and sebum stands no chance against the acidic keratolytic quality of salicylic acid. Opting for products containing salicylic acid as their active ingredient will be extremely helpful.
b. Benzyol Perioxide
This chemical is helpful for eliminating the more persistent and aggressively-spreading acne. Using products containing benzyol perioxide as their active ingredient will result in lesser acne. In this regard, ooth skin will come at the cost of irritation, dryness and red patches. The component, although effective in getting rid of acne, contains a bleaching agent that tends to burn the outer layer of the skin if used without discretion. Moreover, this tends to make the skin susceptible to the UV rays of the sun and easily causes sunburns.
c. Triclosan
An active ingredient in products like Neutrogena and Clean n Clear, it is less effective that benzyol perioxide, but infinitely gentler on the skin.
Following these methods will help you get rid of the most stubborn forms of acne. However, if your symptoms persist, consult a dermatologist at the earliest.
