Acne occurs when the pores of the hair follicles become clogged with sebum, dead skin cells, and bacteria. This results in ugly bumps, blemishes and redness. Although acne is generally considered a teenage problem, it can affect both infants and the elderly. Fortunately, there are treatments available to help reduce the number of acne and the resulting redness.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Using home remedies to reduce acne and redness
Step 1. Buy a gentle cleanser
Do not buy products that have strong astringent or drying effects. Avoid skin cleansers that contain alcohol. Look out for cleansers labeled "mild" and "alcohol-free"
Astringents and alcohol-based products will not help you get rid of acne and will simply dry out your skin. Dry skin will further exacerbate the problem of acne and redness
Step 2. Wash your face twice a day
Rinse your face with gentle movements for one minute in the morning and evening, using a facial cleanser. Use your fingers or a soft cloth. Never use nails or rough material. You should also wash your face after exercise that stimulates sweat production. Do not rub or scratch your skin. Remember, acne-prone skin can be very sensitive and delicate. Rinse your face with warm water, which should not be too hot or cold.
Step 3. Moisturize your skin daily
Even if you find it controversial, moisturizing your skin can help relieve acne symptoms. Dead skin cells exacerbate acne, and by keeping your skin healthy, you can reduce inflammation. In addition, dry skin produces more sebum, which can stimulate acne. Make sure to buy a moisturizer with the label “non-comedogenic” on the label. This means the moisturizer won't clog your pores.
- Pay attention to the glycerin and hyaluronic acid in the cream. Avoid ingredients such as cocoa butter, mineral oils, and cold cream.
- Some brands of creams contain ingredients that help fight redness of the skin. These include Eucerin anti-redness and Aveeno soothing. These brands are recommended by the American Academy of Dermatology.
Step 4. Buy acne products
There are a number of products that can help fight redness. All of these products should be used once or twice a day. Start with easy remedies before moving on to more serious treatments.
- Look for products that contain benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, tea tree oil, and sulfur. It is best to start with benzoyl peroxide because it is the least irritating to the skin compared to other drugs. Start at a lower concentration, such as 2.5%, to reduce the risk of skin irritation while getting used to this drug.
- Follow all label instructions carefully. Sometimes using this remedy can make your skin more prone to sunburn. Other means cannot be combined with medications. Pay attention to the warning labels and consult your doctor if you have any problems.
- There is a risk of redness or flaking during the first few weeks of using the drug. If any of these symptoms persist for a long time, you may need to try another remedy or consult a doctor.
Step 5. Consult your doctor about herbal medicines
There are a number of herbal medicines that are rumored to help fight acne. However, many of them have not been tested and may have side effects. Remember, “natural” does not always mean healthy and safe. Discuss herbal remedies with your doctor to see if there is any point in using them. Possible herbal remedies include:
- Tea tree oil. Apply a 5% tea tree oil gel to the affected area. Be prepared for dermatitis and rosacea. Symptoms like these indicate that tea tree oil is not right for you.
- Green tea extract. Apply a solution of 2% green tea extract to the affected area twice a day. Alternatively, you can wet a napkin with chilled green tea and put it on your face for 1-2 minutes, and after a while repeat this procedure several times. Do this several times a week before bed.
- Aloe vera. Apply 50% aloe gel to the affected areas. The plant can be purchased at most flower shops.
- Brewer's yeast CBS 5926. Take this strain of brewer's yeast by mouth. Note that brewer's yeast can lead to bloating.
Method 2 of 4: Using medicines to combat acne redness
Step 1. Make an appointment with a dermatologist
If home care and changing habits have not resolved your acne problem, then you need to consult a dermatologist. There are a number of medicines that you can take as directed by your doctor. The doctor will be able to diagnose and identify the causes of acne, as well as understand how serious this problem is in your case.
Another reason for going to the doctor may be the appearance of unwanted facial hair, as well as scars and subcutaneous nodules
Step 2. Discuss the effectiveness of the treatment with your dermatologist
There are many drugs (including those that need to be applied directly to the skin) that are prescribed for an acne-affected patient. Their main components are: antibiotics, retinoids, salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide. In addition, azelaic acid is found in creams designed to combat acne and rosacea. It helps to reduce redness and inflammation.
- Retinoids help treat redness by preventing follicle contamination. They can be quite effective in treating and preventing redness.
- Antibiotics help treat acne redness while reducing inflammation and killing harmful bacteria on the skin.
- Benzoyl peroxide can help reduce redness by reducing the chances of antibiotic-resistant bacteria remaining on your skin. It also helps prevent clogged pores.
- Salicylic acid fights acne by reducing dead skin cells and unclogging pores.
Step 3. Follow your doctor's recommendations and take appropriate medications
The dosage and frequency of administration depends on the severity of the disease. Talk to your doctor about topical acne medications. Be sure to listen to your doctor's warnings about possible side effects, reactions, and drug interactions.
Tell your doctor about other medicines you are taking. You should also inform him about the possible planning of pregnancy. This can influence the decision on the selection of drugs
Step 4. Be patient
It may take four to eight weeks before you notice improvement. Sometimes your skin condition can get worse before the situation improves. You must be patient as it may take a while for the healing to begin.
Step 5. Consult your doctor about oral medications
Such drugs can be the main or additional type of treatment. Antibiotics, hormonal contraceptives, and anti-androgen drugs can help reduce acne and prevent future breakouts. Be aware that some of these drugs have serious side effects. Take your medications strictly as directed by your doctor. Always tell your doctor about any medications you are currently taking.
- Oral antibiotics work in the same way as conventional antibiotics. They help fight inflammation and redness by killing bacteria. These drugs can cause stomach upset and do not interact well with hormonal contraception, so you should consult your doctor before taking them.
- Hormonal birth control medications can help relieve acne symptoms by lowering testosterone levels in your blood. This has a positive effect on acne-prone skin. However, this method is effective only for girls and women. In the long term, hormonal birth control drugs are even more effective than antibiotics. Side effects include weight gain, chest pain, and the possible formation of dangerous blood clots.
- Anti-androgen drugs can be effective for girls and women, but they will not work for men. These drugs work by controlling sebum production.
Step 6. Consult your doctor about steroid injections
These injections are mainly used to reduce lumps or damage to the skin caused by acne. They are useless in treating acne that is on the surface of the skin. Steroid injections can help heal nodules and large bumps or lesions deep under the skin and reduce the likelihood of scarring.
Cortisone injections can have side effects. These include pale spots on the skin, bulging blood vessels, and thinning of the skin. These injections can cause short-term pain
Step 7. Consult your doctor about skin treatments
Acne-related redness and inflammation are caused by bacteria and acne. These bacteria can be destroyed by applying a specific spectrum of light rays, and blue light is the most effective. This procedure can be done in a doctor's office and sometimes at home. In addition, some laser techniques can help reduce scarring, redness, and inflammation.
- The doctor has the ability to apply the drug to the affected area before directing a beam of light to it. This drug increases the sensitivity of the skin to light exposure.
- Usually several sessions of light therapy are needed.
- Side effects such as increased sensitivity to light, dry skin, and temporary redness may occur.
- This treatment can be more expensive than other methods. Consider the financial factor and consult with your doctor before choosing the option that suits you.
Method 3 of 4: Lifestyle Changes to Fight Acne
Step 1. Train yourself not to squeeze pimples
This can seem like a very tempting option. However, popping a pimple can spread the infection to other areas of the skin and increase the redness and scarring. While it is difficult, it is worth waiting for the pimple to mature before removing it.
Step 2. Try not to touch your face, because this way you run the risk of spreading bacteria and making your skin oily, which subsequently leads to infection
All this leads to an aggravation of acne symptoms, including redness. Tell yourself that touching your face makes it worse. If you can't stop doing this, then wear gloves, sit on your hands, or tie a tape around your wrist as a reminder not to touch your face.
Step 3. Keep the area around your face open
Hair, a phone, or a headband can irritate acne-prone skin. They cause sweating and clogged pores. Do your best to keep the area around your face open. Use speakerphone when talking on the phone, skip wearing hats, and keep your hair away from your face until your skin is clear.
Step 4. Do not use oil based products
Hair spray, hair gel, sunscreen, and oil-based cosmetics can make acne worse. Stop using such products. Use non-comedogenic sunscreens, moisturizers, or water-based products.
Step 5. Wash your hair regularly with shampoo
The sebum in the scalp can make the acne problem worse. You need to regularly rinse the sebum off your scalp and hair. Shampoo your hair every other day or every day and watch for acne reduction.
Step 6. Protect your skin from sun damage
Burnt, dry skin is prone to acne problems. Use non-comedogenic, oil-free products and stay in shade to protect your skin. Protecting your skin from the sun is especially important when you are using acne treatments that make your skin prone to tanning quickly.
Step 7. Use herbal dairy products in your diet
The relationship between diet and acne is controversial. However, some studies show a link between dairy consumption and acne. Consider switching to soy and nut products and eliminating dairy from your diet, then watch to see if your skin improves.
Remember that dairy products provide the body with calcium and vitamins, which are especially beneficial for a growing body. Check with your doctor before changing your diet to make sure it is balanced
Step 8. Eat healthy foods that do not raise blood sugar levels
The Glycemic Index measures the amount by which blood sugar rises after eating a carbohydrate-rich food. Many studies show that a diet with a high glycemic index is more likely to cause acne than a diet with a low glycemic index. In addition, foods with a high glycemic index tend to be less healthy than foods with a low glycemic index. Foods with a high glycemic index include foods high in white flour and sugar. Foods with a low glycemic index include foods high in fiber, as well as whole grains, vegetables and fruits.
Method 4 of 4: Using makeup to reduce redness
Step 1. Proceed with caution when using cosmetics on acne-prone skin
Skin prone to acne can be very sensitive and irritated by cosmetics. Some remedies cause new acne to appear while you try to hide old ones. Keep in mind that using makeup is not the best idea for your sore skin. Consult a dermatologist about cosmetic use. Stop using any cosmetics that provoke the appearance of new inflammation.
When using makeup, it should always be washed off before bed
Step 2. Buy oil-free cosmetics
Use cosmetics that are water or mineral based. Look for ingredients like silicon dioxide, zinc oxide, and dimethicone. These ingredients help reduce redness.
An alternative option is to use a non-comedogenic tinted moisturizer instead of a foundation
Step 3. Apply a thin layer of concealer to the pimple
Blend the concealer with a brush. Repeat the same procedure until you have masked all the pimples. Apply concealer in an X-shaped motion to maximize coverage of the affected area.
- Try to find a concealer tone that matches your skin tone as closely as possible.
- Use flat, pointed bristles to apply concealer as thinly as possible.
- Concealers with yellows and greens are best for acne-prone skin. Look for a yellow and green concealer that you can apply to the affected areas.
Step 4. Blend the concealer with your fingers
Start at the center of the pimple and work outward. Use a patting motion to avoid smearing stripes. Make sure to apply concealer all over the pimple.
Step 5. Apply foundation on the rest of the face using a sponge
Like concealer, foundation tone should be matched as close to your skin tone as possible for a natural-looking complexion. Make sure your makeup looks natural. Apply foundation all over your face, including acne, for an even tone.
You can apply an extra layer of yellow or green concealer on top of the pimple base if you need more material to mask it
Step 6. Apply some powder with a brush to complete the makeup
You can use talcum powder or cornstarch to keep the concealer firmly on your skin, especially on a hot day. A sheer loose powder is great for this because it allows makeup to set in place and doesn't require an extra coat of color.
Step 7. Touch up your makeup if necessary
Makeup will not last throughout your work or school day. Make sure you bring your makeup so you can touch up your makeup throughout the day.
Advice
- The secret to fighting acne is to prevent this problem from occurring. Find a consistent, gentle skincare routine for yourself.
- While many have written about the benefits of toothpaste in treating acne, most dermatologists oppose this method. While the toothpaste contains soothing ingredients, it also contains abrasive irritants that can dry out the skin and cause redness.
- Try using eye drops on the affected area to temporarily relieve inflammation. Alternatively, you can apply ice to the reddened area.
- Another helper is hydrocortisone ointment. It should be applied to the affected area twice a day for two to three days to reduce redness and inflammation.
Warnings
- If you experience irritation, itching, or swelling, then stop using the store bought product immediately.
- See your doctor right away if you experience side effects after cortisone injections, phototherapy, or antibiotics.