How to get rid of Pimples!

Everyone at some point in his or her life has been the unfortunate bearer of the pimple, most often it is when we hit puberty we are hit with the onset of the dreaded zit stage. Sometimes we get one or two that pop up in unfortunate places at unfortunate times (like the big whopper on your forehead on class photo day) or we might be that unfortunate kid also known as “pizza face”.  Of course if we are lucky, pimples miss our pubescent era so we are free to think the world is against us for some other reason, but I can almost guarantee that there will come a time when the pimple will appear, such as in our 20’s or 30’s.   I was one of the ones that fell into the latter. All through high school I was the envy of my friends and no amount of coke or chocolate was going to mar the perfection that was my skin…. until I reached my late 20’s.  I was mortified and did what any panicked woman would do- I went out and spent a fortune on skin care products only to eventually realise that they were mostly useless.

One of the most common reasons for pimples is an imbalance in hormones, which is why teenagers with those raging hormones are often victims and why without fail most women are attacked once a month by the zit.  On the surface it can seem like there’s not a lot you can do about hormone induced pimples but that’s not true.

Diet is another reason for pimples. I know the theory of chocolate causing pimples has been argued against but all I know is this, if I gorge myself on chocolate I will, without fail, break out in the blotches two or three days later.  Other foods that can trigger pimples are the obvious such as starchy foods (white breads etc) and greasy foods. These foods are bad for the digestive system and a clogged digestive system can also be the cause of clogged pores.  Challenge yourself and get rid of the outbreak- for three days in a row go for a half an hour walk, eat fresh fruit for breakfast and lean meat and vegetables for dinner, drink at least 1.5 litres of fresh water per day and no junk food in between!

Hygiene should also be considered when trying to get rid of pimples. There are specific pimple causing bacteria that can be found in make up brushes, sponges and even in our hair.  Wash or replace your make up brush or sponge and wash your hair regularly.  We all know that dirty hair is greasy and warm grease makes a lovely breeding ground for pimple causing nasties.  In relation to this, I would recommend changing your pillow case regularly.

Bacteria on our hands can cause pimples or even the spread of pimples. I know it is tempting to touch a pimple during the day to check on it’s progress but it really is the worse thing you can do. 

So how to get rid of pimples? The first step to take is look at your skin care products and assess what you are using and what their benefits are. Investigate what chemicals are in them- do they contain Sodium Lauryl Sulfate? SLS is a harsh chemical found in shampoos, soaps and even toothpaste. Basically it is a lathering agent but it has been linked to causing cancers in laboratory animals (nasty business, testing on animals  ) and it is also bad for sensitive skin. I know that for me it causes inflammation of my pores as well as dryness and itching.

The best skin wash is sorbolene cream. It is gentle and soothing and leaves your skin feeling soft and supple. General sorbolene creams can be quite heavy but there are brands that specialise in sorbolene for the face and they are the best to use. Every one is different though and what make work for you may not work for another and so ask at your local pharmacy for skin care ideas. A lot of them are stocking “natural” products now that are free from SLS and other harsh chemicals.

After washing your face with sorbolene use a clean cotton bud to dab tea tree oil onto the pimple. It may sting a bit but tea tree oil is a natural antiseptic and I know from experience that it will take away the redness and dry that sucker up. Make sure you do this in the morning and at night.

So to recap what we can do to bust the zit (oh I forgot to mention, never, ever pop a pimple unless it is almost going to burst on it’s own and you really can’t resist) these are the 3 things to remember;
Health

• Get regular exercise, watch your diet and drink water

Hygiene

• Keep it clean!

Skin care

• Be kind to your skin with the products you use and use something to kill the pimple such as tea tree oil

Note: I would like to mention acne and highlight that, although I firmly believe that some of the advice may be of benefit to acne sufferers (in particular to diet and generally taking care of your skin), I strongly recommend seeing a GP for advice and potential referral to a dermatologist. Acne can be a serious condition that if left untreated can cause severe scarring or dangerous infection.