Angry Zit? Here's How To Help It!

by BR Kellie

Every beauty editor has a 'do as I say don't do as I do'. For some it would be taking hot showers when we know the cooler the water the better it is for our skin. For others it would be drinking minimal water when we write about the benefits of staying hydrated. For me? I will always say 'don't pick your zits', but can I pass a juicy one by without giving it a poke and prod? Not on your nelly. And due to having a proliferation of pimples, blackheads and acne (well, at least I did until recently. They're now mostly gone thanks to the joys of modern medicine aka isotretinoin) I know a thing or three about dealing to angry, red zits ... some of which were self induced.

My first piece of advice...

DON'T SQUEEZE IT!

Don't be me! Sit on your hands. Take up knitting. Grab a fidget and play away. Just leave the pimple alone. Not only will squeezing it increase the chances of scarring, it can cause bacteria to spread under the skin increasing your chances of further breakouts. 

But say you've got a gnarly one and something has to be done, or you've already had a go at it and it's red and angry....

The Quick Fix

Reach for redness-reducing eyedrops. Eyedrops will constrict the blood vessels on the surface on the skin, reducing the redness of your pimple.

No eyedrops? Grab a cube of ice, wrap it in thin fabric (like muslin), then place it on the pimple for five minutes. If that reduces the redness you're good to go. If not give your skin a break from icing for ten minutes before re-icing for another five.

Got a bit more time on your hands?...

Pop A Patch On It!

A good pimple patch will pull out the gunk and help soothe your pimple. I've tried a fair few but go back to COSRX's Acne Pimple Master Patch every single time. These tiny little dots suck out the oils and impurities while providing a barrier against environmental irritants - and busy fingers! The next morning I would see a marked difference, and I found healing time was sped up too.

The Good Oil!

Another option is to reach for the tea tree oil! Tea tree oil's antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties work to soothe while disinfecting. To use, mix a couple of drops in with about ten to twelve drops of a carrier oil like olive or almond oil (to dilute it), then simply take a little on a cotton bud and tap it onto the affected area. Be sure to patch test first though as some skin can be very sensitive to tea tree oil.

My Final Advice?

Don't squeeze your zits!! Yeah, I had to go there one more time. And if you do find yourself with really angry skin on the regular, rather than just the odd angry pimple, then don't be afraid to visit a skincare professional or even your doctor. It was the best thing I could've done for my skin (and self esteem).

So there you have it! Simple ways to calm an angry pimple... all tried and tested by a person who used to have lots of them! So, my lovelies, what are your tips and tricks when it comes to dealing with a growly zit? Sharing is caring, so get chatting below!