It is the active ingredient in many over-the-counter (OTC) products and some prescription medications.
Salicylic acid also reduces swelling and redness.
But you gotta choose your makeup carefully so that makeup doesn’t cause pimples.
Illustration by Zoe Hansen for Verywell Health
you’ve got the option to also look for cosmetics that contain salicylic acid.
Oral and topical antibiotics are also treatment options.
Don’t Pick the Pimple
First things first: Don’t pop or pick a pimple.
If the walls of the follicle rupture, those materials can be sent to a lower layer of skin.
This can cause inflammation and infection, make acne worse, and increases your risk of developingacne scars.
Dont squeeze the pimple to see if anything will come out, even if the blemish develops a pustule.
Dont pick at the scab.
Let your skin start the healing process without being interrupted.
If that’s hard for you, tryhydrocolloidsheets.
These small stickers are bandages that trap moisture and keep dirt and excess oil away from your pimple.
Don’t aggressively rub at it or disrupt the forming scab.
If your pimple is swollen, applying ice may soothe it and reduce inflammation.
Apply it over the swollen area for a few minutes at a time, several times a day.
Most acne medications have antibacterial properties that should help pimples heal.
If you treat your popped pimple well, it should heal within a few days.
give a shot to be patient until this happens.
There are prescription medications that can help clear up your acne.
Do not pop pimples because this may make them worse or cause inflammation, infection, or scarring.
Continue using your acne treatments and talk to a dermatologist if your current acne treatment isn’t working adequately.
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Medline Plus.Salicylic acid topical.
2016;7(2):41-45. doi:10.5958/2321-5844.2016.00007.8
American Academy of Dermatology Association.I have acne!
Is it okay to wear makeup?
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Beta hydroxy acids.
British Association of Dermatologists.Steroid Injections.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.How long can I take an antibiotic to treat my acne?
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Pimple popping: why only a dermatologist should do it.
2016;74(5):945-73.e33.
doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2015.12.037
Harvard Medical School.Adult acne: understanding underlying causes and banishing breakouts.
