6 ways to deal with pimples when they show up uninvited

It happens to the best of us…and usually at the worst of times. Try as you might to keep your skin clear 365 days of the year, chances are you’ll be faced with a pimple at some point. The next time you get a spot, resist the urge to pop it and follow these steps instead. 

Clean the blemish

First things first, you need to clean the area and remove any dirt and bacteria so your breakout doesn’t get any worse. Pick a cleanser that contains salicylic acid as it helps remove dead skin cells that may be blocking the pore, and reduces inflammation. Try Medik8 Beta Cleanse Exfoliating Foaming Cleanser.

Ease any swelling or redness

A big red spot not only makes you feel self-conscious, but it can be mighty painful, too. To reduce swelling and redness, place an ice cube on the breakout and hold it there for one full minute.

Help diminish the appearance of the spot

Now that the surface is clean and you’ve calmed the swelling, tend to the spot with bacteria-fighting ingredients that will soothe and reduce the size of the spot. Tea tree oil is a natural antibacterial and is great for disinfecting pores, unblocking sebaceous glands and drying out blemishes. Thursday Plantation Tea Tree Blemish Stick contains 100 per cent pure Australian tea tree oil and is a clear spot product that will go to work on reducing your breakouts without anyone being the wiser that you have it on. The sponge tip applicator also means you don’t have to touch the pimple – a big no-no as touching it can transfer oils from your hands onto the blemish.

Rethink what you eat

Certain foods have been found to worsen acne. While they won’t affect everyone in the same way, try avoiding cow’s milk, sugar and processed foods. These foods can encourage breakouts by causing a spike in insulin, blood sugar and hormone levels, which in turn increases inflammation. Try upping your intake of green tea, probiotics (like yoghurt, fermented foods and even dark chocolate) and fruit and veg – particularly dark, leafy greens and dark-coloured berries. 

Cover up

This is a tricky one: on one hand, makeup has a tendency to prevent your pimple from being able to breathe and heal, but on the other hand it conceals signs of the spot and when you need to go face the world, the latter wins every time. To ensure you don’t worsen the problem, use a non-comedogenic foundation like Maybelline New York Fit Me! Matte + Poreless and a highly-pigmented, creamy concealer like Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage Concealer to mask the issue. Just make sure you remove all traces of your makeup before bed so your skin can repair itself overnight.

How do you deal with a pimple when it pops up? Have your tried Thursday Plantation's Tea Tree Blemish Stick? Share with us your thoughts below!

Main image credit: Getty