Stop a Pimple Breakout in Its Tracks with These Steps

There’s no magic potion to stop a pimple breakout in its tracks. Usually, it just carries on with its life despite your best skincare efforts. However, there are things you can do to shorten its shelf life and get your clear skin back. The first thing is not to panic. Here are the rest.

The moment you see or feel a pimple coming, wash your face with the best anti-acne facial foam you can find, especially if you’ve been wearing a mask or sweating. Get rid of surface bacteria and dirt that can further clog your pores with POND'S Bright Miracle Ultimate Acne Control Facial Foam. Formulated especially for acne, this cleanser has salicylic acid and vitamin B3 to reduce excess oil and eliminate acne-causing bacteria at the root.

You can also follow it up with a toner or cleanser for cleaner and clearer skin.

Applying an oil-free, non-comedogenic moisturizer is essential to maintaining a healthy skin barrier. It allows your skin to heal faster and boosts resilience to irritation, which is especially beneficial if you have acne-prone skin and use drying pimple treatments regularly. According to the National Institutes of Health, it’s more difficult to break the acne cycle when the epidermal barrier is impaired, which is usually the case in acne-prone skin.

If you go to your dermatologist, they will most likely give you a cortisone shot, especially for cystic acne. It is injected directly into the pimple to soothe the inflammation. You could also apply hydrocortisone cream on a new zit to calm the flareup but it won’t kill the acne bacteria, and it’s neither a preventive measure nor a cure. 

Toothpaste is a popular pimple breakout remedy but is it any good? The experts at the American Academy of Dermatology do not recommend it. While toothpaste does have ingredients that can effectively dry out pimples, it can also cause skin damage in the long run because it can be too drying on the skin. You’re better off using over-the-counter acne products with salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide, which are just as accessible as toothpaste.

Popping a pimple will not make it go away. In fact, it makes it worse. You could transfer bacteria from your hands to the pimple. You can also infect surrounding pores with acne-causing bacteria and pus. Since you’re essentially making a new wound, you slow down the healing process and possibly create a scar. Resist the urge to pop that zit and keep your hands away from your face. That blemish won’t be there forever.

Stopping a pimple breakout is a near-impossible task. Usually, you’ll just need to practice sensible skin care and let the zit run its course. Anything too drastic or “instant” can do more harm than good.