Often haunted by the problem of acne that thrives on the surface of the skin? Don't worry, you're not the only one having this problem. In fact, treating acne independently is not as difficult as moving mountains, you know! One of the best things you can do is to dry the oil that causes acne. Interested in knowing various effective methods for drying acne? Read on for this article!
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Method 1 of 5: Performing Medical Treatment
Step 1. Consult the use of retinoids with your doctor
Generally, topical retinoids are sold in the form of gels or creams that can be applied directly to acne-prone skin. In general, retinoids are a fairly effective method of reducing acne growth, and are generally only available with a doctor's prescription.
- Typically, retinoids should be applied three times a week at the start of use. As time goes on and your skin gets used to being exposed to retinoids, you can increase the frequency of use to once a day.
- Retinoids can help prevent follicular blockage, which is one of the most common causes of acne.
Step 2. Use a product that contains salicylic acid
Salicylic acid is one of the best products for treating acne and drying the oil that causes it. Therefore, try using facial skin care products that contain salicylic acid.
Generally, over-the-counter products contain about 0.5% to 5% salicylic acid. Some of the common side effects of using salicylic acid are stinging or pain, and skin irritation
Step 3. Discuss the possibility of taking antibiotics with your doctor
If your pimple is really red and irritated, your doctor will likely prescribe an antibiotic often combined with other products like retinoids or benzoyl peroxide to minimize the risk of infection from acne.
Antibiotics should be taken according to the instructions given by the doctor. Inappropriate use of antibiotics is prone to exposing the body to infections due to forming resistance to antibiotics
Step 4. Use a product that contains benzoyl peroxide
Benzoyl peroxide is a substance that can eradicate acne-causing bacteria, while reducing excess oil and removing dead skin cells on the face. As a result, you can use it to dry pimples quickly. Generally, over-the-counter products contain benzoyl peroxide at a concentration of 2.5% to 10%. Try to find a product with a benzoyl peroxide level that is appropriate for the severity of your acne.
Be aware that benzoyl peroxide can also sting, burn, peel, or irritate when applied
Step 5. Try using oral contraceptives
For women, you can try taking oral contraceptives to dry out pimples and suppress their growth. Generally, oral contraceptives have a fairly high effectiveness against acne, but make sure you first consult with your doctor for possible side effects before trying it.
If you are currently taking birth control pills, try asking your doctor for other pill options that can improve skin conditions at the same time, such as Yaz, Ortho-Tricyclen, or Estrostep
Step 6. Clean the face
Although this is not a form of medical treatment, still do it twice a day. If done regularly, acne will dry up and the number is not at risk of increasing.
- Lightly massage your face when you clean it so you don't hurt or irritate your skin.
- In addition, the face must also be cleaned after doing intense activities and making the body sweat profusely. Be careful, the sweat that settles on the facial skin can trigger the buildup of oil and the risk of causing acne.
- Try making your own oil-based cleanser. For example, you can mix 30 ml of any organic oil, such as hemp seed oil, sunflower oil, shea butter oil, or castor oil with 3-5 drops of an antibacterial or antiseptic oil to kill natural acne-causing bacteria. Some types of antibacterial or antiseptic oils that you should try are tea tree oil, lavender, oregano, rosemary, or frankincense. After the two types of oil are well mixed, immediately store it in a closed container and place it in a place that is not exposed to direct sunlight.
Method 2 of 5: Making a Brine Solution
Step 1. Make a brine solution
One effective way to dry up pimples is to wash your face with a salt water solution or apply it directly to specific areas of your skin. To make it, boil water first. Once the water boils, remove the pot from the stove and let it cool for a while. Then, pour 3 tsp. hot water in a bowl, then mix with 1 tsp. sea salt. Stir well until the salt dissolves.
- Make sure you only use sea salt (not iodized salt) which has better benefits for the skin.
- Want to produce a larger amount of solution? Please modify the dosage.
Step 2. Apply the salt water solution all over the face
Slowly, take the solution using cupped palms, then use it to rinse your face. Make sure the solution doesn't get into your eyes to avoid irritation! Leave the solution for 10 minutes.
- Do not let it sit for more than 10 minutes so that the skin texture is not too dry.
- If you wish, the salt water solution can also be applied directly to a specific area with the help of your fingers or a cotton swab. Do not worry because the resulting effect is no different.
Step 3. Rinse face
After 10 minutes, rinse your face with warm water, making sure the salt water solution doesn't run into your eyes. After the face is clean, immediately pat it using a soft towel to dry.
Step 4. Apply moisturizer
After cleaning and drying, facial skin should be added with moisturizer so that the texture is not too dry. Make sure you only use noncomedogenic (no risk of clogging pores) moisturizers such as those sold under the brand names Clinique, Olay, Cetaphil, and Neutrogena.
Do not use this method too often. In fact, doing it once or twice a day is enough. If it is more than that, it is feared that the skin texture will be too dry so that it is more susceptible to irritation or other problems
Step 5. Make a paste of sea salt
Besides being used as a solution to wash your face, sea salt can also be processed into a paste and used to dry problematic acne, and speed up the healing process. To make it, mix 1 tsp. salt with 1 tsp. hot water; stir well until the salt is dissolved. Once the texture has thickened, apply the paste with the help of your fingertips to the problematic surface of the pimple.
After about 10 minutes, rinse the paste thoroughly and then immediately apply a moisturizer
Method 3 of 5: Making a Herbal Mask
Step 1. Mix the ingredients for the mask
Herbal face masks can help cleanse, restore, and tighten the skin as well as dry out pimples that appear there. The key is to use herbs in the form of astringents that also contain antibacterial substances. For the base of your mask, try mixing:
- 1 tbsp. honey, which contains antibacterial, astringent and healing properties
- 1 egg white, which is useful for thickening the texture of the mask
- 1 tsp. lemon juice, which acts as a bleaching agent as well as an astringent
- tsp. Essential oils made from herbs are astringent, such as peppermint, lavender, calendula, or thyme. All of them also contain antibacterial and anti-inflammatory substances that are useful for skin health
Step 2. Put on the mask
After mixing all the ingredients, dip your fingers and apply the mask all over your face. Leave the mask on for 15 minutes or until the texture is dry, then rinse it off immediately with warm water and dry it with a soft towel.
The mask can be used all over the face or just applied to the acne-prone area using the tips of your fingers
Step 3. Use a moisturizer
After removing the mask, dry your face gently with a soft towel. Then, apply a noncomedogenic moisturizer from popular brands such as Olay, Clinique, Neutrogena, and Cetaphil.
In fact, there are still many other branded moisturizers of the same quality. Most importantly, make sure the moisturizer you choose has a non-comedogenic description on the packaging
Method 4 of 5: Using the Steam Method
Step 1. Bring the water to a boil
First, pour water until it fills a medium-sized saucepan, then bring it to a boil on the stove. Once the water boils, remove the pot from the stove and pour the water in it into a bowl, about of it full. Then, add five drops of an essential oil that contains antiseptic properties, such as tea tree oil, lavender, frankincense, rosemary, or oregano. Stir until the oil is dissolved.
Don't have essential oils? You can replace it with 1 tsp. dried oregano, lavender, or rosemary
Step 2. Hang your head above the steam coming out
Once the water has cooled down a bit but the steam is still coming out, take a towel and sit down in front of the bowl. Then, lift your head and hang it above the bowl a sufficient distance, then cover the area above and the sides of your face with a towel.
- This method is effective at trapping steam, opening the pores of the face, and giving the opportunity for the essential oils contained in the water to treat skin conditions.
- Make sure your face is not too close to the surface of the bowl so you don't risk getting burned afterwards.
Step 3. Immediately transfer to a cool temperature
After steaming your face for 10 minutes, immediately wet a soft towel with cold water, then compress the face with the towel for 30 seconds. Then, bring your face back to the steam. You need to repeat this process three times, closed by compressing your face with a cold towel.
- Drastic changes in temperature can tighten and widen the skin pores. As a result, facial skin will look firmer, and blood circulation in it will improve.
- So, what if the temperature of the water in the pan cools down while you carry out this series of processes? If that's the case, feel free to hang your face closer to the surface of the bowl. As long as the selected distance feels comfortable and does not make the skin painful, then there is nothing to worry about.
Step 4. Use astringent
Astringents are liquids that contain substances to shrink tissue, dry the skin, and reduce inflammation caused by acne. Today, there are various types of herbs, teas, and other liquids that can function as astringents when applied to facial skin. To apply an astringent to the acne-prone area, you can use a cotton swab or your fingers.
- Some types of astringents that are good for the skin are teas such as green tea, black tea, chamomile, sage, and yarrow; undiluted lemon juice; essential oils such as boswellia, tea tree oil, sage, juniper, grapeseed, rose, oak bark, lemon, lime, orange, and willow bark; and apple cider vinegar.
- Do not apply this method too often so that the skin is not too dry. In addition, using astringent excessively can actually increase the risk of acne growth and even prone to causing skin damage.
Step 5. Apply moisturizer
After cleansing your face and using an astringent, protect your skin with a layer of moisturizer that should have a non-comedogenic label. If you want, you can also use non-comedogenic oil as a moisturizer, you know!
- Some brands of skin care products that contain noncomedogenic ingredients are Neutrogena, Olay, and Cetaphil. Always check the packaging label to make sure the products you use really contain non-commodegenic ingredients, yes!
- Repeat the entire process outlined in this method every three or four days.
Method 5 of 5: Understanding Acne
Step 1. Recognize mild acne
Mild acne is a type of acne that can be easily treated at home. Generally, mild acne does not number more than 20. In other words, pimples that are inflamed or swollen, as well as white or swollen blackheads, do not number more than 20 on the face.
- If your acne condition is the same, generally you just need to apply a good facial cleansing method to deal with it. In addition, you also need to use face masks, astringents, and other natural remedies to maximize the results.
- If the number of inflamed or swollen pimples on the face exceeds 20, it means that the intensity of the acne is classified as moderate to severe, so it must be treated by a dermatologist immediately.
Step 2. Understand the role of oil
As counterproductive as they may sound, products that contain oils can actually help dry out pimples, especially when mixed with the right additives. In fact, the presence of natural oils on facial skin is necessary to maintain skin moisture and fight acne growth. Therefore, try using a facial cleanser that contains oil to dry out excess acne on your face.
The meeting of the natural oils on your face and the oils in your cleanser will cause a reaction that can actually help dry out each other's textures
Step 3. See a dermatologist
If your skin condition does not improve even though you have applied various home remedies, immediately consult a dermatologist. Dermatologists are skin specialists who can diagnose your skin problems more accurately. Make sure you also see a dermatologist if your skin condition actually worsens after using various natural remedies.
