Who says the appearance of pimples on the neck is not annoying? Even though they are quite hidden in location, pimples on the neck have a greater potential to become inflamed or transform into cystic acne, especially because the skin on the neck is thicker than the skin on the face and can produce more oil. To get rid of pimples on the neck, make sure you apply the right method to clean and treat the skin. If after a few months the pimple doesn't go away or if you have an infection, you should immediately see a doctor for a more appropriate diagnosis and treatment recommendation!
Step
Method 1 of 4: Neck Cleaning
Step 1. Clean the neck skin at least twice a day
The best way to keep the neck skin from acne is to clean it regularly. It's a good idea to take a shower and clean your neck skin at least once per day and after sweating a lot (for example, after exercising).
Step 2. Use a skin-friendly soap
If possible, make sure you only apply skin care products that are labeled “noncomodogenic” or “oil-free” to the skin on your neck. In general, non-comodogenic products do not have the risk of clogging the skin pores, so they can eradicate acne more effectively.
- Check the label listed on the product packaging to find out whether or not the claim is there.
- Also make sure you use skin care products that are free of alcohol. Be careful, alcohol has the risk of irritating acne and worsening the condition.
Step 3. Apply the soap to the neck skin using your hands
In other words, don't use towels, sponges, or other abrasives to clean your neck so you don't irritate the skin, leave scars, and/or make acne worse. Instead, just use your fingers to apply the cleansing soap to the skin on your neck, and don't rub it in a rough motion.
- Rinse the soap on the neck until it is completely clean.
- Dry the neck with a soft, clean towel.
Step 4. Avoid irritants
Without realizing it, the ingredients contained in your clothes and/or accessories are at risk of triggering acne growth or worsening existing acne conditions, you know! Therefore, you should not wear collared clothes, scarves, and high-necked clothes that are at risk of irritating acne. Also, keep all objects that come into contact with your neck clean, and don't constantly touch or scratch the skin with acne so as not to leave a scar.
- It's best not to use a sunscreen that contains oil, and don't cover the pimple with foundation or similar makeup. If you use a special product for styling your hair, make sure it doesn't come in direct contact with the skin on your neck.
- For owners of long hair, be careful because the oil content in the hair can hit the skin on the neck and make it breakout. If possible, always tie your hair up while the recovery process is going on.
Method 2 of 4: Using Sea Salt
Step 1. Prepare the necessary materials
This method is not difficult to implement because all the necessary ingredients can be easily found in supermarkets. Besides being able to dry out pimples, you can also use sea salt solution to exfoliate the skin. The ingredients that need to be prepared are:
- 250 ml hot water
- 1 tsp. sea salt
- Green tea bag and/or 1-2 tbsp. Aloe vera
Step 2. Brew 250 ml of green tea
In fact, green tea extract is proven to be able to eradicate acne effectively. However, if you have trouble finding green tea extract, you can also replace it with brewed green tea. To make it, you can use a green tea bag or first add 1 tsp. green tea leaves into a tea strainer.
- Place the tea bag or strainer into the teapot or cup.
- Then, bring the water to a boil and pour about 250 ml of water into a teapot or cup.
- Brew the tea for three minutes, then remove the tea bag or strainer.
Step 3. Pour the sea salt into the steeping tea
Measure 1 tsp. sea salt and pour into a teapot or cup of tea; Stir well until the salt is completely dissolved.
Step 4. Add 1 tablespoon of aloe vera
Did you know that aloe vera contains moisturizing ingredients and is proven to be effective in getting rid of acne? That's why you can use aloe vera instead of tea, or combine the two if you prefer. Add 1 tbsp. aloe vera into a solution of sea salt; mix well.
If you want to use aloe vera instead of green tea, mix in 2 tbsp. aloe vera gel with 1 tbsp. sea salt, then stir until smooth and the texture is thick. After that, apply the paste to the affected area
Step 5. Apply the solution to the acne-prone area
Allow the solution to cool down so you don't risk burning your skin when you apply it! After that, soak a clean towel in the solution and apply it all over the neck.
If the number of pimples is not too much, just use a cotton swab or cotton swab to apply the solution to a specific area
Step 6. Let the solution sit for five minutes
Do not let it sit too long so that the skin is not too dry afterwards. After five minutes, rinse the neck with warm water, then pat lightly with a soft, clean towel to dry.
Step 7. Keep the neck skin moist
After the sea salt treatment, restore moisture to the skin by applying a non-comodogenic moisturizer that does not risk clogging the skin's pores.
Step 8. Repeat the process once a day
Doing it too often will actually make the skin too dry even after applying moisturizer afterwards. Therefore, limit the use of sea salt to treat acne to one time per day.
Method 3 of 4: Using an Egg White Mask
Step 1. Prepare the necessary materials
In fact, natural ingredients that are rich in healing and antibacterial substances can easily be found in your home kitchen. Therefore, try to follow the recipe listed below to make an anti-acne mask easily and quickly. Materials you will need:
- 1/2 tbsp. dark honey (the darker the color, the higher the antibacterial content)
- 1 egg white (remove yolk)
- 1 tsp. fresh lemon
Step 2. Combine all ingredients in a small bowl
Use a fork or a whisk to mix the egg whites and lemon juice until they are foamy, then add the honey. Stir again until all ingredients are well mixed.
If you want, you can add other herbs such as 1 tsp. witch hazel (which contains anti-inflammatory properties) or a few drops of an essential oil such as peppermint, spearmint, lavender, or calendula, although the addition of these ingredients has not been shown to increase the effectiveness of the treatment
Step 3. Apply the mask to the acne-prone area
If the acne is spread all over the skin, don't hesitate to apply the mask to the entire surface of the back of the neck. However, if the number of pimples is not too much, just use a cotton swab or cotton swab to apply the mask to a specific area.
Step 4. Allow the mask to dry before rinsing it off
Leave the mask on for 15 minutes, then rinse it off immediately with warm water. To make the process easier, apply this method while showering! Wash off the hardened mask with the help of your fingers while rinsing it off.
After that, dry the skin and end the treatment process by applying a moisturizer labeled non-comodogenic
Method 4 of 4: Doing Medical Treatment
Step 1. Use over-the-counter medications
For example, you can use a facial cleanser that contains benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, sulfur, or resorcinol acid to effectively treat acne. Don't worry, all of them are types of over-the-counter drugs that can be purchased without a doctor's prescription at the pharmacy. If you want, you can also buy products that are specifically intended to eradicate acne on the body. Generally, such products have a higher effectiveness than acne medications that are intended only for facial skin. However, make sure the product is not applied to sensitive areas of the face or front of the neck, yes!
Step 2. Discuss the use of retinoid creams with your doctor
Retinoid creams can help open clogged pores and clear up pimples in the neck area. However, generally you should only buy them with a doctor's or dermatologist's prescription.
Step 3. Discuss the use of antibiotics with the doctor
Chances are, your doctor will prescribe a high dose of a topical antibiotic, such as clindamycin, to be applied directly to the affected area of the skin. Besides being able to kill acne-causing bacteria, topical antibiotics can also reduce redness on the skin. For maximum benefit, apply a topical antibiotic twice a day and try combining it with benzoyl peroxide to prevent bacteria from becoming resistant to antibiotics.
Step 4. Discuss the use of oral contraceptive pills with your doctor, if you are a woman
In fact, oral contraceptive pills can help reduce the number of hormonal acne in women. However, always remember that the contraceptive pill also has various side effects and should not be taken by women who are planning a pregnancy.
Step 5. Take steroid injections to treat cystic acne
If your dermatologist diagnoses the acne on your neck as cystic acne or inflamed acne, they will most likely inject steroids into the affected area to reduce swelling, minimize the chance of scar formation, and speed up recovery.
However, this method also has some side effects such as thinning of the skin, increased sensitivity of the skin to light, and temporary shrinkage of the fatty tissue beneath the skin layer. As a result, the neck skin may look a little saggy or sunken afterwards
Step 6. Try taking isotretinoin to get rid of very severe acne
Isotretinoin is a high-dose drug that should only be taken if all other methods have not worked. Although it can clear up very severe acne within a few months, be aware that isotretinoin also has some serious side effects such as:
- Ulcerative colitis (inflammation of the walls of the digestive tract)
- Heart damage
- Inflammation of the intestine
- Depression
- Changes in bone structure
- Serious birth defects
Step 7. Get rid of acne with laser therapy
Laser therapy works by shrinking the oil glands and reducing their activity. As a result, acne will shrink or even disappear. Some types of therapy are also combined with the use of topical medications to increase their effectiveness.
Generally, you need several times to do the therapy process to get maximum results
Tips
- Never squeeze, peel, or puncture a pimple so as not to leave a scar on the neck.
- Do not apply pure sea salt to the skin so that the skin does not sting and irritate.
- For owners of oily hair, wash your hair regularly and rinse your hair until it's completely clean so that the oil doesn't stick to the skin on your neck and potentially cause acne.
