By Helena Li
Have you ever had that one pimple that randomly pops up and stubbornly sticks around for weeks? I’ll admit, this happens to me too often. It can be extremely frustrating when a zit refuses to go away, especially when we have to go to school every day.
If you don’t know already, pimples are usually caused when excess oils in your skin clog your pores. Sebaceous glands produce the oily substance sebum. Sometimes, dead skin cells get stuck in the sebum and block the pores. When this happens, it becomes easier for bacteria to grow in these areas and cause inflammation in the skin. This happens to teens a lot, as the hormones produced stimulate these oil glands. Acne and pimples can increase with anxiety and stress, another thing that teens experience often.
To avoid or prevent getting pimples in the first place, I would recommend getting enough sleep at night, and living a less stressful lifestyle. Also, make sure to wash your face at least twice a day, especially if you have naturally oily skin. This will clean out the sweat and oils that have gathered on your face throughout the day to make sure there are less build ups.
Even if you are never stressed or anxious and have perfectly clean skin, pimples are sometimes inevitable. Fortunately, there are some easy methods to help get rid of that annoying pimple. Before trying anything, make sure to wash your hands and the affected area with warm water to remove and dirt and germs.
- Honey, a staple household item, is known to have beneficial effects on the skin. It has natural disinfectant properties which can help get rid of the bacteria and microbes in the skin. It can also be mixed with a pinch of cinnamon, which also has antimicrobial properties, to eradicate that pimple.
- Another common method is using toothpaste. Make sure to use white toothpaste, not gel toothpaste, to help kill the bacteria in your pimple.
- An easy method is using steam to open your pores. This method is easy because all you need to do is boil some water to create steam. Hold the cup or pot near your face so the steam can reach your skin and flush out your pores. However, be careful to not burn your face.
- Additional widely used methods include yogurt, papaya, green tea, aloe vera, cucumbers, and more. I won’t go in depth in these methods, but you can find an abundance of information anywhere on the internet.
For each method, apply to the affected area and leave it for at least 30 min (overnight is best).
I’d recommend using any of these methods even when you don’t have a pimple, just to make sure your face is clean and bacteria doesn’t build up.
