Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAt-Home TreatmentsDrugstore ProductsSeeing a DermatologistWorsening PimplesSkin-Care Routine
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
At-Home Treatments
Drugstore Products
Seeing a Dermatologist
Worsening Pimples
Skin-Care Routine
Most mildpimpleslast a few days to a week. But deeper pimples may take a few weeks or even months to resolve. While popping a new or stubborn pimple may be tempting, don’t; it could lead to moreinflammation, longer healing time, or infection.
Instead, try natural or over-the-counter (OTC) topical treatments. For stubborn pimples, a dermatologist can help.
This article explains natural remedies, drugstore products, skin-care routines, and prescription treatments for pimples.
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How to Get Rid of Pimples at Home
There are some excellenthome remedies to get rid of pimplesnaturally. Some of these remedies are anecdotal (coming from individuals' experiences), while others have limited evidence backing them up.
Apply Plant-Based Ingredients
Plant-based ingredients, like tea tree oil, aloe vera, and more, can treat pimples.
Tea tree oil: A review of studies found low-quality evidence that tea tree oil may reduce mild acne.Compared to the placebo (an inactive substance), tea tree oil reduced the number and severity of pimples. Dilute tea tree oil according to the vial instructions; then apply a small dab to the pimple. If you experience irritation, wash the tea tree oil off your skin and discontinue use.
Zinc: Research has found that zinc effectively reduces the number of pimples when used alone or in addition to other treatments.While effective, other studies noted some unpleasant side effects, including skin dryness, peeling, and reddening.The most direct way to treat acne with zinc is to use a topical zinc ointment or lotion intended for acne treatment.
Aloe vera:Aloe vera topical gelhas been shown in studies to reduce the number of pimples when used with topical retinoids.You can findaloe veragel at drugstores, pharmacies, grocery stores, and natural health stores. You also could squeeze the gel directly from a snipped leaf of an aloe plant.
Rose petal extract: According to researchers, due to the antioxidant activity of rose petal extract, it acts as an anti-inflammatory when applied to the skin.You can find rose petal extract at natural health stores and online.
Apply Kitchen Ingredients
In addition, some people rely on common kitchen ingredients, like turmeric and green tea.
Research has shown promising results when it comes toturmericfor treating acne. A review of 18 studies evaluated turmeric’s effect on skin conditions, including acne.It found statistically significant improvement in skin conditions compared to control groups. You can add turmeric to food, drink it as tea, take it as a supplement, or apply it topically.
You can drink green tea or apply it to your skin. You can find topical applications of green tea (or acne treatments with green tea as an ingredient) online and in natural health stores.
Manage Stress
Stressis one of the known causes of acne, especially in adults. Researchers say this is because stress releases pro-inflammatorycytokinesand increased cortisol levels, which can lead to breakouts.
Reducing stress may help prevent pimples.Mindfulness practices, adequate exercise, fresh air, and enough sleep are all healthy habits that can help you manage your stress.
How to Get Rid of Pimples Using Drugstore Products
Dermatologists(doctors specializing in treating skin conditions) recommend the following ingredients inOTC treatments for acne:
Mild acne typically responds well to OTC acne treatment. Not every acne treatment works well for everyone, so you may have to experiment to decide which one works best for you.
How to Get Rid of Pimples With a Dermatologist
Dermatologists may recommend the following prescription treatments:
As with OTC treatments, figuring out which treatment is best for you may take some experimentation. Be patient; it may take weeks or even months to see improvement.
What Makes Pimples Worse?
Just as some things can help you get rid of pimples fast, there are also some things you should avoid because they can worsen matters. Dermatologists advise avoiding the following:
The key to successful acne treatment is consistency and patience. Be gentle when you wash your face—extra scrubbing doesn’t get rid of acne faster; it just irritates your skin. Many acne treatments are drying, so moisturize your skin, too.
Apple Cider Vinegar for Clearing Acne
A Skin-Care Routine to Get Rid of Pimples
Dermatologists recommend the following skin-care habits:
If you have trouble creative a skin-care routine that works for you or need help finding the right products, talk to a dermatologist oraesthetician(a technician specializing in skin beautification).
How to Create the Best Skin Care Routine for Acne
Summary
Many home remedies, OTC treatments, and prescriptions can help you eliminate pimples. Often, mild cases of acne respond well to home remedies and OTC treatments. But whatever treatment you try, give it time to work. While mild cases can resolve in a week or so, more severe cases may take six to eight weeks to see treatment results. A consistent skin-care routine can help manage and prevent acne.
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cao H, Yang G, Wang Y, et al.Complementary therapies for acne vulgaris.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;1:CD009436. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD009436.pub2Yee BE, Richards P, Sui JY, Marsch AF.Serum zinc levels and efficacy of zinc treatment in acne vulgaris: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Dermatol Ther. 2020;33(6):e14252. doi:10.1111/dth.14252Cervantes J, Eber AE, Perper M, Nascimento VM, Nouri K, Keri JE.The role of zinc in the treatment of acne: A review of the literature.Dermatol Ther. 2018;31(1):10.1111/dth.12576. doi:10.1111/dth.12576Hajheydari Z, Saeedi M, Morteza-semnani K, Soltani A.Effect of Aloe vera topical gel combined with tretinoin in treatment of mild and moderate acne vulgaris: a randomized, double-blind, prospective trial.J Dermatolog Treat.2014;25(2):123-9. doi:10.3109/09546634.2013.768328Lee MH, Nam TG, Lee I, et al.Skin anti-inflammatory activity of rose petal extract (Rosa gallica) through reduction of MAPK signaling pathway.Food Sci Nutr. 2018;6(8):2560-2567. doi:10.1002/fsn3.870Vaughn AR, Branum A, Sivamani RK.Effects of turmeric (Curcuma longa) on skin health: A systematic review of the clinical evidence.Phytother Res. 2016;30(8):1243-1264. doi:10.1002/ptr.5640Saric S, Notay M, Sivamani RK.Green tea and other tea polyphenols: Effects on sebum production and acne vulgaris.Antioxidants (Basel). 2016;6(1):2. doi:10.3390/antiox6010002Bagatin E, Freitas THP de, Rivitti-Machado MC, Ribeiro BM, Nunes S, Rocha MAD da.Adult female acne: a guide to clinical practice.An Bras Dermatol. 2019;94(1):62-75. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20198203American Academy of Dermatology Associates.Adult acne treatment dermatologists recommend.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Acne clinical guideline.American Academy of Dermatology Association.10 skincare habits that can worsen acne.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Acne: Tips for managing.
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cao H, Yang G, Wang Y, et al.Complementary therapies for acne vulgaris.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;1:CD009436. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD009436.pub2Yee BE, Richards P, Sui JY, Marsch AF.Serum zinc levels and efficacy of zinc treatment in acne vulgaris: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Dermatol Ther. 2020;33(6):e14252. doi:10.1111/dth.14252Cervantes J, Eber AE, Perper M, Nascimento VM, Nouri K, Keri JE.The role of zinc in the treatment of acne: A review of the literature.Dermatol Ther. 2018;31(1):10.1111/dth.12576. doi:10.1111/dth.12576Hajheydari Z, Saeedi M, Morteza-semnani K, Soltani A.Effect of Aloe vera topical gel combined with tretinoin in treatment of mild and moderate acne vulgaris: a randomized, double-blind, prospective trial.J Dermatolog Treat.2014;25(2):123-9. doi:10.3109/09546634.2013.768328Lee MH, Nam TG, Lee I, et al.Skin anti-inflammatory activity of rose petal extract (Rosa gallica) through reduction of MAPK signaling pathway.Food Sci Nutr. 2018;6(8):2560-2567. doi:10.1002/fsn3.870Vaughn AR, Branum A, Sivamani RK.Effects of turmeric (Curcuma longa) on skin health: A systematic review of the clinical evidence.Phytother Res. 2016;30(8):1243-1264. doi:10.1002/ptr.5640Saric S, Notay M, Sivamani RK.Green tea and other tea polyphenols: Effects on sebum production and acne vulgaris.Antioxidants (Basel). 2016;6(1):2. doi:10.3390/antiox6010002Bagatin E, Freitas THP de, Rivitti-Machado MC, Ribeiro BM, Nunes S, Rocha MAD da.Adult female acne: a guide to clinical practice.An Bras Dermatol. 2019;94(1):62-75. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20198203American Academy of Dermatology Associates.Adult acne treatment dermatologists recommend.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Acne clinical guideline.American Academy of Dermatology Association.10 skincare habits that can worsen acne.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Acne: Tips for managing.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Cao H, Yang G, Wang Y, et al.Complementary therapies for acne vulgaris.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;1:CD009436. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD009436.pub2Yee BE, Richards P, Sui JY, Marsch AF.Serum zinc levels and efficacy of zinc treatment in acne vulgaris: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Dermatol Ther. 2020;33(6):e14252. doi:10.1111/dth.14252Cervantes J, Eber AE, Perper M, Nascimento VM, Nouri K, Keri JE.The role of zinc in the treatment of acne: A review of the literature.Dermatol Ther. 2018;31(1):10.1111/dth.12576. doi:10.1111/dth.12576Hajheydari Z, Saeedi M, Morteza-semnani K, Soltani A.Effect of Aloe vera topical gel combined with tretinoin in treatment of mild and moderate acne vulgaris: a randomized, double-blind, prospective trial.J Dermatolog Treat.2014;25(2):123-9. doi:10.3109/09546634.2013.768328Lee MH, Nam TG, Lee I, et al.Skin anti-inflammatory activity of rose petal extract (Rosa gallica) through reduction of MAPK signaling pathway.Food Sci Nutr. 2018;6(8):2560-2567. doi:10.1002/fsn3.870Vaughn AR, Branum A, Sivamani RK.Effects of turmeric (Curcuma longa) on skin health: A systematic review of the clinical evidence.Phytother Res. 2016;30(8):1243-1264. doi:10.1002/ptr.5640Saric S, Notay M, Sivamani RK.Green tea and other tea polyphenols: Effects on sebum production and acne vulgaris.Antioxidants (Basel). 2016;6(1):2. doi:10.3390/antiox6010002Bagatin E, Freitas THP de, Rivitti-Machado MC, Ribeiro BM, Nunes S, Rocha MAD da.Adult female acne: a guide to clinical practice.An Bras Dermatol. 2019;94(1):62-75. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20198203American Academy of Dermatology Associates.Adult acne treatment dermatologists recommend.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Acne clinical guideline.American Academy of Dermatology Association.10 skincare habits that can worsen acne.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Acne: Tips for managing.
Cao H, Yang G, Wang Y, et al.Complementary therapies for acne vulgaris.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;1:CD009436. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD009436.pub2
Yee BE, Richards P, Sui JY, Marsch AF.Serum zinc levels and efficacy of zinc treatment in acne vulgaris: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Dermatol Ther. 2020;33(6):e14252. doi:10.1111/dth.14252
Cervantes J, Eber AE, Perper M, Nascimento VM, Nouri K, Keri JE.The role of zinc in the treatment of acne: A review of the literature.Dermatol Ther. 2018;31(1):10.1111/dth.12576. doi:10.1111/dth.12576
Hajheydari Z, Saeedi M, Morteza-semnani K, Soltani A.Effect of Aloe vera topical gel combined with tretinoin in treatment of mild and moderate acne vulgaris: a randomized, double-blind, prospective trial.J Dermatolog Treat.2014;25(2):123-9. doi:10.3109/09546634.2013.768328
Lee MH, Nam TG, Lee I, et al.Skin anti-inflammatory activity of rose petal extract (Rosa gallica) through reduction of MAPK signaling pathway.Food Sci Nutr. 2018;6(8):2560-2567. doi:10.1002/fsn3.870
Vaughn AR, Branum A, Sivamani RK.Effects of turmeric (Curcuma longa) on skin health: A systematic review of the clinical evidence.Phytother Res. 2016;30(8):1243-1264. doi:10.1002/ptr.5640
Saric S, Notay M, Sivamani RK.Green tea and other tea polyphenols: Effects on sebum production and acne vulgaris.Antioxidants (Basel). 2016;6(1):2. doi:10.3390/antiox6010002
Bagatin E, Freitas THP de, Rivitti-Machado MC, Ribeiro BM, Nunes S, Rocha MAD da.Adult female acne: a guide to clinical practice.An Bras Dermatol. 2019;94(1):62-75. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20198203
American Academy of Dermatology Associates.Adult acne treatment dermatologists recommend.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Acne clinical guideline.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.10 skincare habits that can worsen acne.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Acne: Tips for managing.
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