OK, don’t fret. Blemishes are, for many of us, just a part of life. But sometimes they come up during the most inopportune of moments—like, say, the evening before an important day. When this happens, keep finicky fingers as far away as possible: Popping it will only make it worse, create an open wound, and cause an even more obvious scab to form over by the next day. (Trust: It’s easier to cover up a zit than it is to cover up a scab.) AHAs (like glycolic or lactic acid) break up bonds between skin cells, ideally unclogging the sticky skin cells that caused the blockage in the first place. These are often more moisturizing than their BHA counterparts. “They can be simultaneously exfoliating and hydrating, making them very beneficial to many skin types,” says board-certified dermatologist Mona Gohara, M.D. These are so widely used in masks, peels, spot treatments, washes, and serums for a reason: They work against acne. If you have a spot treatment, serum, or mask formulated with an AHA or BHA, tap a bit more on top of the blemish before bed. The extra dose will help unclog the breakout throughout the night. If you are looking for all-natural alternatives to skin care products, use willow bark extract as a sub for salicylic acid and fruit acids as a sub for AHAs. To use clay for treating a pimple, you can apply it all over (so you are simultaneously tending to other budding zits) or repurpose it for a spot treatment by gently dabbing atop the blemish. Don’t rub it in, and let the goop sit overnight. When you wake up, wash off the remaining residue and apply a calming, hydrating moisturizer. Clays are by their nature drying, so you’ll want to replenish the area after. In a pinch it can also be used as a spot treatment, thanks to said astringency as well as its anti-inflammatory benefits: “Witch hazel is a botanical anti-inflammatory that is often used in the skin care industry. It is a liquid extracted from parts of a flowering plant called the witch hazel plant,” says board-certified dermatologist Rachel Nazarian, M.D. “Topical witch hazel is an antioxidant and an anti-inflammatory, and because many acne lesions are inflammatory, witch hazel has been used to decrease the redness and inflammation on the skin.” Simply grab your go-to witch hazel and dab it on the offending blemish. To use, make sure to blend the tea tree oil with a carrier oil like argan or jojoba—both non-comedogenic and acne-friendly—you should never apply essential oils directly to the skin. After blending, dab tea tree oil and carrier oil blend onto a damp cotton ball or Q-tip and apply to trouble spots. Joyce Park, M.D., board-certified dermatologist, certainly agrees: “When used in topical skin care products, chamomile can help calm and soothe the skin,” she says. According to board-certified dermatologist Suneel Chilukuri, M.D., same goes for green tea: “Green tea has been shown to decrease sebum production3, and the caffeine in the tea will increase blood flow to allow more rapid healing of the blemish,” says Chilukuri. Whatever tea you choose, start by boiling water and make the tea just as you would if you were drinking it. After letting the tea bag cool (so as not to burn yourself), squeeze out the excess tea, and apply the tea bag directly to the blemish. Let the bag sit on the blemish for two minutes and rinse. “There is data to suggest that aloe may have antimicrobial properties and may help acne-prone skin,” says board-certified dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, M.D., director of cosmetic and clinical research, department of dermatology, at Mount Sinai Hospital. “It should not take the place of your traditional acne medications but can be used alongside them.” And while this may not be an overnight benefit, it will certainly help your breakout from becoming a long-term annoyance: It has been shown to help inflammation marks thanks to the aloesin. In one study specifically, when aloe was applied onto skin four times per day for two weeks, aloesin was shown to effectively fade post-acne hyperpigmentation4. Another study showed that topical application of aloesin can directly inhibit hyperpigmented skin from producing more melanin, which is the natural pigment in skin that causes dark spots to form. You can actually find aloe vera in plenty of acne-fighting products or extract it yourself and apply one of these face masks. That last point comes up with acne, quite a bit. As we’ve noted, Manuka honey has significant antimicrobial properties, which help it target acne-causing bacteria. Specifically, it’s extremely effective at targeting and stopping the growth of P. acnes. It’s also soothing, so it will reduce redness and tenderness associated with pimples. For use, turn a small dollop into a spot treatment or try a Manuka honey mask. Simply take a cube and wrap it with a paper towel. Apply gentle pressure to the blemish for a few minutes. Let the area dry, and top it with a moisturizer. They work so well for a few reasons: The first is, well, because they are good at sucking out all the gunk in trapped pores; second, they provide a literal physical shield to protect you from touching and picking at the zit (if you’re particularly drawn to doing so, consider these your friends). Finally, several new versions also contain acne-healing ingredients to help speed up the process. Find our favorite zit patches here.
