Squeeze Play: How to calm an acne breakout.
Let’s talk about how to calm an acne breakout.
Okay, let’s clear the air. We have all at one time or another popped a pimple. It’s okay. Forgive yourself. In fact, it used to be the norm to encourage picking and popping pimples, the thought being that the infection needed to come out. However, with more focus being placed on the skin barrier we now know that popping pimples does more harm than good.
The Pimple
Acne vulgaris manifests as various types of comedones, papules, pustules, nodules, and/or cysts because of obstruction and inflammation of hair follicles and sebaceous glands (Merck, 2021). Simplistically, a pimple is formed when a pore becomes clogged with sebum and bacteria which then triggers an inflammatory response. Acne can manifest in many different ways in the body and often times is caused by a combination of internal and external factors. If you are struggling to identify your acne triggers, I would encourage reaching out to a practitioner you trust to support you.
Why is pimple popping not the best for your skin?
A pimple is an immune response to a clogged pore. This response is your bodies way of healing and restoring homeostasis to the skin barrier. Going in there and interfering by popping or picking is going to disrupt the healing process. When you squeeze a spot a lot of the infection gets pushed deeper into pore. This will cause the skin around the spot to harden to protect itself, which creates this darker pigmentation that can take up to a year to fully heal. Squeezing pimples can also cause the pore and surrounding pores to rupture. All this interfering will not only delay the healing process, damage the skin barrier, but also potentially worsen scarring and hyperpigmentation. If you have experienced your fair share of pimples than you do not need me to tell you that a pimple healing time is NOTHING compared to the slow fading of scarring and hyperpigmentation. Hyperpigmentation can take months and even up to a year to fully fade. It’s much easier to get rid of a breakout than it is to get rid of hyperpigmentation. And the best way to prevent scarring and hyperpigmentation is by not picking and popping your pimples. With skin it’s always about the long game.
As an acne coach and someone who has dealt with too many breakouts too count, I get it! When I have a breakout all I want to do is pick and over-analyze every pore. And sometimes pimples can be painful and popping them can often times feel better in the moment. However, if you are worried about scarring and hyperpigmentation than you must try to break the cycle of popping and picking. This is just going to damage the skin even more.
What to do instead of popping your pimples?
If you’re trying to calm a breakout, here are my best tips for you as an acne nutritionist & coach:
Hydrate
Protect
Cool & Warm Compress
Hydrate
Ever notice that spots on the more hydrated parts of your face heal and fade much faster? (I’m talking about the ones in your T-zone). And if you haven’t noticed before, now you will. This is because the skin in these areas is less prone to dehydration and irritation. When the skin is hydrated the skin-barrier is better supported it can heal scarring and hyperpigmentation quicker. Next time you have a spot, instead of reaching for the drying acne spot treatment, double up on your favourite hydrating facial mists and moisturizers. Also don’t forget to hydrate from the inside out. Get at least 8 glasses of water each day and opt for herbal teas instead of drinks that will dehydrate you.
Now, just because you have oily skin doesn’t mean you can skip the moisturizer. This is important for all skin types. The function of a moisturizer is to seal in moisture. By first applying a gentle and hydrating facial mist and then applying a functional moisturizer you can seal in that hydration and help to support the skin barrier and speed up the spot healing process.
Ingredient spotlight: Look for ingredients like aloe or hyaluronic acid in a facial mist for acne and ingredients like squalane in a moisturizer.
Expert Tip: If you are an aimless picker and finding this extremely difficult, try a pimple patch. They are super hydrating and will help you keep your hands off.
Protect
This is my best skincare tip if you are experiencing active breakouts, or you are trying to fade scarring and hyperpigmentation. Protect your skin with daily SPF application. The skin needs sun protection every single day, especially in the Summer. The first product in any great skincare routine is sunscreen. If you are using other serums and treatments and not applying daily sunscreen, it would be like filling a bucket with a hole in the bottom. SPF speeds up the skin’s natural healing process by forming a protective shield. It also prevents sebum oxidation which leads to less chance for future breakouts. Instead of popping the white head, let it be and gently apply SPF to speed up the healing.
Expert Tip: If I could have only 3 products in my skincare routine, it would be a cleanser, a hydrating mosturizer, and a sunscreen.
Cool & Warm Compress
This is my favourite way to soothe those super sore and painful spots. A warm compress can help to relieve pressure and give you instant relief. Whilst a cool compress can be the perfect tool to reduce redness and swelling. You want to aim for anywhere from 1-5 mins for the hot and cot compress. And they do not need to be used together, you can just focus on the warm compress if the spot is feeling sore or just focus on the cold compress if you are headed out and want to reduce redness and swelling.
DIY Breakout Tool: Take a soft, clean sock and fill it will rice. Pop this in the microwave and you have just created your own personal warm pimple patch compress.
Need more? Check out the Acne Reset: 10 weeks to Clear Skin
Tips for Breaking Old Habits!
I share this habit with all my acne coaching clients: only touch your face with positive purpose. For example, during your morning and evening routine as a sign of love and self-care you cleanse, treat, hydrate, and protect your skin. And other than that, there is no reason to touch your face. Your spots will not only heal and fade faster, but you will also stop spreading bacteria to your skin throughout the day by leaning and touching your face with your hands.
If you are finding yourself falling into old habits, you might consider throwing away your magnifying mirror, you do not need to over-analyze each pore. Take that time you would normally spend in front of the mirror hating and attacking your skin on something more positive. Like an at home yoga practice or meditation, or gua sha, or cupping facial massage. Or you might consider placing a piece of tape on the ground to encourage you to keep your distance from the mirror (talking to all my over-the-sink-leaners!)
If you need extra inspiration to help you with your skincare journey, give me a follow @caralyn_skintheory. I encourage you to love your skin unconditionally and trust in the healing process. Find appreciation for what already is. By reflecting on our experiences from a place of love we are able to cultivate abundance in all areas of our life. Including clear and happy skin.
Big love,
Caralyn
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