It happens to everyone at one point or another…  You wake up, look in the mirror and YIKES!  There is a big ol zit staring back at you.  What can you do?

Getting rid of zits takes a little time and the methods usually depend on the type of zit you are trying to get rid of.  Here’s some tips on what to do to get rid of zits…

Figure Out What Type of Zit You are Dealing With

There’s two basic types of pimples that you will encounter.  One is a surface eruption, which sometimes will sport a “white head”.  The other type is a cyst.  The cysts you will recognize because they are deep and painful to the touch.  They look like a red swollen spot on your skin.

Treating the surface type of zits is much easier than treating a cyst.  Cysts generally take longer to respond to treatment, so if it’s a very important day for you (think prom night), then your best bet for getting rid of a cyst is a quick visit to the dermatologist for a cortizone injection.

Topical Treatments to Get Rid of Zits

The best bet for getting rid of zits is to apply topical acne treatments to the area.  You have several options when it comes to these treatments.  The most popular are benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid based.  If you are dealing with a cyst type zit, benzoyl peroxide is your best choice.  For all other types of pimples, either will do.

There are also natural (non-chemical) treatments for those with sensitive skin that doesn’t respond well to benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid.  Tea Tree oil is great and has natural antibiotic properties that work very well at fighting acne.  Tea tree oil one of the ingredients in my favorite acne treatment - Acnezine (which has benzoyl peroxide, aloe and other active ingredients as well).

If you have none of this on hand, there’s always the toothpaste trick.  Yep - toothpaste!  Although not as effective as some treatments, a dab of toothpaste left to dry on a zit overnight will help dry it out plus it’s not harsh on the skin.

To Pop or Not To Pop?

Ok, this is where this post will take a turn for the worse, but let’s be honest - some zits are practically begging to be “poped”.  I know you know what I mean Should you go for it, or is it better to resist the urge?

Most doctors will recommend against poping zits for several reasons.  The biggest dangers associated with popping zits are infection and scarring.  Know this before you make the decision to pop a zit.

If you see a whitehead that is almost ready to erupt, a gentle squeeze (no fingernails!) is likely harmless.  Of course, you should have very clean hands and disinfect the skin before and after the “pop”.

Aside from whiteheads, most other zits are better left alone.  Trying to pop a cyst for example will just make it take longer to go away and yes it can really leave scars.

One alternative to the “pop” for cysts and other zits is to apply an ice cube to the skin for 5 - 10 minutes to reduce the swelling.  Then, use your acne treatments as normal.  This doesnt make the zits go away, but it can temporarily reduce the size and appearance of them.

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