Things around the House can easily help reduce pimple size and redness!

So What Are Pimples?

As anyone whose had a problem with pimples before may know, pimples don't always occur because someone didn't wash their face enough. In fact, may people who have frequent breakouts wash their face too often with the wrong kind of facial cleanser.

Pimples are basically oil that simply got trapped in the pores. Blackheads aren't dirt either - they're pores that have filled up with oil which then interacted with the air and oxidized into and black "plug". So - in order to stop these pimples from happening you want to choose a facial cleanser that will minimize the amount of oil your pores produce. You also may want to invest in a toner that will close your pores quickly after washing your face to prevent infection and to prevent oil from "filling" up the pore.

However - you have the pimple now and you have to be in the public eye soon! How do you get rid of it quickly without running to the store for special productsWays To Get Rid of the Current Pimple

1.) First determine if it is a white head or a blackhead. I white head will have a white "cap" on it where the pore is clogged - this is the opening to the pore with the oil. A black head will have a similar opening only the "cap" is black and more stiff then the white heads. If there is no cap this is something called a millium and it is a type of cyst as opposed to a pimple.

2.) Determine how much time you have to wait for the pimple to go down. If you need it done quickly you may decide to take more drastic measures ( e.g. "popping" the pimple ) but if you have a couple of days you may choose to do something less "drastic" ( e.g. applying something to the pimple to dry it out )Whiteheads - Fast Removal

You will need:

1. Kleenex or paper towels - 2 or 3 sheets

2. Alcohol or toner - something to disinfect the area

3. Optional: a blackhead extractor or a bobby pins

4. Ice

What You're Going to Do:

1. Disinfect the area and your fingers - also the blackhead extractor tool you choose to use

2. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THE BOBBY PIN/BLACKHEAD EXTRACTOR: Wrap the tissue around your pointer fingers tightly. Press your fingers against the outside of the pimple - giving yourself a little space to maneuver. You want to press down first and then press your fingers together and THEN you can press up and knead. This motion will prevent unnecessary scarring. Continue kneading and rolling the pimple between your fingers until the pimple pops and you have removed all of the oil.

3. IF YOU DO HAVE THE BOBBY PIN/BLACKHEAD EXTRACTOR: Place the head of the pimple in the center of the looped end. This tool allows for even pressure to also prevent scarring. Push down gently until the pimple pops. If you push too hard you risk breaking the skin.

4. Immediately apply the toner to the area. If you have to leave and go into public soon, apply ice to the area to ease redness.Whiteheads - Slower, Safer Methods

If you are nervous about popping your pimples - which can lead to scarring if done incorrectly - you can apply various topicals to the area until it clears up. Try to avoid using your fingers directly to avoid adding bacteria and more oil to the area, try q-tips, tissues, and cotton balls.

1.) Toothpaste. Toothpaste will dry out the pimple and ease redness. Apply toothpaste to the offending pimple until it clears up. Some people swear by applying it once and leaving it on overnight. Others suggest rinsing off the toothpaste and reapplying every hour. If the pimple is particularly offending, I suggest reapplying the toothpaste every hour.

2.) Alcohol and Neosporin: Twice a day - once if you are sensitive to alcohol - apply the alcohol directly the to pimple and then apply the Neosporin around the affected area.

3.) Egg Whites: Egg Whites contain sulfur, which is famous for drawing out impurities. Apply an egg white mask to your face once a day for 2-3 days to clear up breakouts.

4.) Honey. Honey is a natural bacteria killer. It's properties literally suffocate the bacteria which will allow any infection in the pimple to be removed as well as reduce the swelling. Apply to the pimple 1-2 times a day until it clears.

5.) Green Tea: Steep a tea bag in hot water and apply the tea bag to the offending area for approximately ten minutes. ( Make sure it's not too hot!! ) This will help suck the impurities out of the pore.

6.) Vicks Vapo Rub: This will not clear up the area but will instead pull the oil to the surface making it easier to "pop" for the especially hard pimples. Put on at night and rinse off in the morning and then follow the fast removal guide to finish the treatment.Blackhead - Fast Removal with an extractor tool

You Will Need:

1. A Blackhead extractor tool ( or a bobby pin )

2. Warm Towel

3. Toner or a disinfectant that is safe to use on your skin

4. Ice, if needed

What You will Do

1. Apply the warm towel to the affected area for approximately 15 minutes. This will help open the pores.

2. Remove the towel and place the head of the pimple ( the black part ) in the center of the loop of either the blackhead tool or the bobby pin. Push down gently - if you push too hard you will risk scarring.

3. Remove all of the oil, slide the tool across the top of the pimple to remove the oil and the black head from your face

4. Immediately disinfect with toner or alcohol.

5. Apply ice to reduce rednessBlackhead Removal - Without a tool

1. What You Will Need:

1. Glue

2. Warm towel

3. Toner or disinfectant

4. Facial cleanser

What You Will Do:

1. Apply the warm towel to your face for approximately 15 minutes to allow the pores to open up. Dry off the area.

2. Apply glue to the area with the blackhead(s)

3. Allow the glue to dry completely

4. Slowly remove the glue, preferably in the direction your pores open. The blackheads should pull out of the skin with the glue.

5. Wash off any excess glue with the facial cleanser and apply toner.So What About Those Buggers without the Heads?

Ah, the milia. These are notoriously tough to deal with - mainly due to the fact that there is no head to see the pore these babies would like to come out with.

Since milia are like cysts, it would be prudent to see a dermatologist or licensed esthetician to remove them. However, if you are insistent about doing it at home there are a few ways to get rid of them. I would like to reiterate that it would be best for these to be taken care of by a professional.

Ways to Remove them At Home:

The Safest way to remove this is to apply a hot compress to the area until the cyst is pulled out on its own. This may take a matter of days. You can also try applying Vicks VapoRub to the milia at night.

IF this is too slow for you, you may want to invest in a little lancet.

1. Make sure the lancet is sanitary.

2. Find the direction of the pores - this is typically a skill earned through years of practice. However, study the area and get a feel for the direction that the pores open.

3. Sanitize the area.

4. Find the area that the cyst looks like it wants to "come out" from. It will look more raised from the rest of the cyst.

5. Use the lancet to open the pore in that area ( this also works for difficult to remove pimples )

6. Use one of the fast removal methods above - the tissue or the tool methods - to gently work the cyst through the hole you just made.

Though this is possible to do at home, it is not recommended.

Good Luck! <3Preventing Pimples

Though some pimples are impossible to prevent - you can greatly reduce the number of pimples you get by making some lifestyle changes:

1. WATER, water, water, water. Drink it, And lots of it. This allows all the impurities to flush through you. Juice, soda, flavored drinks do not provide the same benefits of water. Why? Well, in order for the water to grab the impurities and flush them, the water needs to not have a suspension in it. Sugar and flavors are suspensions that take up all of the waters "room" and doesn't allow as many impurities to hitch a ride with the water. Though staying hydrated with suspension liquids does help, pure water is the best.

2. Exercise. You sweat out the impurities, it helps your body just work better and heal itself easier.

3. Eat right. Veggies, fruits, etc; all have antioxidants and are hydrating which will allow for greater flushing of impurities

4. Avoid known "problem foods". For example, if I personally eat too much chocolate, i start to break out. Some people find they break out after eating greasy foods or sugary foods.

5. Avoid underwashing or overwashing your face. 1-2 times a day is all you need.

6. MAKE SURE YOUR FACIAL CLEANSER IS RIGHT FOR YOUR SKIN TYPE. You may think you have oily skin, but in reality you have dry skin that is overproducing oil to compensate. If you use a drying facial cleanser you will only worsen the oil production.