Stop the Pop! Here's How to Reduce Pimple Redness Safely

Pimples and Acne – they’re no one’s friends, but we all deal with them at some point. They don’t make you feel great about yourself and they can be quite an inconvenience. Having a cherry-red bump on your face is NOT the look you’re going for when you’ve got a big event coming up or need to feel confident. 

We totally get the urge to try to squash it (literally…) 

But, it’s really not helpful for the long-term healing or redness of your skin to pop pimples – especially before they’re ready. 

So let’s learn a little bit more about what causes pimples, how to reduce pimple redness and inflammation, and how to safely care for a stubborn zit. 

What Causes Acne and Pimples?

Treating and preventing acne feels overwhelming sometimes, but it can be a simple process when you learn what’s irritating and causing inflammation in your skin and find clean products that support healthy skin.

There are a lot of factors that play a role in the texture of your skin and the appearance of acne and pimples including:

• Stress
• Lack of water
• Touching your face
• Oil, Dirt, or Grime
• Hormones
• Genetics 
• Diet

You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to realize that a lot of these things aren’t in our control. That’s why we have no choice but to tackle these pesky blemishes head-on! 

To help you out, we’ve compiled a list of our go-to methods when it comes to natural pimple remedies, at-home remedies for pimples, over-the-counter acne medication, and how to safely decrease redness and irritation. 

How to Get Rid of Acne and Pimples

Wait wait wait! Don’t pop if you haven’t yet! 

Of course, it’s tempting… But popping your pimple could make things much worse. You’re already dealing with enough stress (who isn’t?!). Let’s go the soothing route instead of causing further irritation.

Reducing pimple redness is your first stop in calming stubborn acne and inflammation and healing it for good.

General Tips for How to Care for Your Pimple Problem Areas

You’re in luck – there are SO many proven ways to reduce pimple redness at lightning speed. 

But before we touch on those, let’s review a few of the basic lessons in acne care 101: 

1. Never touch your face before washing your hands. A study of 26 students showed that on average, each person touched their face 23 TIMES in 1 hour! That is just nuts! 
2. Wash your face with a gentle, moisturizing cleanser that works with the oils on your face. Oil cleansers are a great option (oil cleanses oil!)
3. Create a nourishing routine, and stick with it! Consistency is key for healing and supporting healthy, happy skin.
4. Manage the lifestyle factors you can – eat a clean, nutrient-rich diet, reduce stress levels and sugar intake, hydrate, and treat your skin like the temple it is! 

From natural remedies for pimples and acne to over-the-counter ointments, to medications from your doctor or dermatologist for persistent acne, there are plenty of resources available to reduce pimple redness fast, and yes – sometimes even overnight. 

Natural & Home Remedies for Pimples

You’re sitting at home Sunday night and get up to brush your teeth for bed. 

You glance in the mirror and HOLY MOLY where did that flaming red pimple come from?! 

No way you’ve got time (or let’s be honest – energy) to run out to the nearest drug store. You’re ready to wind down and rest up for the week, solving your acne woes shouldn’t be on your mind right now. 

I mean, when does a pimple ever show up at a convenient time?

Thankfully, many home remedies are highly effective at calming inflammation and clearing up acne – and potentially calming it before you’re even up and at ‘em in the morning. 

Ice to Help Acne and Pimple Swelling

Sure, you might not feel your cutest sitting on the couch with an icepack on your face. But if it does the trick.

Ice is a popular remedy for swelling for a reason – it’s simple, non-invasive, and it works! 

Here’s why: Acne and pimples stem from inflammation and swelling. Your pores are overloaded with bacteria, grime, and dead skin cells… so of course, there’s inflammation! Ice soothes and calms the inflammation.

Tea Tree Oil to Fight Bacteria and Inflammation

Tea Tree oil is distilled from the Australian Tea Tree (okay, the name probably gave it away). It’s famously been used by Australians for its both antibacterial properties and as herbal medicine, and many use it to help reduce redness.

It’s easy to use and has several useful properties as a standard pantry item in your medicine cabinet (bonus!)

Honey to Cleanse Pores from Unwanted Buildup  

Many people have heard this and wonder… Does honey help pimples? The answer is yes!

Honey has been a longstanding contender as one of the most popular home remedies for pimples.

Honey contains powerful antioxidants that help clear waste and debris from your pores while fighting bacteria AND soothing inflammation.

If you have manuka honey on hand, even better! Try a homemade honey mask with lemon juice, cleansing your face with honey instead of face wash, or even just dab a bit of honey as a spot treatment for pimples. 

Spot Treatments for Targeted, Quick Acne Relief

Sometimes you need the power of concentrated spot treatments and clean skincare products to soothe your skin quickly with ingredients powered by nature. Keeping products like this on hand means you’re ready at a moment’s notice. 

Over the Counter Acne Remedies

While there are a lot of natural and clean skincare options, there’s also a list of prescribed products known to help further reduce acne and pimples. 

When you’re looking for a product you don’t need a prescription for, make sure that you do your research! We’re talking about reading and vetting the ingredients list, checking out testimonials, and understanding what your skin goals are to be sure they match up. 

Some products can be extremely harsh on your skin, but just because you don’t need a prescription for it doesn’t mean it doesn’t have side effects! Be mindful of what you put on your skin and avoid chemicals when at all possible.

Prescribed Remedies to Fight Breakouts

For this option, we recommend talking with your doctor or dermatologist to figure out the best course of action to help address your struggles with acne. No one likes the heartache of years spent without results. Sometimes a dermatologist is going to be your most helpful solution in pinpointing the cause of your acne. 

We know what you may be thinking– going to the dermatologist can add up quickly. Not sure you can spend the money and time on a trip to the doctor? There are plenty of clean skincare serums and products that are already approved by dermatologists to help give you some peace of mind.

At Terasana, we’ve teamed up with our favorite Tik Tok-famous dermatologist Dr. Mamina Turegano (Ahem - MD, FAAD, Triple-boarded dermatologist, no big deal) to help our customers skip this step that can add up quickly. Dr. Mamina backs the Clear + Control Face Serum with her vast knowledge of the skin. And we’re pretty proud of that.

How to Reduce Redness After You Pop A Pimple

You’ll probably know by now… we don’t recommend popping your pimple. 

But – this is a no-judgment zone! Sometimes the deed just needs to be done. We’re all human. The good thing is you’re here to solve the problem. 

If you’ve already popped that pesky pimple here’s how to move forward: 

1. Wash your face (again).
2. Wash your hands (again!)
3. Apply a cold compress to reduce swelling and inflammation.
4. Dab a small amount of spot treatment or an antibacterial remedy to protect from bacteria and further redness or swelling. 
5. Remember for the next time you’re tempted – you’ll be glad you waited for it to heal on its own. 

You’re all set – Now you know how to reduce pimple redness fast!

It can feel daunting when pimples start popping up out of nowhere. You may not even realize what’s happening until you think it’s too late. But it’s never too late to start caring for your skin and setting it up for success.

From natural remedies for pimples to dermatologist-approved serums – now you’ve got a list of defenses in your back pocket. 

The next time a pimple decides to show up at the worst possible time, you’ll rest easy knowing you’ve got the know-how and the drive to tackle it head-on.