When to use spot treatments

If you suffer from acne, it would be good to know when to use spot treatments.  When are they most effective to deal with acne?  Learn here…

Different types of acne

There are 4 types of acne lesions, and each should be treated differently.  Knowing when to use spot treatments can be very helpful in dealing with the different types of acne.

The cyst is the worst kind of acne because they are filled with pus and they can be very painful.  They are deep and under the skin.  The good news is that a spot treatment can be very effective in dealing with cysts.

2 recommended spot treatments

I actually have two different spot treatments that I would recommend.  One is something we’ve all probably seen / heard of before and that is the benzoyl peroxide cream / spot treatment.  Benzoyl peroxide helps decrease the acne bacteria so it can really diminish the puss filled acne.  However, it isn’t my top recommendation for several reasons.  One, it’s not natural – there’s generally lots of other ingredients in there that may not be good for you or your skin.  Two, is that it can bleach clothing and sheets.  So, while I have used these in the past, it’s not my go to.

My other recommendation is tea tree oil.  Use it just as you would a spot treatment by dabbing on the pimple and then leaving alone.  Please note though that using an essential oil directly on skin is generally not recommended.  You’ll want to spot test to see how your skin reacts.  It’s suggested that you use a carrier oil – something light like broccoli seed oil, jojoba oil or almond oil.  However, for a spot treatment – something you will be using very sparingly, I use it straight – just like a benzoyl peroxide cream.

When to use spot treatments and how

There is help for pimples.  So, when should you use spot treatments and how do you use them?  When you have a pimple under your skin and it is filled with pus, that is the best time to use a spot treatment.  I would first recommend using a warm compress to help draw the puss up to the surface.  Never squeeze because the cystic acne doesn’t have a head.  If you squeeze before it’s ready, you will only damage your skin.  Damaged skin causes acne scarring.  Plus, you can cause an infection if you push the puss deeper into the skin.

After using the compress, apply the spot treatment.  Twice a day is generally enough but you can do it up to 3 times a day.  If you do this and leave it alone, you’ll notice the pimple getting smaller and healing.  If you get to the point where there is a head and the puss was able to be expelled, it’s at this time that I would suggest using ice.

Icing can help decrease redness and inflammation just like it would if you sprained your ankle.  Just make sure that you’ve cleaned the area with a gentle cleanser, wipe it dry, then ice it for a few minutes.  Repeat a few times a day.

How to prevent cysts

Puss filled acne can be unsightly and painful so we want to prevent them from forming in the first place.  In order to do this, you should wash your face two times a day – once in the morning and once at night.  The only time you would wash (or rather rinse) during the day is if you’ve been sweating.  If you have been sweating from sports or being outside in the heat, you only need to rinse your face with a wash cloth – only enough to remove the sweat.  Doing this will help keep the oils and dirt out of your pores – keeping acne away.

So there you have it, this is when to use spot treatments!