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Reduce redness of a pimple

Most of us will agree that bright red pimples on the cheeks are an unsightly sight, and need to be removed as soon as possible. In the natural course the redness subsides within two to three days. But most teenagers are not willing to wait this long. They want to reduce the redness of the pimple the same day. To do so, they often pinch the pimples. This only causes unnecessary irritation of the skin and aggravates acne and inflammation further.

A better way is to use home remedies to reduce the redness. One such remedy is the toothpaste. It has been used for generations as an effective means to reduce the redness. To get best results, you should apply a small quantity of toothpaste over the pimple, and leave it overnight. When you wash it off in the morning you will find that the swelling has gone down. The toothpaste also protects the accumulation of oils near the pimple and helps the pimples to heal faster. However, you should not use the gel form of the toothpaste for this purpose.

A gentle exfoliation pack also does the trick. It removes traces of oil, dirt and dead cells from the skin and tightens up the pores. If you have an oily skin then it is advisable to use a charcoal mask.

Freshly extracted cucumber or tomato juice is another natural remedy that tightens up the pores and cuts down the redness drastically. You should apply the juice evenly around the face and leave it on for around fifteen minutes before washing it with lukewarm water. Even a half cut tomato rubbed gently over the face produces the same effect as does apple cider vinegar, which works like an astringent. It dies the pimple and reduces the redness.

Another inexpensive method is to place an icepack over the pimple for a few minutes. However, while doing so you should not try to crush the pimple because this may break the pustule, and the pus will flow out. But when applied gently, the ice pack will reduce both the swelling and redness.

Bactericidal antibiotics and ointments can also be used for reducing redness. You can also make use of benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid preparations for this purpose. Many doctors advise against the excessive use of salicylic acid since there are many side effects associated with it.

However, if you suffer from persistent acne outbreaks then it is advisable to consult a dermatologist.