How To Get Rid of Redness From Acne
People with acne-prone skin know that it can stay red after a breakout for a while. The area can be flushed and angry-looking even when the blemishes aren’t present.
Making sure you are treating acne at its source is the first step to avoid continuing the vicious cycle of acne and the marks it leaves behind.
How to prevent developing redness from your acne
As with any skin concern, preventing acne is the best way to stop future redness. Those with acne-prone skin may still have to deal with the occasional issue. But, there’s a lot we can do to prevent the worst effects.
Don’t pick at any active acne
When acne lesions are present, it’s a sure sign of an infected pore. Sebum gets trapped under the skin by dirt, oil, or dead skin cells. Along with the oil backup, bacteria can infiltrate the pores and make the pus pocket worse. Whiteheads and cystic acne are painful, and the blemishes are hard to miss.
Popping or picking at these raised bumps is tempting, especially if you’ve already developed the habit. While it might temporarily remove the pus, it often worsens the issue. Dirty fingers may introduce infection into a previously uninfected pore. You could cause pits and scarring in your skin!
Our first suggestion is to replace the picking behavior with introducing Icing after you’ve cleansed each day reducing the inflammation but also providing a replacement behavior to picking the already inflamed lesions.
Add daily cleansing to your skincare routine
Most people who wear makeup have their skincare routine down to a science. But not everyone realizes how vital the cleansing process is. Effective cleansing is 50% of the work, believe it or not! With the right products, you should be able to wash your face twice daily to remove grime and cleanse your pores. Use lukewarm water, a gentle cleanser, and your fingertips to massage your face. Then rinse and pat dry with a single use towel such as our favorites from Clean Skin Club.
Receive professional advice from your esthetician
For some of us, a regular skincare routine keeps redness and pimples away. But acne breakouts are part of life for those of us who are truly acne prone. If your usual routine isn’t working, talk to your esthetician. They have access to a wealth of knowledge and products to help your skin.
Some facials, chemical peels, and other skin resurfacing techniques can improve your skin's overall quality and appearance. And, with regular treatment, you may find yourself with the skin of your dreams!
Acne facials, LED light therapy, and other treatments can help
Your esthetician can also recommend special facials formulated to reduce your acne. Cleansing and decongesting facials help to clear out clogged pores and treat acne. Some, like Glo2Facials, use oxygenation and extractions to clear up troublesome skin.
Superficial chemical peels are often indicated for use with acne-prone skin as well. We have access to some incredible peels from our partners Face Reality that can be customized and paired with appropriate homecare to address all grades of acne.
Some medical spas and estheticians offer LED light therapy that helps reduce redness and kill bacteria. LED face masks also stimulate collagen production, which can help with any pits or unevenness caused by scarring.
Start using sunscreen daily
Use a high-quality mineral sunscreen as part of your regular skincare routine. Many foundations include an SPF ingredient that can make a difference. Zinc oxide, a common UV-blocking mineral, also has anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce redness.
If the acne is severe, talk to a medical professional
While home remedies, over-the-counter medications, and estheticians may all help, sometimes you need something else. Cystic acne or persistent, painful breakouts may require medical intervention. Speak with your primary care physician, and they can likely refer you to a dermatologist who can help.
Some other common concerns about acne redness (Post Inflammatory Erythema)
Many of us don’t deal with acne redness regularly. Those who do have already developed a bag of tricks to help resolve the concern. But for those that haven’t, here are answers to common questions.
How long does redness take to resolve?
There isn’t a hard and fast rule for how long acne redness takes to resolve itself. Left to heal on its own, you could have between a few days to twelve weeks before it fades.
Why is there redness, even with medications?
In some cases, what’s presenting as acne is caused by something else. Even some medications can make it worse. And some treatments for eczema and severe acne can lead to skin redness. While these aren’t permanent side effects, they can still be concerning.
For any acne redness, The Esthetic Co. is here to help treat it!
The Esthetic Co. is here to help restore your skin’s health and your confidence. We know how challenging it can be to go through life with acne scars and redness. Let us partner with you in bringing back a healthy glow to your skin. Our Acne Bootcamp is just one service we provide to help educate you on how to manage your skin concerns positively and proactively!
Check out our website today to begin your journey toward beautiful, blemish-free skin!