How To Remove Pimples Overnight At Home

Written by Sumona BoseNov 30, 2023
How To Remove Pimples Overnight At Home

Your skin is quite open to suggestion while you sleep, meaning you can provide it with heavy-duty products and treatments that target specific issues. This is especially true with pimples and breakouts, which may be ignored during the day in favour of wearing makeup and SPF. You might not prefer to walk around with spot treatments and hydrocolloid patches during the day. Also, many acne treatments might react with makeup and heavy SPF so they are not ideal for daytime. This leaves night time as the ideal time to treat these pesky blemishes; but how? There is little to no need of clinical intervention in milder forms of acne-like pimples and boils, so here’s how to remove pimples overnight at home...

 

Use tea tree oil as a spot treatment

FAQs about get rid pimples

Raw and organic tea tree oil consists of potent antibacterial, antimicrobial, and anti-fungal properties. It works on your blemishes by killing the acne-causing bacteria and inhibiting further growth and spread of the blemishes. This is because of the presence of the compound called terpene that is able to penetrate blemish-prone skin and improve its antimicrobial action. Not only can tea tree oil function as a good spot treatment to dry out pimples overnight, it can also stop new ones from popping up. Suitable for dry acne, we would not recommend oily, acne-prone skin to be treated with tea tree oil.

How to use -

Mix 2-3 drops of tea tree essential oil with 10-12 drops of a carrier oil like almond, olive or grapeseed. Wash your face with a gentle, soap-free cleanser and dot the mixture on just the pimples with clean fingers. Let the oil dry out before you hit the bed, make sure to layer on a gel or water-based moisturiser to avoid dryness. Wash your face with lukewarm water in the morning - follow up with a gentle cleanser and let air dry, top it off with moisturiser and SPF.

 

Dab wet green tea bags on blemished skin before bed

FAQs about get rid pimples

Green tea is not just a healthy beverage to improve your health, it is equally good for your skin as well. One of the best sources of skin-loving antioxidants, the catechins and flavonoids present in green tea have been known to have a soothing, calming and brightening effect on the skin. It does so by fighting free radical damage on the skin and thus negating its harmful effects. These properties give green tea the ability to alleviate skin conditions like mild to moderate breakouts.  

How to use -

The best way to use green tea for overnight blemish treatment is in the form of tea bags. Brew some green tea and keep the leftover wet tea bags in the refrigerator. Before bed, wash your face and hold the cold green tea bags on a blemished area for 5-10 minutes. Let the area dry out and follow up with your night cream and go to sleep. In the morning, go through your regular AM routine and finish with sunscreen.

 

Use OTC treatments

FAQs about get rid pimples

When it comes to OTC (over-the-counter) treatments that you can safely use at home, the best ingredients to look for are low strength AHAs like salicylic acid and glycolic acid, and acne-causing bacteria-killers like benzoyl peroxide and sulfur. These remedies are often formulated as spot treatment creams and gels and not only work to eliminate blemishes quickly, but also reduce post-acne scarring. Some of these products can also offer mild exfoliation and inhibit clogging of pores to keep further breakouts at bay.

How to use -

It is important to clean your skin with a non-irritating gentle and pH-balanced cleanser before using OTC treatments. Make sure your cleanser, or moisturiser, does not contain any active ingredients as they can interact with the spot treatment and lead to irritation. Apply your moisturiser before the spot treatment in order to hydrate the skin and reduce the chances of any tingling or itchy feeling on your pimples.

 

Do a quick ACV pack before bed

FAQs about get rid pimples

Similar to witch hazel, which is also used as a potent natural astringent, apple cider vinegar helps with sebum control without making your skin too dry. Rich in potent organic acids like lactic, acetic, and citric, and malic acids, ACV can help mattify your blemish-prone skin and curb the growth of acne effectively. It also helps balance your skin's pH levels and thus can be used as a natural toner, but one that is organic and free of drying alcohols.

How to use -

Given that ACV is very potent in nature, the best way to apply it is in a diluted form in a 1:4 ratio, where you mix it with distilled water to make it weaker and lower the pungent smell. Apply the diluted mix on affected areas with the help of a cotton pad and let dry. Based on your skin type, you can either leave it on (oily skin types) or wash it off post 15 minutes (for sensitive skin) and follow up with a moisturiser. Use ACV as a nighttime treatment 2-3 times in order to avoid overdoing it, as it can be quite exfoliating in nature.

 

Treat skin with a DIY mask before bed

FAQs about get rid pimples

Nothing quite beats nighttime blemish treatments like a non-greasy and acne-fighting DIY mask done just before bed. A mix of honey, turmeric and baking soda can not only help regulate sebum production in your skin, but also loosen and treat blackheads and whiteheads.

How to use -

Apply the mask for 5-10 minutes before bed, it will help decongest your pores, hydrate it and provide antibacterial benefits to help deal with blemishes. Follow up with your night cream and wake up with fresh and clearer-looking skin in the morning. You can add ingredients like fine-grain salt, cucumber juice and aloe vera to the mask to target dryness and dullness on your skin as well.

 

Precautions to take while treating pimples at home

FAQs about get rid pimples

Here are some safety tips while treating blemishes at home -

  1. Always perform a patch test of the treatment you intend to use on your arm, give it 48 hours to assess if you are reacting to any of the remedies mentioned above.
  2. Do not overdo these treatments as even though they are safe, overdoing them can lead to issues like redness and irritation.
  3. Stop using the remedies if you notice issues like dryness or patchiness as some of the natural ingredients can do that if used too much or too often.
  4. Do not mix overnight blemish-control remedies with other potent active ingredients like retinoids or AHAs. This can lead to over-exfoliation of the skin and even cause an allergic reaction on the skin.
  5. Consult a dermatologist if you do not see at-home remedies helping with blemish control as the root cause may be more severe, and only an expert can help you deal with that.

 

FAQs about get rid pimples

FAQs about get rid pimples

Q. Can you use toothpaste to get rid of pimples overnight?

A. While the fluoride content in toothpaste will help dry out pimples and fade them overnight, it is not recommended as a safe treatment. Toothpaste can cause issues like PIH (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation) on your skin and leave scars behind that are difficult to deal with later on.

Q. Can you use crushed aspirin to get rid of pimples overnight?

A. Yet another at-home blemish-control solution, crushed aspirin is also commonly used to treat pimples quickly. The acetylsalicylic acid content in them is known to dry out breakouts, but can also be quite irritating to the skin. It is not recommended to use crushed aspirin to deal with pimples, as it can lead to redness and flakiness in the area.

Sumona Bose

Written by

Sumona Bose is a writer, skincare junkie and a self-professed makeup connoisseur. Equipped with a Master's degree in Fashion Management and over 3 years of experience writing in the beauty and fashion space, her passion for learning new things has no bounds. Working closely with dermatologists, beauty excerpts, makeup artists and hairstylists, she brings you the best of all things beauty. From trending skincare ingredients to makeup looks that help you slay, she manages to bring something new (and vital!) to our readers every single time. Her hobbies include home workouts, watching foreign films and binge-watching makeover shows!

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