Quick Tips to Reduce Redness From Breakouts

Breakouts can take a while to heal, and in the meantime, you’re stuck with red, swollen, and inflamed skin.  Not only is this unsightly–it can also be painful.  Breakouts are a fact of life and as I sit here and type this, I have the most painful zit on my chin!  It’s like a rock — and yes, I’ve picked it.   I’m wishing the thing will be gone tomorrow, but that would take a miracle.  In the meantime, I do have some tips that will quickly reduce redness from breakouts and acne.

Quick Tips to Reduce Redness From Breakouts

1) Epsom Salt

Epsom salt, also known as magnesium sulfate, is excellent for reducing inflammation and promoting healing at a cellular level.  It’s often used as a healing bath to promote muscle recovery and relaxation.  It’s also great at reducing swelling of the skin.  Epsom salt is easily purchased at any major grocery store or pharmacy.

To use it to help reduce from a breakout,  Create a paste by mixing a few tablespoons of the salt with water.  Spread over the affected area of your skin and leave it on for about 30 minutes and then rinse off.  The redness and size of the pimple should be reduced.  Repeat this daily until the acne is healed.

2) Bentonite Clay Masks

Bentonite clay is excellent at drawing out toxins and fluids. It has anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties.  For painful breakouts, make a bentonite clay mask and allow it to sit on your skin until dry. The mask provides a soothing sensation on tender skin and will also reduce the appearance of acne.

There are many ready-made clay masks but my favorite is the Clarifying Clay Mask from SkinCeuticals.   I also love their Vitamin C serum which you can read about here. This mask combines bentonite and kaolin clays with botanicals to help calm the skin and hydroxy acid to gently exfoliate away dead skin cells.   There is also aloe and chamomile in this mask to soothe the red irritated skin.

3) Apple Cider Vinegar

Diluted apple cider vinegar is another excellent home remedy for reducing the redness of acne.  Use a cotton swab or pad to apply the solution to the affected area of the face.  Apple cider vinegar can help prevent infection while toning and balancing the skin.  It’s also excellent for softening and exfoliating skin, so it’s a great tool to use if you have old acne scars you want to fade.

It’s important to keep in mind apple cider vinegar should not be used to treat an acne spot you’ve picked at.  The vinegar can be irritating to the broken skin, slow the healing, and promote scarring. If you already picked at the acne (which is pretty much impossible not to.. trust me I know), you’ll have to pass on this tip but the next one is a great option if you couldn’t resist picking.

4) Apply Neosporin Overnight

If you have already picked at your face, then here’s a tip for you!  And I’m currently basking in Neosporin right now!   Dab a bit of Neosporin on your acne spot and cover it with a band-aid overnight.  Neosporin is an antibacterial and excellent at promoting skin repair.  My dermatologist shared this tip with me.  If you have acne that you picked at and it’s swollen and inflamed, Neosporin is an excellent option to quickly tame the beast,

You can’t heal acne in a day, but you can shorten the healing time and reduce the inflammation.  All of these at home, DIY remedies are easy and affordable.  You won’t fade the acne entirely, but you’ll have much better luck hiding it with your concealer.

Do you have any great tips to reduce redness from breakouts?  Please share your remedies in the comments below!

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