Pickers: What to do with your blemish instead
OK, Luvies, I wish I was talking about those little goofy guys on that TV show who hunt for antiques, but I'm not. I'm talking about you, and me. Sadly, I find myself with the urge to pick at that occasional blemish, too. But the reality of the situation is if we pick, we risk making it LOOK worse, and that's the opposite of what we want to do!
Here's another reason why you shouldn't pick, besides the esthetics. :) If you pick at imperfections or blemishes under the skin you can spread the infection beneath the surface and make it worse.
Have you ever picked at a blemish (or cyst) that wasn't ready to be released and noticed how much more inflamed it got? Or how when you pick and pick, you break up the skin so bad that it leaves redness, irritation, and possibly scarring or bruising? It happens. :(
I know it hurts (literally) and I know it's not easy to stay away from picking, so I'm going to give you some tips on what to do instead.
1) Apply spot treatment as soon as you feel it, like a benzoyl peroxide formulation with anti-bacterial properties (if you have prescription) or something with salicylic acid, sulphur, camphor, or a retinol at the onset. The idea is to dry it up or exfoliate it out, while calming/healing it. My Camphor Treatment (pic below) is a good spot treatment for this & it's only $9!! If you have none of these, you can gently press (diluted) tea tree oil on infected area.
Jentri's Camphor Treatment
2) Use a calming serum (one with anti-inflammatory agents) or even take an oral anti-inflammatory pain medication (I know, I hate taking meds too, but when it hurts - it helps!).
3 When you shower/bath, let the steam loosen up the impurities on your face (if you can't go in for a facial, which would be ideal) and press a warm towel up to infected area for a few minutes. Then gently wash with an exfoliating cleanser (if the blemish is not open) to bring it to the surface faster. The idea is to get it up and out as quickly, gently, and effectively as possible without trauma to the skin.
*Eminence has a great product called Lime Stimulating Treatment Masque (see pic below). It's green in color and really helps circulate the blood and push toxins out. This could be a good treatment to use periodically on areas that are suffering to expedite the healing process.*
Questions? I'm here to help!
Love,
Jentri
Here's another reason why you shouldn't pick, besides the esthetics. :) If you pick at imperfections or blemishes under the skin you can spread the infection beneath the surface and make it worse.
Have you ever picked at a blemish (or cyst) that wasn't ready to be released and noticed how much more inflamed it got? Or how when you pick and pick, you break up the skin so bad that it leaves redness, irritation, and possibly scarring or bruising? It happens. :(
I know it hurts (literally) and I know it's not easy to stay away from picking, so I'm going to give you some tips on what to do instead.
1) Apply spot treatment as soon as you feel it, like a benzoyl peroxide formulation with anti-bacterial properties (if you have prescription) or something with salicylic acid, sulphur, camphor, or a retinol at the onset. The idea is to dry it up or exfoliate it out, while calming/healing it. My Camphor Treatment (pic below) is a good spot treatment for this & it's only $9!! If you have none of these, you can gently press (diluted) tea tree oil on infected area.
2) Use a calming serum (one with anti-inflammatory agents) or even take an oral anti-inflammatory pain medication (I know, I hate taking meds too, but when it hurts - it helps!).
3 When you shower/bath, let the steam loosen up the impurities on your face (if you can't go in for a facial, which would be ideal) and press a warm towel up to infected area for a few minutes. Then gently wash with an exfoliating cleanser (if the blemish is not open) to bring it to the surface faster. The idea is to get it up and out as quickly, gently, and effectively as possible without trauma to the skin.
*Eminence has a great product called Lime Stimulating Treatment Masque (see pic below). It's green in color and really helps circulate the blood and push toxins out. This could be a good treatment to use periodically on areas that are suffering to expedite the healing process.*
Questions? I'm here to help!
Love,
Jentri
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