You wake up the morning of senior picture day and you have a pimple. What should you do? Before you pop, take a look at what you need to know about the quick fixes and other options for your acne issue.
Do Reduce Swelling and Redness
Noticeable swelling and redness are the primary pimple problems when it comes to your pictures. You don't want a balloon-like zit front and center in this memory-making photo. Luckily you can reduce some (but not all) of the swelling and redness at home.
To stop the swell:
- Apply ice. You already know to ice your ankle after an injury. This reduces swelling to the area. The same goes for your pimple. Make sure to wrap the ice in a cloth first to avoid a painful facial freeze.
- Use salicylic acid. These over the counter products (typically gels or creams) can reduce swelling and redness. Use caution with these products. Some patients experience increased redness or strong irritation. This is not something to use for the first time on picture day.
- Contact the dermatologist. If you have a larger breakout, excessive redness, or bothersome swelling, the doctor may have additional treatments to help.
While methods such as ice or salicylic acid can help, other so-called treatments can do more harm than good. Read on for what not to do next.
Don't Pick or Pop
If you think picking or popping your pimple will instantly remove it, think again. Why shouldn't you try these tactics? They won't help you to avoid a pimple in your picture and can:
- Increase redness. If you pick at or pop your pimple it can cause redness - even if you didn't notice this symptom before.
- Cause infection. Aside from aesthetic issues, picking or popping can lead to an infection. This can also increase redness and swelling. If you picked or popped and now your pimple is painful, severely swollen, has pus or other foul drainage, contact your dermatologist.
- Increase the chance of scarring. The more you pick and pop the greater the chances are that the area will scar after the pimple recedes.
What should you do if ice doesn't work, salicylic acid isn't an option, and you can't pick or pop? If your pimple is in the way of your perfect picture, you still have alternatives.
Do Carefully Cover
Instant removal isn't an option when it comes to pimples. When reduction techniques don't work, and you don't want to spend extra for photo retouching, you can carefully cover your breakout. If you choose to cover your pimples:
- Start with a clean face. Gently cleanse your face first. Blot or pat your face dry. Harsh rubbing will intensify redness and can cause pimples to burst. This opens you up to irritation or infection.
- Use an oil-free moisturizer. You may be tempted to skip the moisture when you have breakouts. While a greasy lotion can add to the pimple problem, your face still needs hydration. Even out your skin with a fragrance-, dye-, and oil-free product.
- Choose oil-free cosmetics. Use cover-up, foundation, or other cosmetic products that are non-comedogenic and oil-free.
Avoid over-application. Several layers of cover-up, foundation, and powder can look crusty or cause more breakouts. Wash the area (again, gently) after the photo shoot to remove unnecessary potentially pore-clogging makeup.
Don't Forget about the Dermatologist
Is this a one-time stress breakout or do you get more than a few pimples often? If your skin issues extend beyond picture day, you may have acne. This is a more serious condition than the typical teenage pimple. Your doctor can evaluate the breakouts and recommend a prescription treatment. This may include topical creams, antibiotics, or other oral medications.