Skin Irritation: Your Worst Enemy

We cannot stress this enough: irritation and inflammation are bad for skin—really, really bad. Daily assaults such as unprotected sun exposure, hot water, and applying skin-care products that contain irritating ingredients generate an irritant response. The result? Skin's repair process becomes faulty, collagen breaks down, and the skin's surface is weakened. For those with oily skin, irritation triggers nerve endings in the pore that activate hormones which increase oil production, leading to enlarged pores!

How Irritation Makes Oily Skin and Breakouts Worse

Inflammation in skin is usually related to external factors such as irritation that damages the skin’s barrier in numerous ways, whether you can see the reaction or not. When irritation on the surface of skin happens it activates specific chemicals called neuropeptides in the brain (Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2007). Those substances are specifically the kind that regulates the hormonal system of the body.
When this happens, it then causes inflammatory chemicals targeted directly in the oil gland. Then, these inflammatory chemicals trigger an increase in oil production, which can increase the size of the pore, and the likelihood of acne—the more inflammation that occurs, the worse the risk (European Journal of Dermatology, 2002 and Dermatology, 2003).
Bottom line: Inflammation and its resulting irritation, whether internal or external (for this discussion externally it would be due to the use of irritating ingredients, hot water, overusing scrubs, etc.), is practically a guarantee you will see excess production of oil, larger pores and acne breakouts (Experimental Dermatology, 2009 and Dermato-Endocrinology, 2011).
That’s reason enough to avoid products with irritating ingredients, which often come in the form of fragrance including the misnamed “essential” oils.

Be Gentle!

For the overall health of your skin, anything you can do to treat it gently is a very good thing. Treating skin gently encourages normal collagen production, maintains a smooth and radiant surface, helps skin protect itself from environmental damage, reduces oil production, and makes pores smaller. We guarantee you will see potentially dramatic improvements to your skin simply by avoiding irritating products and learning to be gentle.

Avoid The Following...

• Overly abrasive scrubs (such as those that contain aluminum oxide crystals, walnut shells, or pumice)
• Astringents containing irritating ingredients (alcohol and menthol being the prime offenders)
• Toners containing irritating ingredients (alcohol and menthol being the prime offenders)
• Scrub mitts (think Buf-Puf)
• Cold or hot water
• Steaming or icing the skin
• Facial masks containing irritating ingredients (watch out for fragrant essential oils and polyvinyl alcohol)
• Loofahs
• Bar soaps and bar cleansers

Common Irritating Ingredients to Avoid

These ingredients are of greatest concern when they appear in the beginning of an ingredient list, or are among the first 10 ingredients. For more information on these ingredients and many more, consult the Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary section of PaulasChoice.com.
The Best Skin of Your Life Starts Here: The same type of in-depth scientific research used to create this article is also used to formulate Paula’s Choice Skincare products. You’ll find products for all skin types and a range of concerns, from acne and sensitive skin to wrinkles, pores, and sun damage. With Paula’s Choice Skincare, you can get (and keep) the best skin of your life!

Missed opportunities in life and homemade pimple paste

Is it my imagination or are more people suffering pimples into their adult years? I know I am. Once upon a time, pimples were for teenagers and taxes were for grown ups, not anymore.

Pimples can have a huge impact on our self esteem. When I think back, I cringe at all the opportunities and experiences I said no to, because of pimples, which is ridiculous. We all suffer them at some time and why let something so insignificant get in the way of life, but, alas, I did.

I once backed out of working on a Japanese game show, because I was sure my skin would explode at any minute and I was too embarrassed to face that… Ah, well, one door closes and another one opens, as they say. No point in having regrets.

The big picture and pimples

Serious pimples or acne is something to speak to your healthcare practitioner about. However, this new research  is interesting (but not for the squeamish) and suggests some quite logical causes. It suggests rosacea (a special type of acne, usually in people over thirty) is worse for those with weak immune systems and that exposure to sunlight can make it worse.

So making sure you’re eating well, exercising, getting enough sleep and wearing a hat outside are good places to start on the road to skin recovery. Without  addressing the underlying causes of breakouts, the pimples will probably keep coming back no matter what happens on the skin’s surface.

Having said all that dutiful and sensible stuff, I have to say that sometimes we could all do with a little helping hand and that’s where a little spot cream comes in.

Pimples and blackheads and the passage of thyme

Whilst there is no silver bullet cure for pimples and blackheads, this studysuggests thymol is an unsung skin-clearing hero and I have to agree. Thyme oil has a high content of thymol and has been the best thing for me, ever. However, everyone’s skin is different and it’s not for pregnant ladies – sorry! Sensitive types need to proceed with extreme caution, if at all, because thyme is a very active oil.

However, thyme is thought to be less irritating than benzoyl peroxide – the active ingredient in most anti-acne creams or washes, according to Dr Gomez-Escalada. Although, he recommends trying it in an alcohol tincture, but that might be very drying for the skin and could lead to a crazy oily-dry pendulum swing.

You can also use thyme oil to make toner and foaming cleanser.

Bicarbonate soda and the face

Bicarbonate soda can also be drying for the skin and needs to be used carefully. In my wanders around the Internet, I’ve seen a lot of recipes for bicarbonate soda (a.k.a. baking soda in the US) being used as a face scrub, but it’s a bit too drying to be used all over the face without oil. It’s also quite alkaline (pH 8.3), so it’s important to only use this paste on spots and follow up with an acidic toner, like this apple cider vinegar toner or rose water (if you prefer something nicer smelling) to keep the skin in balance. You can read about ravings on how slightly acidic skin is happier skin here.

The instructions may sound complicated, but I’m hoping you can make sense of them, please let me know if it isn’t clear. I don’t want people to feel overwhelmed, as it’s actually pretty easy to make this a part of daily face care until the pimples have cleared.

Pimple paste ingredients

Makes about 0.5 oz or 15 ml 
Saves about $13 (based on an average natural spot cream costing $15 )
Does not contain alcohol, parabens, SLS, or artificial fragrances and colours
Reduces carbon emissions and water use

2 drops of thyme essential oil
1 teaspoon of skin friendly oil, like jojoba, grape seed or pomegranate oils
2 teaspoons of bicarbonate soda (a.k.a. baking soda in the US)
Sterile or very clean jar
Sterile or very clean small spoon or spatula

How to make the thyme paste

1. Mix the thyme essential oil with the skin-friendly oil.
2. Stir the oils into the bicarbonate soda and keep stirring for a couple of minutes. It’s important to make sure it’s thoroughly mixed. Store in a labeled and dated jar.

How to use the pimple cream

1. It’s essential to test this in a discrete spot for irritation.
2. Wash face and hands.
3. Using a clean spoon or spatula, scoop a pinch into the palm of the hand (avoid putting fingers in the powder, as this will increase the risk of contamination).
4. Flick a finger of the other hand under the tap, so a drop of water is on the end of the finger and dip this drop of water into the pinch of powder in palm and mix into a paste.
5. Apply only to spots in small circles.
6. Leave for 1-3 minutes (usually enough time to brush teeth). It might feel a bit cool, but rinse off straightaway if you feel the slightest burning sensation.
7. Rinse really well.
8. Spray toner or rose water on face to rebalance the acidity.
9. Moisturise as usual.
10. Repeat once or twice a day until the break out has cleared. Stop if the skin is becoming irritated or dry. It’s not a good idea to use this continuously, so if the breakout hasn’t cleared or improved after a month then it’s best to stop and try something else or give the skin a break for a week before trying again.
11. After a month or if any water ends up in the powder, throw out any remaining and make a new batch. It’s important the powder stays as clean and dry as possible.

Again, please don’t use if you’re pregnant.

Acne and Apple Cider

December 2015, Reporting from Acne Awareness Club, All over the world Acne problem has arises very quickly, specially for the teenagers and the age after 40. Over the past few weeks I got a few mail about acne related question and problem, this is why I'm writing this post today. 

Disclaimer: I don't have acne, nor have I ever suffered from much more than the occasional hormonal eruption, but you don't have to take just my word for it.

If that doesn't surprise you, then consider this: Even Dr. Howard Murad, founder of the eponymous skincare line, follows an inclusive health philosophy. "When the body is at optimal health, the skin will follow suit," says Dr. Murad, who recommends full body care—healthy diet, exercise, sleep, stress management and carefully selected topicals—for an acne-free complexion.

One of the most popular Beauty Bets posts of all-time is a recipe from esthetician Sara Mattson for a raw apple cider vinegar concoction known to clear up complexions in a matter of days. ACV promotes alkalinity in the body, which inhibits inflammation, a contributor everything from skin disorders, to cancer, to the common cold.

Try it for yourself:

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR "COCKTAIL"

2 tbsp Braggs apple cider vinegar (raw/organic)

Squeeze of lemon juice

1 tsp honey (optional)

12 oz. water

Combine all ingredients. Sip throughout the day, preferably before meals, or chug the whole thing if you can't stand the taste.

Got a tried-and-true acne solution? We'd love to hear what's worked for you.

Hope this will help you, any questions, you can write down in the comment box.

How to Get Rid of Pimples in a Day

Every person, regardless of gender should know the secret of how to get rid of a pimple in one night at home without going to the doctor. It is easy if you know some simple treatments. It happens very often that when an important event is to come, a very big pimple appears right on your nose. Murphy’s Law, you might say. But scientists have proved that it is naturally reasoned. Before important events a person is nervous, he or she is under strong emotions, therefore hormones are released – and this is the best way to get a pimple. Of course body acne can appear at any other place of your skin, not necessarily noticeable for the others, but anyway being very unpleasant for you. In this case it is very useful to know how to treat acne. Information given here will enable you to get rid of back acne overnight or of any other acne type.




Problem areas on your face cause a sense of insecurity and strong embarrassment when you have to communicate. Sometimes you would even prefer to avoid meeting with friends or cancel an important interview. But what to do you have an important meeting or an opportunity you’ve been waiting for the very long time? Is there any treat against acne? Do you have to refuse your chance or you may try to quickly remove acne from your face? One would say that the answer is obvious. But in order to clear acne you need to know why it appears.
There are a lot of factors affecting the frequency of acne occurrence. Among them are stresses, hormonal changes in human body and unhealthy diet. Even heredity can cause pimples. These factors lead to excessive production of sebum. Sometimes your skin produces so much sebum and the amount of it grows so fast, that it clogs the ducts and they become inflamed. Often, girls and boys buy aggressive care products, wash themselves intensively, triggering by this a vicious circle – sebum is produced more and more as it is washed away. Inflammation occurs again and again. This can happen even to those who thoroughly take care of their skin. By the way, have not you noticed that getting rid of acne that has suddenly appeared is a hard task? But don’t be upset, there are ways of curing pimples overnight.
Teenage acne disappears by itself after you reach 20-22 years. What to do, if you do not want to wait? You need to learn how to make pimples go away overnight. Therefore, if this morning you saw that you got a pimple on your face, just try to calm down at first. Take a deep breath and smile to yourself in the mirror, even if your face terrifies you. No need to shed tears and think that your life is over. Smile! Believe, this advice is not trivial – this optimistic procedure activates the release of specific hormones that inhibit inflammation and prevent the appearance of new inflammatory areas. In general, try to create a good mood every morning – it is an excellent treatment against acne! The result is guaranteed.
Firstly you may think that the fastest ways to get rid of the hated pimple is by squeezing it. Don’t do that! You will just spread the infection further. In addition, doctors do not recommend to clear up pimples by yourself because of the risk of skin infection. The trick is in the right approach to acne extrusion and its subsequent processing. Correct actions can give you more or less clear skin within a short time.

How to get rid of a pimple overnight

Here is the useful instruction on how to get rid of a pimple overnight:

• In order to get rid of acne overnight at home it is necessary to determine of what type it is. You may only squeeze headed pimples. This can be defined as follows: press down lightly around the areas of inflammation – if you feel pain, then, is not yet the right time. You will have to wait. Otherwise, instead of the little pimple you’ll get a huge swelling acne, or – in the worst case, the spread of infection;
• If the pimple is ready, take a cotton pad, a magnifying mirror, alcohol or any other sanitizer for disinfection and provide good lighting. Wipe the sore spot with alcohol to reduce to a minimum the possibility of skin infection. Do the same to your hands;
• Then gently push the core of a pimple, make sure you do not grip the surrounding skin. Forces which push the pus out must come from the bottom of the inflamed duct. In this way there won’t be any purulent debris left at the bottom of the pore;
• Try to squeeze all the pus at once, in order not to injure the affected area by the repeated manipulations. Then treat the spot with some alcohol;
• An hour later put some wound-healing remedies. If there are none, you can use salicylic alcohol. Take some remedy that removes toxins from your body. Otherwise they may reach the skin again, causing new inflammation;
• On this day, it is a bad idea to use makeup as swelling subsides quickly;
• There are some home remedies for acne. One of them is a lotion. You may need to use it at night to relieve redness. To make it, boil equal amounts of chamomile and celandine and apply the resulting decoction on the inflamed spot with a sponge for 10 minutes. You may also use ice cubes, pressing them against inflamed skin. And do not eat any products that are “dangerous” in terms of inflammation. They are candies, fat meat, sweet soft drinks, sausages and other “junk food”;
• In the morning after washing with your usual means wipe your face with ice cubes. This will help to reduce the swelling. Now you can try to disguise the remaining traces of acne – apply healing cream or gel, depending on your preference and your skin type, then lightly powder the spot. If there is some redness left, you can use a green concealer, it is a good remedy to mask inflammation.

Of course, this sequence of actions is intended for emergency cases. To reduce pimples or to cure them completely you can only by following the next recommendations:

1. organize correctly your sleep and rest;
2. normalize the way you eat;
3. stay away from bad habits.

This integrated approach will be more natural. You must not forget about vitamins, physical activity, and ecology. However, acne does not choose the place and time, which is why we must be able to remove pimples overnight. Anyhow, now you know how to get rid of pimples overnight. Try to be very careful and attentive performing the described procedure. Then you’ll be prepared for any situation – and find the way out as a winner, because no acne will hinder you.