Emergency Tactics to Reduce Swelling and Get Rid of Pimples on Your Prom Night

You’re good to go when it comes to prom preparations – you’ve got the dress, the tux, the limo, the flowers and cool after party.  Everything was going great until you looked in the mirror and noticed an unexpected and ugly pimple staring back at you.  Is there any way to get rid of this gross growth before you go to your prom?

Luckily for you, there are several ways to reduce swelling and get rid of pimples at the last minute so you can enjoy your prom without feeling self-conscious.  Put the magic back into your prom night by taking charge of your sudden acne flareup so you look and feel better.

Lead Us Not Into Temptation…

You will want to pop the pimple.  You know it, I know it, we all know how much a surprise pimple makes us want to pick it away.  Avoid the temptation of popping that pimple because you will only make it worse.  If you pick at your blemishes, your skin will swell, the pimples may worsen before they get better and you may even spread the blemishes – not a good idea just a few hours before your prom.

Scrubbing and using hot water won’t make your acne go away right away, either.  In fact, you will make your skin red and irritated so it looks even worse.

Avoid using alcohol-based toners and facial products to attempt to dry up the problem because they will also make the rest of your face dry and may not immediately clear up your pimples for the prom.

You may want to smother the unsightly pimples in acne medication with the hopes of causing them a rapid death.  However, acne medication does not always work immediately and usually takes a couple of days to show results.  Further, acne medication can aggravate your blemishes before it improves them – another no-no if you are just few hours from going to the prom, unless you have a tried and true acne medication that you know has worked for you in the past.

Okay, now that you know what you shouldn’t do to try to get rid of those pimples, what can you do?

Explore Your Bathroom for Solutions

Emergency tactics for reducing swelling and getting rid of acne breakouts before your prom are right in your kitchen and bathroom cupboards.  Everyday elements can be used to quickly handle acne flareups so you can put your best face forward for the prom.  Of course these fast remedies are not intended for ongoing acne treatment, but they are a great way to look your best when you get unexpected blemishes at the last minute.

Let’s start in the bathroom with your toothpaste.  Yes, toothpaste is a super way to dry up surprise pimples as long as it is a paste and not a gel.  Just put a dab of toothpaste on your blemishes for a half hour and rinse off with warm water.  You may feel a slight burning sensation – this means the toothpaste is working to dry up that pimple!

Another quick fix you can find in the bathroom in calamine lotion, which is not just for poison ivy.  Since we know what it does for an itchy, red rash such as that, imagine what it can do for your unexpected case of acne?!  Put some calamine lotion on your blemishes for a half hour and rinse off with warm water.

Witch hazel, a popular astringent and skin soother, can also be used to dry up surface skin oil, reduce swelling and minimize last minute acne flareups.

Explore Your Kitchen for Solutions

If these suggestions don’t feel right for you, move on to your kitchen where you can find more ideas.  First of all, head to your freezer and put some ice on your acne for a half hour to reduce the swelling and redness.  Next, peruse your cabinets for ingredients such as vinegar, lemon, salt, tomato, fresh strawberries, eggs, garlic, apple and honey.  If you have any of these elements, consider some of these home remedies to zap zits:

• Take a cotton ball, drench it in vinegar and apply it to your pimples to dry them out.
• Combine salt and warm water and rinse your face with it several times to minimize oil and breakouts.
• Cut strawberry leaves on the affected areas for a half hour.  The acid the leaves helps to dry out pimples.
• Put egg whites on your face, let them dry for about 15 or 20 minutes and rinse off with cool water for smoother skin.
• Cut a lemon or tomato in half and rub it on your skin.  Leave the residue on your skin as long as possible to dry up acne.
• Mash up garlic and put the paste on your face for fifteen minutes, then wipe off with a warm cloth.
• Mix grated apple with a little honey, apply this mask to your face for about 15 minutes and rinse off with warm, then cool, water.

There are plenty of easy ways to battle those last minute blemishes so you look your best for the prom.