What To Do When You've Gotta Sort Your Skin Out ASAP

There can be nothing more frustrating than waking up the morning of a big event and seeing a blemish on your skin or discovering that your more subtle red spot has now upgraded to a whitehead. 

The most tempting thing to do is to go full DEFCON 1 on it – squeezing it, popping it, or dousing it with powerful exfoliants or chemicals. Do not give in to this temptation!  

Popping your zits or using hardcore chemicals may feel satisfying, but can lead to infection, scarring, and inflammation, which could lead to an even bigger blemish than you started out with.  

Trust me, you don’t want to pick at a small zit only to uncover a small volcano under your skin. 

Managing your breakouts in the short-term

Try your best not to touch the skin, and keep it as clean as possible while your body does its thing. Instead, reach for a cleanser that really penetrates the pores to target that pesky blemish at its source!  

CeraVe’s Blemish Control Cleanser is formulated with 2% salicylic acid to do just that, and is formulated with 3 essential ceramides to strengthen the skin’s barrier, so it won’t leave your skin feeling dehydrated and over-stripped like some other acne products do. Salicylic Acid is a great ingredient for acne-prone skin because it penetrates deep to reduce blemishes and target future breakouts. What’s great about this cleanser is that it reduces pimples by 40% in just one week*, and is Developed with Dermatologists so you know it’s good!  

How do I prevent blemishes coming up in the first place?

The best way to target blemishes over the medium term is to make sure your skincare routine is in check (including a cleanser for acne-prone skin, something to target blemishes and prevent future breakouts, plus an acne-friendly moisturiser and, of course, don’t skip the sunscreen – peep our brand-new Academy for the lowdown), 

If you have acne-prone skin, you want to look for products which are “non-comedogenic” meaning they won’t clog your pores. 

The best products you can get to target mild-acne prone skin, are the ones that are formulated with active ingredients that target blemishes, such as salicylic acid. These products will exfoliate and target blemishes. 

Different blemish-targeting products can have different concentrations of active ingredients, such as salicylic acid (look for the percentages) but be warned that a higher concentration doesn’t mean that it’s going to be better for you and can irritate the skin. You’re best off starting with a lower concentration, sitting with it for a few weeks, and seeing how you go. If you’ve got more severe acne, we always recommend checking in with your dermatologist or GP to get their advice before diving in with any product. 

Another thing to look for in these products are ceramides. Think of ceramides as the “mortar” in the brick wall that makes up the skin’s protective barrier – low levels of ceramides are associated with a bunch of skin issues. 

It’s extra important to support the skin barrier with ceramides when you’re using active ingredients, to avoid drying out or irritating the skin. Don’t believe us? Hear it from a derm themselves! 

“I often see patients with acne-prone skin reaching for harsher products and treatments that can often dry out their skin. I personally recommend skin care products that combine key moisturisers like ceramides with active ingredients, to target blemishes while supporting the skin barrier.” - Dr JoAnn See, Expert Dermatologist and Co-Chair of “All About Acne” Organisation 

Luckily for us, CeraVe gets it. CeraVe Blemish Control Gel combines the powers of AHA, BHA, Niacinamide and 3 Essential Ceramides to target blemishes and help prevent future breakouts. The effective blend of these ingredients visibly reduces blemishes in 3 days, leaving skin looking more radiant and smoother, while strengthening the skin barrier. It also reduces blackheads by 45% in 4 weeks^! 

Plus, all CeraVe products are developed with dermatologists with quality formulations, so you know you’re in good hands! 

Taking care of the aftermath

Once the zit subsides, you might be left with some post-blemish marks which derms call post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Unfortunately, these can hang around for a few months and make the skin look uneven. The good news is that there are a couple of solutions out there that help smooth the skin and cast off those hyperpigmented marks.  

One great solution is CeraVe’s Resurfacing Retinol Serum, which is formulated with encapsulated retinol and liquorice root extract to visibly brighten and smooth the skin while helping visibly reduce post-blemish marks and minimising the look of pores. 

Retinol is an active ingredient that can sometimes irritate the skin, especially if you’ve never used it before. It can make your skin a little more sensitive to UV rays, so we recommend always starting small, like a few times a week, before scaling use up. And always use in conjunction with your preferred SPF50 sunscreen in your morning skincare routine. 

CeraVe’s Resurfacing Retinol Serum also contains niacinamide, which is an ingredient which can help soothe the skin from any retinol-induced irritation.  

It’s safe to say that literally everyone understands the frustration that comes with a breakout. Nobody’s skin is perfect (and what does perfect really mean, anyway?), but knowing how you can target breakouts when they arrive, and help prevent them in the future, can make the whole skincare thing a heck of a lot easier.  

Hopefully these tips help you to start feeling your best self again - equipping you with the knowledge to disrupt your blemish cycle, not your skin barrier! 

*Cosmeto-clinical evaluation, 46 subjects, aged 13-50 with mild-to-moderate acne and normal to oily skin. 

^Cosmeto-clinical evaluation, 52 subjects, aged 13-45 with mild to moderate acne and normal to oily skin