Pimples and Growing Up

Only one thing in the life of a teenager is constant. It's been the same since humanity first existed. It's not school. It's not peer pressure (although it does come close). It's pimples.

All teenagers are prone to pimples. Adolescence wreaks havoc on a person's hormones. Those hormones do lots of weird things and one of them results in pimples.

Teenagers have treated the occurrence of pimples in different ways. Some shrug and ignore it. Some feel that global economic collapse is preferable to having a small pimple. Most teenagers fall in between.

Getting rid of pimples is one of the greatest preoccupations of adolescents. Many have tried different types of remedies for their pimples. Some of them were homemade; some of which have worked.

Toothpaste. White toothpaste is known as a good homemade pimple remedy. Dab a little toothpaste on the pimple and wait for it to dry. Rinse the toothpaste off with a mild soap or facial cleanser and water.

Ice. Wrap ice in a towel to make a cold compress. Place the cold compress on the pimple or pimples for a few minutes. Do this several times a day. This is supposed to prevent the pimple from growing.

Green tea. Steep 2 to 3 bags of green tea in a bowl of hot water. Let it cool. Stir the tea after removing the tea bags. Use the green tea to rinse your face. Do this regularly. Green tea's antioxidants properties will make your skin smooth and glowing.

Fresh Garlic. Rub fresh garlic on your pimples daily. Amazingly, it will work and help make sure no scars or marks are left after the pimple is gone. It stinks though.

Baking Soda. Mix ¼ cup of baking soda with 4 tablespoons of warm water. Stir the mixture briskly. Apply it on affected skin using gentle, circular strokes. Rinse afterwards. Do this up to two times a day.

Mint Juice. Apply mint juice on your pimples and leave it on overnight.

Aloe vera. Just dab it on your pimples.

Oatmeal. Mix one serving of mashed oatmeal with warm water. Massage it onto your skin and leave it on to dry. Rinse off with warm water after it dries. Oatmeal is a good natural exfoliant.

Vinegar. Mix vinegar and salt to make a facial scrub that you can use to exfoliate your skin. Vinegar itself is a good astringent.

Apple and Honey. Mix apple pulp with honey to make a facial mask and apply the mixture to your face. Leave it on for about 15 minutes. Wash it off with a mild, fragrance-free soap or facial wash afterwards.

Tomato Pulp. Make a pulp out of ripe tomatoes. Apply it to your problem area and leave it for an hour or more. Wash it off with water and mild soap.

Cucumber. Place cucumber slices on your pimples. Leave it on for one hour and not a second more. Afterwards, rinse with water.

Water. Drink. Lots. Of. It.

Brown Sugar. Mix 1 cup of brown sugar with 1/4 cup of virgin olive oil. And voila! An effective facial scrub.

Egg Whites and Carrots. Add one pureed carrot to 2 egg whites. Whip until frothy and mixed thoroughly. Add 1 teaspoon of lemon juice and 1 teaspoon of honey to the mixture and apply evenly on your face. Let it set for 15 to 20 minutes before washing it off with warm water. Do this once or twice a week.

These homemade pimple remedies may or may not work for you. Each person's skin has different properties. It's always best to consult a dermatologist or at the very least an acne book.

Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) is found in bathrooms everywhere. It's mainly used as an antiseptic. Mother's everywhere use it to disinfect their kids wounded knees. It's a very useful chemical. Even without counting the fact that it can treat acne too.

Hydrogen Peroxide clears acne by killing the bacteria found on the skin. It also oxygenates the pores which prevents future bacteria from growing because those bacteria do not like an oxygenated environment. Hydrogen Peroxide is very good during emergency acne breakouts. It's particularly good at getting rid of bacteria that causes inflammation. It can really help clear the skin. But it's not recommended for daily use.

Hydrogen Peroxide is also a bleaching agent. Solutions with large amounts of this chemical can burn the skin. You should only use weak H2O2 solutions to treat acne. 3% solutions are fine. 10% solutions can already sting.

For daily treatments, the list above are mentions alternatives.