Treat that pimple!

I might ruin this title for you, but this is just how my brain works (my husband says there is a circus in my brain at all times and this seems to prove him right)... In the risk of loosing you as a reader or client, here is an insight to my "circus brain". When I thought of this title and any time I say it out loud or in my head I think of Ty Pennington yelling "MOVE THAT BUS!" from extreme makeover home edition. Anyone else..? Well, maybe you will be now. . .TREAT THAT PIMPLE! See, now you can't un hear it.

Now, I'll share the beautiful parts of my brain. The part you actually want to hear from; all the skincare related goodies! Today, we are talking about HOW TO TREAT YOUR PIMPLES!

This blog is a general overview of a few helpful tips and products that can heal blemishes and decrease inflammation in the skin. Please understand that a more tailored outline for you specifically will yeild faster results. Building out a treatment plan and home care routine is always best for results. This is a generic guideline so that we can help from afar.

Full disclosure we don't often use the word pimple in our content or when speaking with clients. At Inspirations Beauty Clinic use blemish or breakout, inflammation or congestion or sometimes even spots. This is just something as a business we have decided to stand for. I used pimple for this title, because this is the term most people use. I think pimple serves its purpose in this title but I don't think it serves a purpose in the treat*ment room.

First I want to say how NORMAL it is to have a blemish. No one ENJOYS breaking out... and yes they seem to happen at the most inconvenient times, but they are incredibly common. Just remember you are human and part of the human experience calls for a blemish or two, regardless if we like it or not. Pimples, do not discriminate. They may be more stubborn or chronic with some over others; but a pimple itself does not discriminate.

"How do I treat this pimple?" "How can I make the clusters go away?"

"What can I do for my pimples?"

"I'm breaking out, what can I do to help my skin?"

"I have a new pimple, what should I do?"

"I have these blemishes appearing and I dont know why, how can I make them go away?"

"I have all his congestion.. what do I do?" "I am a full grown adult, why do I still get pimples?"

I get asked the same question regularly. Although it's worded in multiple ways, people just like you are concerned and want to control their breakouts. First and foremost, just remember to be kind to yourself. (Side plug, Alicia has an episode out about skin anxiety on our podcast that might be of service to you! So Listen Here!) I am NOT disregarding the discomfort, the confidence depletion, the embarrassment or the upset that you may be experiencing. I hold space for you and I know that to be well and true, I am mindful of your experience. I am very aware of the influence that skin can have psychologically. I simply share the fact that blemishes are normal so that you can learn to meet yourself with a little more grace and a tad more compassion. Blemishes don't mean anything about you, it's not your new personality; it's just a way our body is trying to talk to us, so it's time we listen!

In this blog post I won't go into detail about blemishes or breakouts specifically as to why they are happening (maybe a post to come) but instead today I will help cover how you can treat and heal your breakouts of all types! These are my tips on how to treat your pimple from home!

Let's get to it!

1. Knowing Your Triggers: Knowing what triggers inflammation would be my top piece of advice on how to treat and heal blemishes. I say this time and time again and I will forever more! Knowing what contributes, triggers or exasterbates your blemishes give us data to work with! It helps us understand reasons to why our skin is acting out. I have found this to be so healing! It seems to take away a lot of the "what's wrong with me" mindset and instead we can rationalize and pin point the cause easier. "Oh ya, I had sugary alcoholic beverages" "Oh ya, I slept with my makeup on" "Ohh, shoot I haven't cleaned my makeup brushes in a while" "I am getting my period" "I play hockey and it's like my chin strap from my helmet" ... See what I mean. Not only can this be helpful and take the pressure off of ourselves, it also gives us data. This way we can avoid the triggers all together or minimally, we can use this data to work with our skin when we know triggers are soon approaching.
   

2. Never Pick. This is a habit that not only sensitizes your skin, causes post inflammatory pigmentation (aka scaring) but it also spreads bacteria; all while causing more disruption in the skin. When you pick or pop a pimple you are flushing the non inflammed skin (the skin that is surrounding the blemish) with inflammation, oil, dead skin and bacteria. There you have it, before you know it another pimple or two; maybe even three arrive living rent free. When you pop and pick your blemishes think of an inverted volcano. Thats exactly what you are doing to your skin. The pressure causes the bacteria to spread and reach deeper into the layers of the skin. Picking and popping blemishes also severely interrupts any healing process.
   

3. Do NOT Touch Your Face. This goes above and beyond picking. This includes picking, rubbing, stroking, resting, playing whatever it may be. Any touch at all. Make it a rule, avoid touching your face. Bacteria breeds with bacteria. Keep your hands clean and keep them off your face. Look at that, the first three tips are FREE! You can implement these cost free skincare tips today and already see a dramatic improvement with your skin tomorrow. Keep reading, there are other freebie tips throughout!
   

4. Proper Products and Consistent Routine. This is an obvious one. Products will absolutely help with healing and reduce any inflammation within the skin. This means less breakouts and faster healing. Book with us for a consult and a full analysis for additional and personalized support. Check out our consultation options and we will tailor and customize a treatment plan specifically for you and your kind of blemishes. Here is a general overview of popular products we love, use and recommend. Cleansers we love for blemish / acne prone skin - iS Clinical Cleansing Complex - Circadia Mandelic Acid Cleanser - Circadia Salicylic Acid Cleanser Shop your options here! Mists & Serums - Hydrinity Hypochlorous Acid Active Mist - iS Clinical Active Serum - iS Clinical Pro Health Vitamin C Shop your options here! Moisturizers - iS Clinical Moisturizing Complex Shop your options here!
   

5. ICE ICE BABY: This simple tip is to; ICE your blemishes! Think reduce swelling. Icing the skin has

   many benefits, but when specially referring to blemishes, this tip is great for those painful under the

   skin cystic blemishes. Icing relieves pain, reduces swelling and calms redness. It is also a great easy tip for those white heads that have come to the surface full force. This can be done for a few minutes off and on. Apply the ice a minute or two before your routine, or for a few minutes after

   the shower.. this tip is one to not over complicate! Where's the area of concern? Apply ice. You can move it, you can hold it.. you can do what feels good. There are a few tools to help with this ritual. You could use Stainless Steel Rollers: or Plantifique Stainless Steel Facial Roller:, you could use an ice cube in a baggy or the Refillable Ice Roller: . It's a beautiful practice and super affordable!
   

6. Hot & Cold Therapy: Do not under estimate the power of heat and steam to help loosen bacteria, dilate the skins tissue for faster absorption of product and vasodilation. Treating skin with hot and cold methods is incredibly helpful. Creating a rush of blood supply and stimulation while also providing fast relief and cool down. This vasodilation can also be beneficial with blemishes! Apply a warm compress on the skin for a few minutes and immediately follow up with a cool compress. Apply serums and moistruizers after this. Enjoy a steamy shower and indulge in a glorious cleanse while the steam is also providing some detoxifaction. Simple yet effective. Follow with cooling the skin down and applying serums and moisturizers.

7. LED: A modality and tool that again serves multiple benefit but there is no denying that it helps heal and shrink blemishes of all kinds and types; LED! Light therapy! Use blue light to treat and target the skin to reduce inflammation and control oil production. Treating the skin with science and effective measures. This can be a lovely home routine addition or a professional service! Look into how LED can help serve you! I use the mask option because it's so easy! I call it the lazy Susan of skin care! It is so easy to use and upgrade your home routine! Seriously, watch how easy it is! Each light has its own benefit and of course blending them all together can serve you too! Don't forget to use the blue light to treat those blemishes. If you like the two you often see me share about, let me know and we can arrange to get one in your routine! If you are interested in the ZAQ hand held that has many modalities, here's a link for you to shop with! Don't forget to use code DANIELLE15OFF
   

8. High Frequency: High frequency is another tool in the skincare world that serves so many benefits, but my favourite is the way it can decrease cystic blemishes! It can work wonderfully for all types of pimples and blemishes and accelerate healing, but my favourite by far is the fast action at reducing swelling and pain in those cystic blemishes (I often get them on my chin) I use this in clinic and have one for home use. I will attach the link to the one I recommend. It is not the cheapest one you will find, however it has argon and neon gas and many applicator peices; making it very multipurpose and hlepful for may skin concerns. Argon gas is what is most beneficial for treating acne and targeting sebum. Add yours to your routine and have no regrets! Add to shopping cart!
   

9. Pimple Patch: The next suggestion is a popular one. Here I am jumping back to a product

   recommendation. Pimple Patches are like a spot treatment. Think of a bandaid for your pimple and you have just envisioned a pimple patch. They cover the skin which avoids popping and picking (I am a big advocate for this and you can learn more in this episode) The pimple patch is also helpful by lubricating the white head(or blemish) with hydrocolloid dressings which is a gel-forming agents that is helpful with whiteheads (absorbing oil and bacteria). When you put an acne patch over your skin, it starts to absorb wound fluids and change into a jelly-like mass, gradually turning the patch white. Once the patch has turned white, it is time to take it off and put on a new one if necessary. This is great as a visual to know when it is best to take it off and its important to so that the skin can be exposed to oxygen to continue to healing process. It is very common that these are put on before one hits the sheets (this is how I do it) this beng said; do not wear these over the same blemishes every night. It is important for other products to be used in rotation as well as oxygen for the skin to repair. Perhaps a good rule of thumb to follow would be to use pimple patches every second to third night and try to rotate through the blemishes.

   
   

10. Lymphatic Drainage: Manual detoxification. The lymphatic system is not triggered unless we trigger it. Meaning the lymphatic fluid wont move (its not like our heart) without us stimulating it. Lymphatic is incredibly powerful and relieves congestion and inflammation, redness and swelling immediately. Lymphatic drainage can be done on the full body or just the face. There are also different techniques that you could explore on youtube for in-depth learning and steps. Using a dry brush for the body or using facial cups for the face. Both practices will eliminate inflammation within the body. You will notice your skin heals faster, congestion is less prominent, swelling and puffiness is decreased, your skin has a natural glow and you will even feel less sluggish in general.
    

11. Hydration: On to the last tip! Let's not forget about the importance of hydration and balance! As much as everything we have talked about thus far are great suggestions; balance and hydration is also imperative for skin health and proper healing. Hydrated skin is healthy skin. Healthy skin heals and is in harmony. There's always this idea that we want to dry the skin out when it comes to acne or blemishes. Lets ditch this ideology and become properly educated. Hydration is crucial for healthy skin! Dry skin can actually lead to more blemishes and post inflammatory pigmentation. The skin has a hard time to heal with no moisture and dry skin scars easier. So, treat those blemishes without the disruption! How can we hydrate the skin in the perfect ways when still struggling with acne or blemishes you ask? Hyaluronic acid is my favourite way at introducing moisture into the skin. Every single skin type and concern can benefit from hyaluronic acid. Hydrinitys Restorative hyaluronic acid serum and restorative sheet mask are both phenomenal for inflammed skin. Be aware, you will be addicted with this serum and mask.

    Hydrinity Restorative Kit

    Hydrinity Restorative Serum Hydrinity Restorative Sheet Mask Shop your options here!

Let's have a recap, we all love a recap! There was a lot discussed, so always good to have notes for us to remember!

1. Learn your triggers

2. Never Pick

3. Do not touch your face

4. Proper Products and Consistency

5. Icing the blemishes

6. The power of hot & cold

7. LED

8. High Frequency

9. Pimple Patches

10. Lymphatic Drainage

11. Hydration & Balance

    
    

Lots of love my fellow reader, listener and client! Thank you for your support and your trust!

Happy Blemish Treating!

Danielle