Rufus R. Noble A big, red zit on your face is never a good idea. It can be very distressing to see a major breakout just a few days before your big day. It isn’t uncommon for stress to cause breakouts. Wedding planning can also be stressful. Last-minute guests are not something anyone likes, especially on their faces. We asked dermatologists Joel Schlessinger MD and Michele Green MD for their advice on how to treat a pimple, depending on its severity.
Days before the wedding
Do not touch the subject
There are options if you wait 10 days before your big day to get a zit. Schlessinger says, “First of all it is extremely important to establish an hands-off policy.” Although you might believe you are doing your skin a favor, you can actually force bacteria deeper into the skin and prolong the healing process by making a pimple. He recommends that you use an exfoliator and wash all your makeup every night.
Get expert advice
Green recommends consulting an expert: “If a breakout occurs 10 days prior to your wedding, it is a good idea to see a dermatologist.” To reduce the appearance of your breakout, you can get prescribed topical cream and oral antibiotics. A professional intel can also help diagnose the blemish. Although the white head is simple to spot and treat at home with a few simple steps, ingrown hairs and deep cysts or other types of skin cancer, can be difficult to diagnose and may even cause poor reactions to treatments.
Heat
Start with the basics before you dive into the complicated world of acne treatment. Pimples don’t like heat, so prepare to go to the kitchen. Use warm compresses, not hot! Use warm compresses to drain the clog. Do not pop the blemish if it becomes severe. Instead, treat the area by applying spot-treatment.
Days before the wedding
Streamline Product Usage
Do not add new products to your skincare regimen. There isn’t enough time for your skin to adjust and recover from any allergic reactions. Schlessinger recommends focusing on what you can do without worrying. “Replace favorite makeup products with brand-new compacts. Makeup can easily become contaminated and cause breakouts. Avoid dairy products as they can cause acne to worsen. He also said that protein supplements should be avoided.
Peel the skin
Green suggests microdermabrasion to be a great option for those days leading up to the big day. She says that microdermabrasion exfoliates the skin and removes dead skin cells from the surface. There is no downtime or discomfort. To achieve similar results, you can exfoliate at your home using either chemical or physical exfoliants. Scrubs, and brushes that buff and shine the skin are some examples of physical exfoliants. Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), such as lactic and glycolic acids, remove dead skin layers from the top layer of the dermis to reveal a radiant glow. Exfoliation can cause skin irritation, such as dryness, flaking or redness. We recommend starting slowly and gradually increasing the amount of harshness.
You should look for gentle scrubs that have small exfoliating particles and won’t cause any skin damage. Use harsh scrubs that have irregularly shaped particles (e.g. pits or shells) to remove skin cells and cause micro-tears.
Fade Pigmentation
The dark marks that it leaves behind are just as irritating as the pimple itself. Although exfoliation can remove any texture or roughness, pigmentation can linger much longer than we would like. Vitamin C, also known as L-ascorbic Acid, can reduce acne scarring and marks, as well as improve skin tone through its antioxidant and brightening properties.
