What To Do With Sudden Acne Breakouts?

Sudden acne breakouts are more likely to occur when you experience stress, lack of sleep, unhealthy eating habits, or certain medications. When they happen, it’s essential to treat the acne as soon as possible so you can begin reducing its damage to your skin. Before taking any actions, however, make sure that this isn’t just a simple skin irritation caused by dryness or too much sun exposure. Let’s discuss the leading causes of sudden breakouts:

Stress. You may be surprised to find that the stress you are experiencing is not affecting you physically, but it can certainly take its toll on your skin. Too much pressure causes sebum production to rise, which often leads to acne breakouts. Even worse, some people resort to smoking or consuming excessive amounts of alcohol to cope with the anxiety and depression that comes with too much stress; this only exacerbates their problems as these substances also contribute to worsening acne conditions.

• Lack of sleep. Suppose you’re having sleeping problems for several days now, and your acne does not seem to clear up. In that case, chances are your lack of sleep is one of the factors behind this condition especially if you tend to experience more severe, cystic, or nodular breakouts. Not getting enough sleep can cause your sebaceous glands to produce more oil, accelerating the formation of new acne lesions during the day.
• Unhealthy eating habits. A diet full of processed foods will only lead to more inflammation and irritation that worsens acne conditions. Besides, it is already known that Western diets are rich in factors that stimulate tumor growth due to high levels of fat and other harmful ingredients. It is best to avoid food items such as refined carbohydrates, animal fats, and sugars for a healthier skin condition.
• Lack of hydration. Don’t forget to keep hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day — eight glasses should do just fine! Not drinking enough fluids over time can cause the skin to dry out, allowing harmful bacteria to enter your pores; this can trigger an acne breakout.
• Sun exposure. If you spend more time outside without protecting yourself from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays, it is only a matter of time before you notice some new blemishes appearing on your face or back. Since UV radiation accelerates oil production, decreasing moisture levels in your skin will only worsen acne conditions by irritating previously unblemished areas and accelerating sebum production.
• Medication side effects. Certain medications may trigger sudden breakouts, especially if you usually had clear skin before using them. These include antibiotics (for treating respiratory infections), anti-hypertensive drugs ( lower blood pressure), cancer treatments, and some oral contraceptives. Be sure to consult your dermatologist about these side effects if you notice some new pimples popping up after you started taking a particular drug.

Sudden acne breakouts are not that surprising once you know the primary triggers behind them. To treat an acne breakout, it is best that you avoid touching or picking on your face, as this will only worsen the condition and cause more acne lesions to form. If possible, seek medical help immediately so you can ask for appropriate medications just in case the problem becomes more severe than expected.

Different forms of acne require different types of treatment; here are the different types of acne and their treatments:

• Blackheads, whiteheads, and blemishes. You can treat these three types of blemishes with topical over-the-counter medications such as benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. These chemicals unblock pores by exfoliating dead cells from the surface of your skin; they also facilitate the shedding of new skin cells to prevent clogged pores and future breakouts.
• Be aware that you should not use salicylic acid if your acne lesions are very inflamed since this chemical may further irritate them — talk to a dermatologist about ways to deal with more severe cases properly.
• If pimples become filled with pus (not just whiteheads), this is most likely a pustule — a type of acne that needs immediate medical attention to prevent scarring. Pus is a by-product of an infected lesion, and it contains dead white blood cells, oil, and bacteria. Because of this, your best bet should be antibiotic medications that will effectively treat the infection without further irritating skin pores.
• Larger cysts or nodules. The most severe form of acne is cystic or nodular acne since these types require more intensive treatment, such as oral prescription medications. If you have them, your dermatologist can prescribe antibiotics for you along with other topical ointments and creams that contain benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, just like in less severe forms of breakouts.
• Acne vulgaris is a skin disease that involves the oil glands at the base of hair follicles. Whether you have occasional breakouts, mild to moderate acne, or severe acne, it is best to consult a dermatologist as soon as possible so they can advise you on the best ways to treat your condition. Please don’t wait until it gets worse because this will only make treating your acne more difficult and expensive!

What to do in case of sudden acne breakouts?  

• Avoid touching and picking on your face. Touching and picking can cause acne lesions to become more inflamed and worsen the already bad situation you are in. Also, avoid popping your pimples with your fingers – this may lead to scarring or even an infection!
• Do not use makeup when you have active facial breakouts; this will cover up lesions you should be able to see even if they look ugly.
• Go for mild over-the-counter topical solutions such as benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid that unblock pores and prevent future breakouts.
• If unexpectedly with a sudden breakout: Consult a dermatologist.
• If you need to pop a blemish: Use clean hands and cotton swabs with alcohol to do this.
• Acne is not contagious, but it can be an embarrassing problem that can lead to other psychological complications such as low self-esteem or body image issues; the sooner you get treatment for your acne, the better!

How do dermatologists or skin doctors treat sudden acne breakouts?

• Can prescribe antibiotics to treat large, inflamed pimples.
• Prescribe topical solutions containing salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide.
• Prescribe other medications such as oral contraceptives for women who have acne with hormonal causes.
• Take cell samples of your lesions if you have nodulocystic acne to determine the best course of treatment for you have given your particular case of acne vulgaris.
• Treat cystic or nodular acne, which involves antibiotic creams and other topical ointments containing benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid.
• It prevents future breakouts while also exfoliating dead cells from your skin’s surface, which will make your skin look better.
• Prescribe isotretinoin.

Is there something natural I can do for sudden acne breakouts?

Of course! Many home remedies help in the treatment of acne vulgaris. These remedies prevent future breakouts or treat existing lesions, so this will give you a smoother face again.

Tea tree oil has natural antibacterial properties that effectively prevent outbreaks.

You can apply it directly on pimples or acne sores — make sure only to use 100 percent tea tree oil and not scented shampoo containing it (it can irritate).

• Witch hazel and aloe vera gel, combined with lavender essential oil, create a perfect mixture for skin problems; add two drops of lavender oil into 50 ml witch hazel, after which add five drops of aloe vera gel then add a teaspoon of this mixture to a cotton ball and rub the affected areas.
• Apply aspirin water on your pimples — crush two aspirins into a small amount of warm water, then soak a cotton pad in the solution and apply it for 15 minutes. This is helpful because acetylsalicylic acid works as an antibacterial treatment that reduces inflammation and lightens dark spots left by acne lesions.
• Apply a mixture of honey and cinnamon powder to fight acne. When the two are combined, they create an effective antibacterial agent that will heal existing lesions and prevent future breakouts.
• Make a paste out of oatmeal by mixing it with water or milk; let it dry on your face for 15 minutes before rinsing it off. This is very helpful because oats are good at exfoliating dead skin cells. We want our skin smoother so we can continue having beautiful skin again!
• Apple cider vinegar works wonders in removing stubborn blackheads and unclogging pores — soak a cotton ball in this solution and apply it on your pimples and acne sores, after which you should rinse it off with lukewarm water.
• Aloe vera also works as a mild antiseptic and anti-inflammatory agent, which means it will not only heal your acne but prevent future breakouts as well.
• Apply this by simply breaking off a piece of an aloe leaf, squeezing out the gel, and applying it on affected areas using a cotton ball.
• Honey is a natural humectant that provides antibacterial protection, so this works best to clear up blackheads, whiteheads, and even stubborn cystic lesions — mix two tablespoons of honey with one tablespoon each of either milk or yogurt. Massage the mixture into your skin for 10 minutes, then rinse it off with warm water.
• Mix baking with some amount of water until it turns into a paste and applies it on your pimples — once used, leave it on for at least 10 minutes, then rinse it off. Baking soda is an excellent exfoliate that not only gets rid of dead skin cells but also clears out pores.
• Almond oil works great because not only does it moisturize the skin, which prevents future breakouts, but it also improves the overall appearance of acne lesions — massages a small amount onto affected areas using a cotton ball.
• Rubbing lemon juice on your face will make your skin smoother and lighter, so this is something to try out if you have stubborn dark spots from acne lesions — rub fresh lemon juice onto these problem areas using a ball two times daily, after which you can wash it off with water
• Apply cucumber juice containing high amounts of vitamin A and C, which will help prevent new breakouts from forming while curing existing acne lesions. Cut a fresh cucumber in half and squeeze out the juice; add one tablespoon of aloe vera gel into it before applying it on your face with a cotton pad.
• If you want to make a mixture at home by yourself, try mixing half a cup of fresh mint leaves with one tablespoon each of aloe vera gel and witch hazel; apply this blend on your face using a cotton pad.

Homeopathic treatment for sudden acne breakouts:

• To prevent future breakouts, there are also specific homeopathic remedies you can try out like silver nitrate (2 tablets daily for six weeks), potassium selenite, phosphoric acid, or sulphur 6c. These remedies will not solve acne problems overnight, but they will help prevent future breakouts.
• To get rid of existing acne lesions, use belladonna (take one tablet orally) if redness has already begun to appear on the skin; use sulphur 6c if pimples have already formed into pustules; phosphorus 30c is used for pus-filled sores or when there are numerous lesions at once.
• To treat existing pimples and blackheads, psorinum 200c must be for seven days to stop destructive skin eruptions, while sulphur 6c must be taken for three days to reduce redness, inflammation, and the production of pus.
• Phytolacca 30c remedy is best used when you experience severe burning during urination or feel pain in your kidneys. Also suitable for treating cysts that are highly inflamed or become filled with fluid after being tapped by a doctor, this substance should only be used under medical supervision.
• For treating any acne lesions, no matter how these appear, try using aconite 200c for seven days because it will heal pimples fast but do take note that this substance may also cause gastrointestinal problems along with other issues such as rapid heart rate and breathing so it should only be used under medical supervision.
• Homeopathic treatment for acne treats the root cause of acne, so this is best to use for stubborn acne that does not respond to conventional medicine.

Take note that these homeopathic treatments for acne can treat sudden breakouts overnight. At times it may take some time before seeing the positive effects. Results may vary between individuals, usually taking effect within seven days or three weeks, depending on the severity of the skin condition. So be sure to speak with your homeopathy doctor or dermatologist about which one would work best on your skin type and condition! You can book an appointment through OHO Homeopathy today. Don’t forget to drink lots of water — this will keep your skin hydrated, which prevents future breakouts from occurring!