Tamara HinsonHow to get rid of spots
Party season is just around the corner. The bad news? Murphy’s law dictates that 24 hours before that all-important work do/new year’s eve bash/Christmas eve party, the mother of all spots will put in an appearance.
In the past few years, there’s been a huge increase in the number of spot-busting products available, with many boasting of antibacterial formulas that will instantly reduce blemishes. However, while tackling the cause of the spot is key to its disappearance, getting rid of the tell-tale signs will probably be of more concern if you’re about to head out to a posh do.
“Most anti-blemish products focus on anti-bacterial ingredients that tackle the cause of the spot,” points out Simon Ford, brand manager at Melvita skincare. “But if you need an instant result, you should look for products which contain anti-inflammatories that will help to reduce the redness and inflammation that makes the blemish so unsightly.”
One example of such an ingredient is tepezcohuite, which comes from the bark of the Mimosa tree, and can help reduce redness and soothe spots, whilst its antibacterial properties also help to clear up the infection that caused the spot in the first place.
Lavender and ginger are also great skin-soothers, as is chamomile. Melvita’s Anti-Blemish Roll On (£12) contains tepezcohuite, whilst Soap and Glory’s Dr Spot Invisible Spot Fighting Gel (£8) contains both ginger and lavender.
[See also: Make up tips for perfect skin]
Bacteria busters
So, that’s the redness taken care of. When it comes to treating the bacteria that caused the spot to appear in the first place, look for ingredients such as tea tree oil, Phytosphingosine (a lipid with anti-microbial qualities) Benzoyl peroxide, thyme, manuka honey or aloe vera, all of which boast anti bacterial properties.
Dr Nick Lowe’s Spot Gel (£10) contains Willow Bark, tea Tree and thyme, whilst Sk:n’s Intense Spot Lotion (£12) also contains willow bark, along with Salicylic Acid to help skin.
Spot the difference
Whilst all this is good to know, the sad truth is that resisting the urge to pick at a spot is half the battle. If you’re an incurable spot-scratcher, we’ve got some top tips from celebrity facialist Ole Henriksen.
“If the spot that appears is a pimple that contains puss, you’ll want to apply a warm compress and hold it in place on the pimple for a minute – you may wish to repeat this step a few times on and off depending on its severity,” says Ole. “Next, wrap a soft, thin cotton cloth like a handkerchief around your fingers and press gently around the area of the pimple. After you have gently removed the pus, take a look at your skin to see if there is a tiny bit of blood present - that will indicate that there is no more pus left. Even if a tiny bit of pus remains, it can re-infect the pimple. Avoid this by taking a cotton bud dipped in a spot treatment gel (apple cider vinegar will also do the trick) and applying to the spot.”
If you’re cursed with the type of spot that lies just beneath the surface of the skin, a more methodical approach is called for.
“If the spot is a cystic one, it will appear without puss, deep under the skin and might be painful,” says Ole. “The best way to deal with cystic spots is to get the inflammation to dissolve down and back into the blood stream. It’s very important not to squeeze them. Apply a clay mask onto the area in question as an overnight spot treatment. Another fun trick: wrap an ice cube in a thin handkerchief, massage into the spot for approximately 30 seconds at a time off and on for a half hour. These kinds of spots will take two to three days to disappear.”
