DIY Cortisone Treatment for Acne

Have you ever had a huge mountain of a pimple on your face right before an important event?  I hear this a lot from my brides the week before their wedding.  It's underground, painful, & doesn't seem to be going anywhere!  "How do I get rid of this?!" is the question I often hear.  Well going to the Dermatologist can help almost instantly.  Cortisone injections can dramatically reduce inflammation and speed up healing.  With cystic acne lesions in particular, healing usually begins immediately.  But going to the Derm isn't always the easiest on the budget, especially when it's for a pimple. (Just keepin' it real.)  Also getting an injection doesn't sit well with everyone.  Cortisone shots can be very painful, worth it, but painful.  So what else can you do?

Here's an easy & effective home remedy for the next time this happens to you or someone you know.

Ingredients you'll need:

1. Clean washcloth
2. Hot water
3. 1% Hydrocortisone cream - I like Aveeno ($6 at any drug store)

What to do:

Take your washcloth and moisten it with water that's as hot as your skin can stand.  But please be smart & don't burn yourself.  Fold it up and apply it to the pimple.  As the outer folds of the washcloth start to cool, refold it so the warmer inside layers are exposed and reapply.  After 10 or 15 minutes when the washcloth has cooled off, run it under more hot water to get it hot again and repeat.   After you have done several cycles, add a lot of the hydrocortisone cream directly to the area & let it sit for 2 hours.

How to prevent:

Make sure to wash off  your makeup every night and cleanse your face every morning.
Wash your hands thoroughly.
Don't touch your face!!
Up your water intake.
Use an oil-free moisturizer daily.